Active citizenship, mental health of youth and CSR responsibilities discussed at youth conference

Correspondent

NewsBits.in

BHOPAL:  A two day state-level youth conference, Yuva Aagaz, Yuva Aawaz, (Beginning by Youth, Voice of Youth) organized by NGO Synergy Sansthan in collaboration with Bhopal School of Social Sciences commenced today.

The conference aims to discuss various aspects of youth development and to actively engage them as participants in societal growth.

The inaugural speech was delivered by Vimal Jat, CEO of Synergy Sansthan, who highlighted the challenges and opportunities in youth-centric development and provided insights into SYNERGY Sansthan’s initiatives.

Anil Gulati, UNICEF, Madhya Pradesh emphasized the importance of youth engagement and their active participation. Rajesh Kumar Gupta, Director, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Good Governance and Policy Analysis discussed the role of youth in policy-making. Dr. Smriti Gargava, Deputy Director, IGNOU, Bhopal shared her thoughts on empowering youth through education. Pramila Chouhan, Co-Founder and Director, Musht Samaj Seva Samiti, highlighted the necessary aspects for youth involvement in societal development.

The first panel discussion focused on 'Youth Active Citizenship' and featured Abhishek Das, Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies, Dr. R.N. Syag, Civic Act Foundation, Delhi, Gauri Singhi, Dasra, Mumbai, Rajkumar Verma, Youth Officer NSS India, Bhopal, Aman Madan, Azim Premji University, Bhopal, Preeti Uikey, Youth Representative. The discussion explored the definition of active citizenship, the responsibilities of youth, and their contributions to society.

Preeti, a leader from the Gond tribal community, praised the "We the Citizens" program for her personal growth and stressed the need for sustained investment in youth. Gauri highlighted the importance of self-awareness and holistic youth leadership development, while Rajkumar called for redefining active citizenship as both words and action.

Aman Madan of Azim Premji University discussed the need for a deeper understanding of youth roles and fostering dialogue. Abhishek Das emphasized the balance between market, government, and society in youth engagement, and Dr Syag underscored the importance of practicing citizenship in alignment with constitutional principles.

The discussion underscored the necessity for long-term investment and comprehensive approaches to youth development.

The second panel discussion centered on 'Youth Mental Health' and included Kanika Sinha, Commutiny The Youth Collective, Delhi, Payal Pandit, Youth Representative, Muskan Pradhan, Sangath Representative, Bhopal, Aseem Siddiqui, Azim Premji University, Bangalore, Dr. Rutwik J. Gandhe, HOD, Social Work, BSSS. The discussion highlighted the importance of mental health, suicide prevention, and addressing diversity among youth.

Dr Gandhe emphasized that direct engagement with youth is the most effective approach to support their mental well-being. Payal Pandit highlighted that academic pressure; family conflicts, communication gaps, addiction, and unemployment are major factors contributing to the alarming rates of suicide among young people.

Asim Siddique pointed out that while there is much discussion about the mental pressure on youth, the root causes of this pressure are often overlooked and need to be addressed. Muskan Pradhan shared that civil society organizations have begun creating safe spaces where youth can openly discuss issues they may not feel comfortable sharing in more public settings, and stressed the importance of expanding these spaces.

Kanika Sinha noted that the COVID-19 pandemic, which left many young people bereaved, has underscored the impact of such traumatic events on youth mental health, emphasizing the need to recognize and address the diverse issues affecting youth well-being.

The third panel discussion was on 'CSR, Philanthropies, and Youth Development' with Sharvi Dublish, Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, Ajay Pandit, SYNERGY Sansthan, Sanjay Sharma, Bal Raksha Bharat, Delhi, Vardhana Puri, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Delhi and Harsh Gupta, Azim Premji Foundation. The discussion focused on the role of CSR and philanthropy in youth development and the strategies needed to support it.

In this session, experts highlighted the vital role of corporate social responsibility and philanthropic efforts in fostering youth development.

Sharvi Dublish emphasized the need for scaling initiatives with depth, urging funding agencies to initiate pilot projects tailored to different contexts. Ajay Pandit underscored the importance of grassroots organizations in effectively implementing CSR programs that address local youth needs.

Sanjay Sharma pointed out the growing focus of the philanthropy sector on supporting startups, alongside NGOs, as key drivers of youth development. Vardhana Puri called for long-term, sustainable strategies to create lasting impacts, while Harsh Gupta stressed the importance of evidence-based approaches to ensure the effectiveness and scalability of these initiatives.