ACTIVE CITIZENRY
Raising awareness among youth about their rights and responsibilities, building a critical consciousness by encouraging them to question, challenge, and lead by empowering them to engage with government institutions and people’s representatives.
'Praja' se 'Nagrik' - From 'subject' to 'citizen'
CPD aims to cultivate a strong sense of rights and responsibilities that are essential to a democracy of the people, by the people and for the people. We work to build constitutional awareness in young Indians through critically engaged discussions, exhibitions, training programs, exposure visits, and campaigns about the principles of India’s constitution. We encourage them to inculcate democratic principles in their everyday life; including at school, in interactions within their communities and neighbourhoods, as well as within the family. We give them the awareness and skills to engage with democratic institutions of the country, and hold them accountable to citizens.
Our initiatives include a public discussion platform called “Story of democracy” where we raise current socio-political issues and youth participation in electoral politics. We also organise community celebrations to mark important historical events and festivals.
14th February as Utsav Premacha or Festival of Love with the motto “Pyaar karo Nafrat nahin”: While a communal social agenda is being spread in the country through hate, against inter-caste, and inter-community marriages, CPD joins hands with fellow grassroots organisers in Mumbai to make a bold declaration of love through the Utsav Premacha. These celebrations bring young hearts together on Valentine’s Day in a public space to uphold the values of humanity and equality – across lines of identity differences. Starting with just a handful of attendees in 2021, our gatherings have grown to attract hundreds of youth, showing that even a small initiative can have a powerful impact.
26th November as Constitution Day: We began celebrating Constitution Day in 2017. We believe that not only understanding, but also celebrating the constitution, is crucial to the journey from being ‘praja‘ (subjects) to ‘nagrik‘ (citizens). Through month-long campaigns in neighbourhoods and universities, we spread the spirit of the constitution, and contribute to the Samvidhaan Jagar Yatra, a city-wide rally led by a wide coalition of civil society organisations and people’s movements in Mumbai.
15th September as International Day of Democracy: Today, there is more critique of democracy than understanding of its mechanisms and contributions to civic life. Therefore, we mark the International Day of Democracy to build an awareness about our role as citizens in shaping our democracy, and its role in shaping our lives.
Doston ki Duniyadari Fellowship
This fellowship was founded in 2023. It 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. It trains them to engage with their communities through understanding and document their collective issues. Building on the extensive advocacy experience of CPD, this fellowship goes a step further to expose youth to democratic methods of mobilising communities to gain their rightful services from the government.
Partner to Election Commission of Maharashtra for voter registrations
In the lead-up to the general elections of 2024, CPD was selected as an official partner of the Election Commission of Maharashtra to facilitate voter registrations and increase voter awareness to encourage a high voter turn-out. CPD facilitated over 10,000 voter registrations, and was felicitated by the Chief Election Officer of Maharashtra for its efforts.
Aisa Bharat Banayenge
Aisa Bharat Banayenge is a multi-lingual zine built through community collaboration to voice concerns, ideas and reflections of young Indians who dream of a democratic India built on constitutional values.
