Old clothes donation centres launched at 5 metro stations to boost recycling
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday launched five “Arpan Kendra” donation centres at major metro stations across the city. The initiative is a part of a new drive to collect and recycle old clothes with help from women’s self-help groups. The centres opened at Shalimar Bagh, Punjabi Bagh West, Mayur Vihar Phase-1, Shahdara and Rohini West metro stations. The Chief Minister inaugurated the flagship centre at Punjabi Bagh West, where she reviewed a QR code system that lets citizens donate clothes digitally and receive a digital receipt for each contribution.
The project is a joint effort between the Delhi Government, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and the Delhi Metro Ladies Welfare Organisation. A Memorandum of Understanding has already been signed between the three parties. Five more centres are planned as part of a wider rollout to ten major metro stations across the city.
Speaking at the launch, the Chief Minister said a developed Delhi cannot be measured only by roads, bridges and metro lines. She said responsible citizenship and respect for resources are equally important markers of progress, and that a truly developed society emerges when waste is converted into a usable resource alongside infrastructure growth.
The Chief Minister said recycling old garments helps save water, energy and natural resources, beyond simply cutting down on waste. She added that every piece of clothing donated by a resident could support environmental protection while also improving the life of someone in need.
Madipur MLA Kailash Gangwal, DMRC Managing Director Vikas Kumar and Delhi Metro Ladies Welfare Organisation President Shalini Singh attended the launch event, along with senior officials from both organisations.
Under the plan, kiosks for collecting and selling old textiles will operate at each selected metro station. Citizens can drop off garments that are still usable, and the entire process has been digitised to keep it transparent and simple for donors.
The Chief Minister highlighted the role of women’s self-help groups in running the centres. Women will handle collection, sorting, recycling and upcycling of donated clothes, creating fresh livelihood opportunities and avenues for self-employment, she said.
She described the initiative as a model that combines environmental action with women’s empowerment, calling it a step toward sustainable development in Delhi. The state Government, she said, would keep supporting projects that bring together environmental protection, job creation, women’s empowerment and public involvement.
The Chief Minister called the programme a strong example of India’s circular economy in action, turning the idea of “waste to wealth” into a working reality on the ground. She urged Delhi residents to bring their old but usable clothes to the Arpan Kendras, saying that even small contributions from individual households could meaningfully cut the amount of textile waste sent to landfills. She added that such donations would also help conserve resources and support underprivileged communities.
The Chief Minister said her Government wants to build a “Delhi Model” where waste is treated as a resource rather than mere garbage, and where responsibility, not just consumption, shapes the city’s development path. She thanked DMRC, the Delhi Metro Ladies Welfare Organisation and other partners, saying she expects the initiative to help make Delhi a cleaner, greener and more sustainable city through active public participation.
