"Without fraternity,
liberty and equality could
not become a natural course
of things."
DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR
Center for Promoting Democracy (CPD) is dedicated to achieving these goals through constructive engagement with Indian society (samaaj), state (sarkaar) and market (bazaar).
CPD’s Methodology
Understand yourself, your rights, the history of how these rights were achieved. Learn the responsibilities of a citizen in a democracy. Be experimental – document and analyse the impact of existing policies. Question whether they achieve their goals, and ask why they don’t.
01 EDUCATE
Engage with the issues that deny you and your community their constitutional rights. Build capacity to achieve those rights, understand the governance machinery and create spaces for critical dialogue – collectivise and agitate when you need to make your voice heard.
02 AGITATE
Take agency of your own future, imagine a different reality, dream of alternatives and mobilise the governance machinery, policies, and practices to realise these alternatives.
PROGRAMMES
Active Citizenry
Raising awareness among youth about their rights and responsibilities, and empowering them to engage with government institutions and people’s representatives.
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Democratising Water
Under the banner of Pani Haq Samiti, a people’s campaign for universal water access, we have taken this battle to the courts and won!
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Democracy to the last mile
Engaging with those living without permanent shelter in Mumbai, by facilitating entitlements and advocating for access to basic services.
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Participatory urban governance
Using existing avenues and striving to create more platforms for civil society engagement in urban governance.
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Humanitarian Response
Responding with humanitarian aid to frontline communities to support marginalised groups that are disproportionately affected by calamities.
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Doston ki Duniyadaari Fellowship
This fellowship focuses on building young people’s understanding about the state and their relationship with it as citizens. It offers exposure to urban youth from marginalised backgrounds to know their rights offered by the Indian constitution, engage with their communities to document and understand the issues faced by them collectively, and mobilise them to gain rightful services from the government.
IN THE NEWS
COLLABORATIONS
UROOJ
A collaboration with Savitri Fatima Foundation for Inclusive Development, Mumbra, to promote citizenship education among youth from religious minority groups
Baatein aman ki
An initiative for spreading communal harmony and fraternity among diverse communities of India by supporting constructive dialogues and cultural exhibitions.
HOMELESS COLLECTIVE
Mumbai-based city-wide collective campaigning for the rights of homeless communities
Samruddha Maharashtra
A campaign bringing together urban citizen groups from across Maharashtra state including NGOs and activists to promote participatory urban governance
Samvidhaan Prachaarak
A youth-led campaign to promote constitutional values through education and training
PEOPLE OF CPD
CPD is a people-centred organisation. Our work is powered by a team of dedicated youth, supported by diverse friends from various professions, and guided by the vision of our board members with extensive experience in the social sector.
