Youth For Governance- Reports to be translated into action

Mysuru: It was an insightful closure to the Youth For Governance Fellowship (Y4G) in Mysuru,  a yearlong fellowship program conducted by Grassroots Research and Advocacy Movement (GRAAM), in association with Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA), and Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) to increase the participation of youth in governance and encourage them to be the agents of change in a democracy. 

Y4G was a program launched in January 2022 with an aim to develop the youth’s willingness to contribute to the participatory functioning of governance institutions and promoted the ideas of federalism and citizenry and decentralized governance in India.

After a yearlong training, the Y4G fellows presented a research report with findings from four community-based participatory studies. These studies ranged from emotional awareness wellness in adolescent populations, zero waste management to the ecological impact of development in Chamundi hills, and the role of local communities in keeping the lakes of Mysuru alive and clean. 21 youths from various colleges participated in the first cohort of the program. Having a background in engineering, medical science, anthropology and social work, these youths displayed an interest in contributing to governance, community development and citizenry. 
  
Dr Nagaraju, Chief Medical Officer of MCC, Mr Ramesh Kikkeri, Sustainable Development Professional, Dr Jyothi, Chairperson of MSW Department and Prof Indira M, Former Chairperson of Economics Department of Mysore University, Dr Sadashiva Murthy B.M Professor and HOD Environmental Engineering, Sri Jayachamarajendra College of
Engineering, Dr.Gangadhar, HOD, Dept. of Anthropology, UOM were the panelist to review the presentations.  

Dr Basavaraju R Shreshta, the Executive Director of GRAAM announced that the research works of the Y4G fellows would be documented and shared with the Mysuru City Corporation to see the research translating into actions. 

The valedictory program was held in December in the JSS Medical College, Mysuru premises with Dr. Shalini Rajneesh, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka, Department of Planning, Programme Monitoring and Statistics addressing the youth as a keynote speaker. Dr. Basavaraju R Shreshta, Executive Director, GRAAM chaired the program in the presence of Dr. Praveen Kulkarni, Vice Principal of JSS Medical College, Dr. Anil Bilimale, the Faculty of JSSMPH, and Dr. Anushuman from PRIA.

Addressing the youth, Dr. Shalini highlighted the findings from the recently approved Karnataka Youth Policy 2022 and stated that the state comprised 30% of the youth population. She emphasized that the state has a huge youth force and that the future belonged to them. However, she shared her concern expressing whether these youth are ready for the future. 

Talking about the program, Dr Basavaraju R Shreshta said that Y4G was envisioned as a platform for working towards the development of Mysuru. The Executive Director encouraged the student population to engage themselves in the democratic process of the country.