Cuttack: The Commissioner of Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC), Kirandeep Kaur Sahota, Monday announced a new student outreach initiative titled “A Day with the Commissioner” during a press meet held in Cuttack.
Briefing the media, the Commissioner said the programme has been conceptualised to expose school students to the real-world functioning of urban governance and to inspire them towards leadership and public service at an early age.
Under the initiative, one selected student will get the opportunity to spend an entire working day with the Municipal Commissioner and closely observe the functioning of the civic body.
The programme is open to Class IX and X students from government, private and aided schools within the CMC jurisdiction.
Applications will be invited through a Google Form hosted on the official website of the Cuttack Municipal Corporation, where detailed guidelines will be made available.
Explaining the selection process, Sahota informed that applicants will appear for a 50-mark written test, wherein they will have to write an essay in Odia by choosing one topic from a set of five.
The essay must be between 800 and 1,000 words and uploaded in PDF format, with a maximum file size of 1 MB.
Another 50 marks will be awarded for extracurricular achievements across ten categories, including NCC, Scouts & Guides, NSS, social awareness activities, sports, science projects or innovations, cultural activities, digital and cyber awareness, disaster management and first aid, cleanliness drives, voter and traffic awareness, and leadership roles in school clubs or committees.
Students will be required to upload supporting certificates wherever available.
The selected student will spend a full working day with the Municipal Commissioner, attend review meetings, and visit key municipal facilities such as sanitation and waste management units.
The student will also gain insights into how policy decisions are formulated and implemented at the city level. The Commissioner added that she would personally interact with the selected student and offer guidance on civil services preparation, leadership qualities, discipline and public service, with the aim of motivating young minds to develop civic responsibility and administrative curiosity.
Describing the initiative as a transformative learning experience, Sahota said “A Day with the Commissioner” is expected to encourage students to actively engage with governance and consider public service as a meaningful career option.
Further details regarding application dates and timelines will be announced on the official website and social media platforms of CMC, she added.
