->Miniapolis at 18:24, 10 December 2021

2021-12-10T18:24:15Z

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{{short description|Indian politician|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Copy edit|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Chitra Sarwara
| image = Chitra_Sarwara_Rally.jpg
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1975|03|18}}
| birth_place = [[Ambala Cantt]], [[Haryana]], [[India]]
| occupation = Politician, Social Activist, Designer
| spouse = {{marriage|[[Digvijay Singh (golfer)|Digvijay Singh]]|2005}}.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/golf/top-stories/CG-Open-Digvijay-eyes-Asian-Tour-card/articleshow/50039385.cms|title=CG Open: Digvijay eyes Asian Tour card|date=2015-12-04|work=timesofindia}}</ref>
| children = 2
| parents = [[Nirmal Singh (Haryana)|Nirmal Singh]]<ref name="auto1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/lok-sabha-elections/lok-sabha-elections-2019-in-haryana-women-lead-the-campaign-charge/story-iamA7spPHBX3k5lOo9QgLM.html|title=Lok Sabha Elections 2019: In Haryana, women lead the campaign charge|date=2019-04-29|work=hindustantimes}}</ref> [[Naib Kaur]]
| relatives = UdayVir Singh(Brother) Chetak Singh(Brother) Noor Sarwara(Sister) [[Chitrangada Singh]] (sister-in-law)
| party = [[Indian National Congress]]
| homepage = {{URL|http://www.chitrasarwara.com/}}
}}

'''Chitra Sarwara''' ({{lang-hi|चित्रा सरवारा}}; born 18 March 1975)<ref name="b-s appointed">{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/chitra-sarwara-shamina-shafiq-appointed-mahila-congress-general-secretaries-118083101155_1.html|title= Chitra Sarwara, Shamina Shafiq appointed Mahila Congress General Secretaries|date=2018-08-31|work=Business Standard}}</ref> is a second generation politician. She is affiliated to Haryana Democratic Front. She was holding the post of National General Secretary and Social Media Incharge of [[All India Mahila Congress]].<ref name="toi appoints">{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/rahul-gandhi-appoints-two-more-general-secretaries-of-mahila-congress/articleshow/65628546.cms|title= Rahul appoints two more general secretaries of Mahila Congress|date=2018-08-31|work=timesofindia}}</ref> She has also served as Senior Vice President, Spokesperson and Coordinator for Observers and Co-observers of [[Haryana Pradesh Mahila Congress Committee]].<ref name="auto">{{Cite news|url=https://www.amarujala.com/photo-gallery/chandigarh/mother-s-day-unbelievable-story-of-haryana-mahila-congress-speaker-chitra-sarwara#|title=देखिए एक मां, जिसने लीवर देकर बचाई बेटे की जान|trans-title=Mother's Day, Unbelievable Story Of Haryana Mahila Congress Speaker Chitra Sarwara|date=2017-05-15|work=amarujala}}</ref> She is currently holding the post of general secretary in Haryana democratic front.

She was elected as a Corporator of [[Ambala]] Municipal Corporation, [[Haryana]],on 13 June 2013.

==Personal life==

Her grandfather Hazara Singh Sarwara was an English and Urdu teacher and grandmother Chinto Devi, a homemaker.

===Parents===
Chitra Sarwara was born on 18 March 1975 at [[Ambala Cantt]], [[Haryana]], to [[Nirmal Singh (Haryana)|Nirmal Singh]]<ref name="auto1"/><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://haryanaassembly.gov.in/MLADetails.aspx?MLAID=104|title=Haryana Vidhan Sabha MLA|date=2006-08-14|work=haryanaassembly.gov.in}}</ref> and Naib Kaur. Her father was a member of [[Indian National Congress]] and a four times elected representative of Naggal Constituency, [[Haryana]] before forming his own party i.e. Haryana democratic front. He has held the office of Minister of Animal Husbandry, PWD and later Minister of Revenue.
She has three siblings- brothers '''UdayVir Singh''', '''Chetak Singh''' and sister '''Noor Sarwara'''.

===Spouse===
[[Digvijay Singh (golfer)|Digvijay Singh]]<ref name="auto2"/> Chahal, an international Professional Golfer and Son of Col. Niranjan Singh.

===Children===

The couple has two children, a daughter and a son. Their son was born with a rare and fatal disorder, [[biliary atresia]] that would affect and damage his liver completely. In December 2016, when he was merely 8 months old, Chitra donated her liver (part of it) to her child.<ref name="auto" />

==Education==
She has done her early education from [[Convent of Jesus and Mary, Ambala]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.indiastudychannel.com/schools/1266-convent-of-jesus-mary-ambala|title=Convent of Jesus & Mary, Ambala|date=2019-03-23}}</ref> and Bhartiya Public School <ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.indiastudychannel.com/schools/812-bhartiya-public-school-ambala-cantt|title=Bhartiya Public S CFchool, Ambala|date=2019-03-31}}</ref> in [[Ambala | Ambala Cantt]] .
Later joined and completed her schooling from [[Motilal Nehru School of Sports, Rai]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.mnssrai.com/|title=Motilal Nehru School of Sports|date=2015-03-23}}</ref> Sonipat in 1994.

She is a National Volleyball player, winning many State and National titles as a part of the Rai team. She represented [[Haryana]] in the National School Volleyball Championship in Purnia, [[Bihar]] in 1993 which was won by the [[Haryana]] team. She has attended India Camp in [[Bangalore]] and represented [[India]] against [[Sri Lanka]] in 1994 in volleyball matches.

She has graduated from [[National Institute of Design]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nid.edu/institute/campuses/ahmedabad.html|title=National Institute of Design|date=2013-03-11}}</ref> [[Ahmedabad]] in 2000 as an Industrial Designer specializing in Furniture design.

==Career==

She has worked with Tesseract Design<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tesseractdesigns.in/|title=tesseract designs|date=2005-07-11}}</ref> in [[Bangalore]] and then went on to [[Idiom Design and Consulting]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.idiom.co.in/|title=Idiom Design and Consulting|date=2007-05-21}}</ref> [[Banglore]]. In [[Delhi]] she worked as an independent Design consultant and eventually as Design Head of the [[Delhi]] office of [[Idiom Design and Consulting]].

While with Idiom Design and Consulting, she was Design Manager for developing the [[2010 Commonwealth Games]] Image and Look program which involved developing the games branding from Logo to application of Image and Look program across city and collaterals.

==Political career==

* In 2013, Elected as an independent Municipal Corporator from [[Ambala Cantt]], a newly formed Corporation.
* In March 2015, she joined [[Haryana Pradesh Mahila Congress Committee]] as a State Coordinator for Observers & Co-observers of Rohtak- Karnal Division (Minus Bhiwani and Kaithal) and as a spokesperson under the leadership of the dynamic State President Smt. [[Sumitra Chauhan]].
* In 2016 she was appointed Senior Vice President of the [[Haryana Pradesh Mahila Congress Committee]].
* In 2017 she was appointed Social Media Incharge for [[All India Mahila Congress]] during the tenure of AIMC Pres Smt. [[Shobha Oza]] and started the first concerted effort by the Organisation to build its online presence through Website and other social media platforms.
* 13th Dec 2017: [[All India Mahila Congress]] Website was launched by [[Indian National Congress]] President Sh. [[Rahul Gandhi]] during a [[Mahila Congress]] workshop - '''The Way Ahead''', organised under the aegis of [[Sushmita Dev]], President AIMC.
* March 2018 appointed as Secretary, [[All India Mahila Congress]] (AIMC).<ref name="bhaskar.com HAR-AMB-OMC-MAT">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bhaskar.com/news/HAR-AMB-OMC-MAT-latest-ambala-news-041003-1230387-NOR.html|title= Chitra Sarwara appointed Secretary of All India Mahila Congress|date=2018-03-08|work=danik bhaskar}}</ref>
* Coming from a Design background and with immense interest in developing identity and organisations, Chitra picked up the long standing project of developing an individual identity/logo for [[Mahila Congress]].
* 7 August 2018, [[Mahila Congress]] Logo and Flag <ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bhaskar.com/news/latest-ambala-news-020523-2419783.html|title= Rahul Gandhi launched Logo and Flag designed by Chitra|date=2018-08-07|work=danik bhaskar}}</ref> was launched by [[Indian National Congress|INC]] President Sh. [[Rahul Gandhi]] during the '''Mahila Adhikaar Sammelan'''.
* 30th Aug 2018 appointed as General Secretary, [[All India Mahila Congress]].<ref name="toi appoints" />

==Political Activities==

* In May 2015, she organised a massive women's symposium on Martyr's Day- Sh [[Rajiv Gandhi]] Ji's death anniversary. '''Rajiv Gandhi- Ek Vyaktitav, Ek Soch''' was attended by senior INC leadership of state and women from [[Ambala]].
* In 2017, [[Mahila Congress]] started a signature campaign '''#WomenFor33''',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/mahila-congress-launches-online-campaign-to-ensure-women-s-reservation-bill-by-2019-1158021-2018-01-31|title=Mahila Congress launches online campaign to ensure Women's Reservation Bill by 2019|date=2018-01-31}}</ref> More than 10,000 signatures collected under this campaign in [[Ambala]].
* On 14 October 2017, was part of AIMC delegation led by [[Sushmita Dev]] that submitted the 32 lakh+ signatures collected by [[Mahila Congress]] from all over India under the '''#WomenFor33''' campaign to the Hon’ble President of India, Sh. [[Ram Nath Kovind]].
* 30 September 2018, organised women program in Ambala as a part of '''Mahila Adhikaar Yatra'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/congress-factions-come-together-against-state-govt/articleshow/66021087.cms|title=congress factions come together for state wide campaign launched by women's congress|publisher=times of india|date=2018-10-01}}</ref>- [[Haryana]].

==Agitations==

* Feb 2015, took part in Kisaan Andolan called by [[Rahul Gandhi]] against land acquisition bill changes proposed by [[BJP]] govt.
* March 2015, took part in a Candle march protest 'Meri Beti Mera Gaurav' against Female foeticide organised by Danik Bhaskar.
* April 2015, Protest in [[Chandigarh]] against the misgovernance of [[Haryana]] govt.
* June 2015, took part in protest against 1 year of [[Narendra Modi]] government in [[Delhi]].
* September 2016, led a women's protest in [[Ambala]] against the price rise of LPG, Petrol and Diesel.
* March 2017, took part in protest organised by [[Ambala]] [[Congress]] against false promise of [[BJP]] govt to bring back Black Money.
* 14 May 2017, took part in protest against [[BJP]] govt at Chandigarh for increase in crimes against women in [[Haryana]].
* 23 June 2017, protest organised in [[Ambala]] with small scale business owners against implementation of GST.
* July 2017, protest against no legal action against son of [[Subhash Barala]], [[BJP]] [[Haryana]] Chief, accused of [[stalking]] a girl.
* 25 July 2017, joined '''sansad gherao''' protest on completion 3 years of central government.
* 6 August 2017, Chitra organized a protest march in [[Ambala Cantt]] along with the [[Mahila Congress]] unit of [[Ambala]] against not arrest of Stalking case accused son of [[BJP]] [[Haryana]] Chief.
* August 2017 Protest outside house of [[Ambala]] [[Lok Sabha]] MP [[Rattan Lal Kataria]], against his sexist comments on INC women leader [[Selja Kumari]].
* 8 November 2017, protest on Demonetization anniversary, observed as '''Black Day''' all over India by [[Congress]].
* 14 December 2017, agitation against [[election commission]].
* 19 December 2017, protest outside Municipal Cooperation against lack of development in [[Ambala]].
* 9 December 2017, participated protest organised by citizens to get Justice for a 5-year girl raped and brutally murdered in Boh Village, [[Ambala Cantt]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bhaskar.com/news/HAR-AMB-OMC-LCL-family-seeks-of-vaishnavi-s-killer-hanged-5765845-PHO.html|title=family seeks of vaishnavis killer hanged|publisher=danik bhaskar|accessdate=2017-12-10}}</ref>
* 17 January 2018, Protest in [[Chandigarh]] against [[Manohar Lal Khattar]] government on the various rape cases in [[Haryana]].
* 17 February 2018 joined a protest against [[Haryana]] government organized by Anganwadi workers.
* Fast for Peace and Harmony.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aimc.in/media/fast-peace-harmony/|title=fast peace harmony|date= 2018-02-19}}</ref>
* 8 March 2018, '''protest outside parliament'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aimc.in/media/protest-outside-parliament-womenfor33/|title=protest outside parliament womenfor33|date= 2018-03-08}}</ref> demanding passage of '''#WomenFor33 Bill'''.
* Kala Diwas.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aimc.in/media/kaladiwas/|title=kala diwas|date= 2018-03-13}}</ref>
* 15 March 2018 protest in [[Ambala]] with [[Congress]] team demanding action against Health & Sport minister of [[Haryana]] Nephew, who is accused of fraud case.
* 21 March 2018 '''Candle march''' in [[Ambala Cantt]] against the Central govt failing to bring back 39 Indians from Iraq.
* Jan Aakrosh Rally.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aimc.in/media/jan-aakrosh-rally/|title=jan aakrosh rally|date= 2018-04-29}}</ref>
* Save Democracy Day.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aimc.in/media/save-democracy-day/|title=save democracy day|date= 2018-05-08}}</ref>
* Vishwasghat Diwas.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aimc.in/media/vishwasghat-diwas/|title=vishwasghat diwas|date= 2018-05-26}}</ref>
* Mahila Aakrosh Rally<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aimc.in/media/mahila-aakrosh/|title=mahila aakrosh|date= 2018-08-24}}</ref>
* April 2018, protest outside Divisional Railway Manager office against the delay in railway over bridge project.
* 16 May 2018, protest against [[Haryana]] govt decision of Corporation breach<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bhaskar.com/news/latest-ambala-news-020503-1714922.html|title=protest against Corporation breach|publisher= danik bhaskar|accessdate= 2018-05-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amarujala.com/haryana/ambala/156157651214-ambala-news115#|title=protest against Corporation breach|publisher= danik bhaskar|accessdate= 2019-06-27}}</ref> along with INC Ambala team.
* 10 September 2018 organized a protest with [[Ambala]] Congress team against price rise of '''LPG, Petrol & Diesel'''.
* September 2018, '''Bharat Band'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aimc.in/media/bharat-bandh/|title=bharat bandh|date= 2018-09-21}}</ref> agitation, protest against [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] working as a puppet of [[Narendra Modi]] government.
* 4 February 2019, [[HPMC]] protest at [[Chandigarh]] against accused who said inappropriate comment regarding Smt. [[Priyanka Gandhi]].
* 16 February 2019, lead a '''Candle march''' at [[Ambala Cantt]] for the Martyrs of [[Pulwama]] Attack.

==Social front==

===The Light Within===
The Light Within (TLW): Launched as an informal professional and social networking platform for the woman power in [[Ambala]].
Idea was to get women professionals, achievers and contributors from diverse fields to work together, pool efforts and do something to make a difference for bettering our lives and society.

* Under TLW, organised preparatory workshops in all [[Ambala]] Government Senior Secondary Schools to help students ready for exams with tips and tricks on stress management, memory enhancement and how to attempt exams under this banner.
* Organised workshops on menstrual hygiene for distributing free sanitary napkins amongst girl children from financially challenged backgrounds in collaboration with NGOs, Gynecologist and social workers.

Later on TLW Transformed into '''Nari Shakti''' with wider base and more widespread activities.

===iHELP- Welfare Information Helpline===
iHELP- Welfare Information Helpline: In 2013, collaborating with enthusiastic youngsters and '''Team Suraksha team'''. It's a toll free Social Welfare Information helpline, where anyone can call and receive details of various Social [[Welfare]] Schemes provided by Government of [[Haryana]] and correct information on Forms, due procedures, offices involved.

====iHelp camps====

iHelp grew from a mere helpline to iHelp camps where teams led by Chitra would visit an area, complete with free forms of schemes, printers for scanning documents and stamps for sign and have mass form verification/ filling camps for all those who needed to apply for any government scheme.

iHelp still continues as a toll-free call service.

===Social activities===

* In July 2014, led by her, INC [[Ambala]] team organised a Blood Donation Camp to honour the '''Kargil Martryrs'''. The event collected over 200 Bags of blood and Smt. Pratibha Singh, widow of Kargil Martyr '''Vinay Choudhary''' graced the event as the Chief Guest and [[Indian Army]] Medical team came to collect Blood donations themselves too.
* On 20 Aug 2017, Chitra helped private hospital to organize an '''Eye Checkup camp''' in Village Machhonda.
* Aug 2018, organized a [[Flood]] Relief Camp for [[Kerala]]. The two day donation camp saw [[Ambala]] turn out in massive numbers to participate.
* In 2018, Chitra organised verious camps in [[Ambala Cantt]] to educate village and slum area young ladies and women on '''Menstrual Hygiene'''.
* On Yoga Day 2019, Chitra along with '''Poonam Sangwan''' organised a '''yoga camp''' in Village Shahpur of [[Ambala Cantt]].

==Positions held==
* July 2013- July 2018: Elected Municipal corporator, [[Ambala]] Municipal Corporation, [[Haryana]].
* 2014: Appointed Member District level Vigilance Committee for PDS and Chairman Social welfare and Pensions ad hoc Committee.
* 2015: Appointed State Coordinator for Observers and Co-observers & Spokesperson<ref name="auto" />., [[Haryana Pradesh Mahila Congress Committee]].
* 2015: Appointed Incharge of [[Karnal]] and [[Rohtak]] Divisions (minus Kaithal and Bhiwani) in [[Haryana Pradesh Mahila Congress Committee]].
* 2016: Appointed Senior Vice President, [[Haryana Pradesh Mahila Congress Committee]].
* 2017: Appointed Incharge, Social Media, [[All India Mahila Congress]].
* Mar 2018: Appointed Secretary,<ref name="bhaskar.com HAR-AMB-OMC-MAT" /> [[All India Mahila Congress]], Incharge Social Media.
* Aug 2018: Appointed General Secretary,<ref name="b-s appointed" /> [[All India Mahila Congress]], Incharge Social Media.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{All India Mahila Congress}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sarwara, Chitra}}
[[Category:Indian National Congress organisations]]
[[Category:Women's wings of political parties in India]]
[[Category:All India Mahila Congress]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1975 births]]
[[Category:People from Haryana]]

Chitra Sarwara - Revision history

->Miniapolis at 18:24, 10 December 2021