India, the world’s largest democracy, also boasts one of the largest school systems globally. Schools serve as melting pots where students and teachers from diverse backgrounds come together, mirroring the richness of our society.
A couple of years before I joined Desh Apnayen Sahayog Foundation’s operations in the state of Madhya Pradesh, I had an interesting encounter with a school teacher from Bengaluru. She said, “Padhne-likhne wale ko rajneeti se door rehna chahiye.” (“An educated person should stay away from politics.”) I believe that this perspective, unfortunately common, can be detrimental in a democracy, as it alienates students—the very future of our nation—from societal engagement. Therefore, it is probably essential to remind ourselves that politics isn’t inherently negative; rather, it plays a pivotal role in shaping how individuals engage with their communities and country.
I also recall another incident that took place around the same time. A simple act of borrowing a water bottle from an eighth-grade student led to a profound realisation. Shortly after I quenched my thirst, his classmate approached me and advised against drinking from that bottle due to the family’s dietary practices. This experience underscored the complexities of cultural perceptions and practices within our schools and the need for empathy and acceptance besides skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, civic literacy, and more.
The ACTiZENS’ Club Programme
The ACTiZENS’ Club is a flagship programme of DASF, aimed at shaping Alert, Informed and Active Citizens. We engage school students from 14 states of India in monthly activities centred around civic and social issues. In Madhya Pradesh where I now live, we are working in over 500 schools spread across four districts. Through activities such as Mock Elections, Club members not only gain theoretical knowledge but also actionable insights. They learn about their rights as citizens and the power of the vote, while the elected Club President and the Club members get opportunities to hone their leadership skills.
While participating in an activity titled ‘The Constitution as a Living Document’, students from a school in Bhopal created a mini constitution for their classroom. Through this exercise, they not only gained a deeper understanding of democratic principles but also expressed and sharpened their perspectives on respect and equality. As someone who is passionate about these issues, it was wonderful to be a part of this experience.
The Club activities also help students discover common ground and take collective action. One of the activities made a student realise that many of her classmates shared her concerns about environmental issues, debunking her initial fear of being alone in advocating for change.
Stories of Change
In Shajapur, some of the Club members identified the lack of proper playground facilities at their school and met with the Sarpanch (village head) to discuss the issue. The Sarpanch promptly filed a report and assured the students of overseeing work completion upon securing the budget.
In a Sehore-based school, the absence of washroom facilities and a boundary wall around the school presented significant challenges. Motivated by what they learnt as part of a Club activity, the ninth-grade students wrote to the Sarpanch and spoke with the Zilla Parishad (District Council) chairman to address the urgent need for these facilities. A teacher from the school informed us that construction of the washrooms has begun, with plans in progress for the boundary wall.
In another school in Bhopal, students initiated collective efforts to clean and maintain their school premises, inspiring a culture of responsibility, cleanliness and better waste management among peers. Taking a cue from one of the Club activities, a student residing in Vidisha district, also took action in her neighbourhood. Identifying a recurring issue of garbage accumulation near her residence causing unpleasant odours, she mobilised her brother, father and a friend. Collaboratively, they undertook the task of cleaning the area and had a dialogue with neighbours about better waste management practices. As a result of their efforts, the previously neglected space now stands clean, devoid of any further instances of garbage dumping.
In Conclusion
It is remarkable to witness such active engagement from students through just a few activities that were offered to the schools by the Desh Apnayen team. This reaffirms my belief that rather than discouraging students from politics, we must encourage them to take on leadership roles for their neighbourhood and for the nation’s betterment. Understanding democracy and local governance systems can be vital for positive and lasting change.
I would like to summarise the elements that have played a catalytic role in our work so far: (1) The progressive mindset of the state education departments, (2) Innovative and interesting activities designed to inculcate ACTiZEN values and the integration of The ACTiZENS’ Club into the school timetable, (3) Extensive support and rewards for the teachers, (4) Our deep focus on monitoring and evaluation practices and (5) The influence of the Desh Apnayen vision, pledge and narratives of change.
At the organisation, we recognise that the process of creating ACTiZENS is a continuous and lifelong journey. Educational policies have also consistently stressed the importance of fostering responsible citizenship as a core aim of education, be it through the Mudaliar Commission report of 1953 or the National Education Policy (NEP) of 2020, As we strive towards scaling our efforts in order to impact more children and youth, I am reminded by the timeless words of Shakeel Badayuni’s song, “इन्साफ़ की डगर पे, बच्चों दिखाओ चल के, ये देश है तुम्हारा, नेता तुम्हीं हो कल के.” (“On the path of justice, children, step forward, this nation is yours, you are the leaders of tomorrow.”)
May we all create many more ACTiZENS who contribute towards making India the world’s best democracy!
Mr. Avinash Soni works as an Engagement Manager (Madhya Pradesh) at Desh Apnayen Sahayog Foundation, which envisions the creation of Democracy 2.0 through ACTiZENS – Alert, Informed and Active Citizens.
He completed his BA (Hons.) from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi and pursued his MA in Education from Azim Premji University, Bengaluru. He has qualified the UGC-NET exam. He is deeply interested in the promotion of democratic values.
