New Delhi : World Vision India organized a national-level panel discussion on the socio-political issues affecting youth across the nation, as part of its four-day national forumin Delhi today. The panel discussion aimed to discuss and understand the issues faced by youngsters and prepare a charter of demand to be submitted to the Central and State governments.
The session was moderated by Nirupam Jha, Advisor, Youth Investment, and among the panelists were Mr. Reni Jacob, Advocacy Director, World Vision India, Mr. Amitabh Behar, Director, National Foundation India, Mr. Ramakant Rai, Convenor, National Coalition for Education, Ms. Razia Ismail, Convenor, India Alliance for Child Rights and Steve Roche, Director Secretary, Nine is Mine Campaign.
The national forum was organized to equip the nation’s youth and children with information and awareness to help bring about value-based governance and social accountability in a manner that promotes peace and justice for all.
Around 150 children and youth from the age group of 14 years to 24 years participated in the national forum. These participants are from the most vulnerable locations where World Vision India operates and they represent various children and youth networks including, State YPJP network, Play for Peace Network and Child Welfare Department network among others.
“Every third person in an Indian city today is a youth. In about seven years, the median individual in India will be 29 years old and very likely a city dweller, making it the youngest country in the world. A closer analysis of the urban youth shows that greater political participation and the engagement of youngsters at the policy level can be increased by improving the quality of life of the emerging young population. The national forum was organized to understand the fundamental problems faced by young people and to collectively raise these issues to the Central and State governments,” said Mr. Reni Jacob, Advocacy Director, World Vision India.
Some of the key topics discussed during the forum todayinclude the contemporary socio-political context of India, the causes of poverty as well as the participation of youth in promoting justice and peace. The panel also discussedthe international development agenda such as the Millennium Development Goal (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The national forum was organized by The Young People for Justice and Peace (YPJP), an initiative of World Vision India. YPJP is a dynamic platform that provides opportunity to the Indian youth to come together and collectively analyze the issues of justice and socio-political context affecting their well-being, including that of children.
The YPJP model educates the children and youth of their fundamental rights as well as their responsibilities towards the nation. By the end of the four-day conference, YPJP aims to give the youngsters a deeper understanding of their role in the processes of development and promoting peace and justice. The children and youth also paid tribute to Late Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and observed the 1st World Students’ Day during the conference.
World Vision India is a Christian grassroots humanitarian organisation that serves all people regardless of religion, caste, race, ethnicity or gender. Through development, relief and advocacy, we strive to create lasting change in the lives of children, their families and communities living in contexts of poverty and injustice. World Vision works in nearly 100 countries worldwide, and we have been in India since 1962. Today we work in over 6200 urban, rural and tribal communities spread over 163 districts across 25 states impacting the lives of 24 lakh children.