IAS officer’s plantable visiting cards inspires people

New Delhi: Shubham Gupta, an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer serving as the Municipal Commissioner of Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad Municipal Corporation in Maharashtra, has captured the attention of the nation with his innovative approach to sustainability. He introduced visiting cards that can be planted, which upon proper care, grow into marigold plants. This green initiative has gone viral, sparking a wave of positive reactions from netizens.
On June 12, 2024, Gupta took to social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) to share images of his unique visiting cards. The post quickly resonated with users, garnering nearly 732,000 views. The cards are made from seed paper, which is free from chemical coatings or treatments, ensuring easy decomposition in soil and providing the embedded marigold seeds with the potential to germinate. Even if discarded improperly, the seed paper will decompose, and the seeds may sprout naturally.
The caption on the post read, “Anyone coming to my office from now on will get this card. It grows into a beautiful marigold plant when planted.” This message demonstrates not only the cards’ functioning, but also Gupta’s commitment to environmental sustainability. The response from social media users has been largely favorable, with many praising the initiative and expressing a desire to implement similar procedures.
One user commented, “What an innovative idea! Kindly share where to get such recyclable cards printed,” while another commended Gupta’s efforts, writing, “A well-driven initiative, sir. Do you think the government should adopt more environmentally friendly practices like this?” Another user highlighted the broader impact of Gupta’s initiative, noting, “Very good initiative. Shubham Ji, @Yoth2047, has been skilling tribal women to prepare such cards, which include Tulsi, marigold, and many others. This truly sets the right message!”