A group of people from diverse fields have come together to undertake projects to make the city cleaner and better.
These Kolkatans — principals of schools and colleges, social activists and entrepreneurs — intend to adopt corporation schools, plant trees in locations assigned by the civic body, construct toilets and beautify school surroundings.
The project, Kolkata WeCare, intends to support the civic body and "bridge the gap between citizens and the civic body".
Around 60 members of the team met on Wednesday to discuss a roadmap.
"We care for Kolkata and from a sense of responsibility towards our city, we want to work for its betterment. We have resources that can be utilised for this rather than leaving everything to the civic body to achieve. We want to support the corporation and bridge the gap between them and the citizens," said Imran Zaki, president of Faces (Friends of Alumni/Alumnae of Colleges, Educational Institutes and Schools).
Pradip Chopra, chairman of PS Group; Shekher Mehta, former president of Rotary International; and Zaki are spearheading the project.
The group had a meeting with the civic body last month.
"Their intent is good. If they want something from us, they will have to submit a plan to us," said a senior official of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.
"The KMC wants what the citizens want. If they want to do some work, it is good," the official said.
On board are heads of the La Martiniere schools, Shri Shikshayatan School and Lakshmipat Singhania Academy.
"It is our city and it is our duty to participate in its development," said Rupkatha Sarkar, principal, La Martiniere for Girls.
Bratati Bhattacharyya, secretary-general of Shri Shikshayatan School, said: "We can plant trees on the approach roads to schools and maintain them. If one school does it, others would follow."