The online Civil 20 Youth Parliament (India) was organized by the Education and Digital Transformation Working Group. Over 370 participants attended the event representing twelve countries. Twenty-three youth delegates highlighted key challenges and presented actionable solutions.
The expert facilitators were Shri. D. Ramakrishna Rao, National President, Vidya Bharati, and Shri. Ritesh Kumar Singh (IAS), Principal Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, Karnataka, provided feedback and encouragement to the delegates.
EDT Chair Dr. Prema Nedungadi, Director, Amrita CREATE, and Chairperson, School of Computing, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri, remarked that the C20 Youth Parliament envisioned seeking feedback and suggestions from the youth based on the real-life problems they face and witness in their communities and states. Br. Rāmānandāmṛta Chaitanya served as the moderator.
Shri. D. Ramakrishna Rao is the National President of Vidya Bharati. An experienced educational leader said teaching values that build up individuals working at the grassroots level across India, focusing on untouched and remote rural areas, is imperative. He said, “Education is a powerful weapon to improve, and it is an important tool as it develops knowledge, wisdom, and value based on an individual’s response to all the challenges in the journey of one’s life.”
Some of the key challenges discussed by the delegates include unemployment, mental health, women’s safety, disability inclusion, addictions (media and substances), lack of self-confidence, malnutrition in rural areas, lack of values, disconnect with nature, female dropout rates at schools and colleges, lack of life skills, child marriage and turning to crime.
Shri. Ritesh Kumar Singh (IAS) is the Principal Secretary of the Department of School Education and Literacy, Karnataka. After listening to the youth parliament delegates, he summarized the current societal challenges faced by the youth. He said, “As a society, we as parents, teachers, and the community must work together.” He appreciated the insights shared and the solutions presented as they could help bring transformation in the education system.
Mokshamrita Chaitanya shared his thoughts on the event. He said, “It shows the potential of Indian youth, and if given the right opportunity, our youth are capable of coming out with such great results, and aid stands for awakened youth unite for that one, and today we have seen and heard how the awakened youth look and sound like.”
