Yuva Jagruti Club Leads Social Change in Bharatpur Slum, Through Indian Constitution
Gopalpur : Yuva Jagruti, a youth club formed under the Samjho Toh! programme, has taken bold steps to promote the Samdhan Live Dialogue and Fraternity Lab in Bharatpur slum, Bhubaneswar. Through a series of impactful campaigns, the youth have been raising awareness and encouraging community dialogue on pressing social issues such as child labour, child marriage, alcoholism, and drug addiction.
The Samjho Toh! programme aims to generate awareness among youth about the Indian Constitution and nurture them as active citizens. By developing youth leaders who examine all issues and rights through a constitutional lens, the programme empowers young people to foster equality, justice, and fraternity in their communities. Today, these young leaders have become true changemakers of the Indian Constitution, carrying forward the powerful message of “Ghar Ghar Mein Samvidhan” (Constitution in Every Home) to inspire civic awareness at every doorstep.
Under the dynamic leadership of Youth Facilitator Ms. Gulabsa Sahin from VIEWS, the club members organized street plays, awareness drives, and community interactions to address these issues and inspire positive change.
As part of the Fraternity Lab initiative, the youth engaged with a diverse range of stakeholders — including government officials, NGO representatives, doctors, advocates, teachers, community members, and Anganwadi workers — to gather perspectives on menstrual hygiene, SC/ST reservation policies, and LGBTQ+ inclusion. These dialogues aimed to foster understanding, reduce stigma, and promote fraternity across different sections of society.
“My understanding of the Indian Constitution has deepened, and I have started viewing various issues through a constitutional lens,” said Ms. Manisha Mohanty, a youth leader of Yuva Jagruti.
Mr. Sahil Mahapatra, another youth leader, shared, “We conducted street plays and Mohalla Sabhas to generate awareness among over 200 people on stopping alcohol and drug addiction. This has helped the community to understand the issue and take steps to address it at the local level.”
“I was always silent, but youth leadership gave me the opportunity to participate in various activities and raise my voice against gender-based violence. Now, my voice is heard,” said Ms. Laxmi Goswami, a graduate student and active member of the club.
The Samjho Toh! programme focuses on empowering young people to create safe spaces for open conversations, bridge divides, and take collective action for a more inclusive and equitable community. The work of Yuva Jagruti in Bharatpur slum stands as a testament to the power of youth leadership in driving grassroots social change.
