Mysore/Mysuru: In a thought-provoking event held at Vijnana Bhavan, University in Mysuru to commemorate International Youth Day, prominent figures in politics came together to emphasise the pivotal role of youth in shaping the future of governance and politics. 

The programme was initiated by the Grassroots Research and Advocacy Movement (GRAAM) in partnership with Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA) and the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) as part of the Youth for Governance Fellowship in Mysuru.

The event featured spe-akers including Darshan Puttannaiah, MLA of Melukote Assembly Constituency, Aishwarya Mahadev, Youth Congress leader and AICC Spokesperson and V. Kaveesh Gowda, educationist and young politician.

The panel discussion was moderated by Dr. Basavaraju R. Shreshta, India Coordinator of the Delivering Democracy Working Group of G20 C20 and Executive Director of GRAAM, and it touched upon various aspects of youth involvement in governance and politics.

Youth in governance and politics

Darshan Puttannaiah emphasised the critical importance of young individuals actively participating in the political arena. He asserted, “Our democracy thrives when the voices and energies of our youth are harnessed. Today’s youth possess a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing our nation. Their participation is not just a privilege but a necessity for our collective progress.”

Responding to questions, Darshan stressed that movements such as the farmers’ (Raitha Chaluvali) movement are key to strengthening democracy and governance. He highlighted the Karnataka Raitha Sangha’s framework to engage more youth and strengthen the movement.

Affirmative action and reservation

Dr. Basavaraju Shreshta cited examples of countries like Africa offering reservations for youth to ensure their adequate representation in politics. He also mentioned Turkey’s lowering of the stipulated age to contest elections to 18 years and Austria’s lowering of the minimum voting age to 16 years. 

Aishwarya Mahadev ex-pressed the need for affirmative action in favour of youth. She remarked that, “It is essential to ensure youth participation in the political ecosystem by reserving seats in all elections, similar to the reservations we have for women. We need to secure positions for young leaders in Central, State and local democratic structures.”

Politics as a service

Aishwarya Mahadev encouraged youth to start with small steps like local cleaning drives to bring about larger socio-political change.

Kaveesh Gowda highlighted the essence of politics as a means to serve the community.  “Politics should not be viewed as a career but as a path to serve the people,” he said. 

All three speakers unanimously stressed the significance of active participation within the political system to bring about meaningful change. They encouraged youths to be active agents in delivering democracy at the grassroots without succumbing to selfish and monetary ambitions.

Driving political change

The panellists acknowledged the need for greater political will to bring about political change, but they also underlined that active youth participation could be the catalyst for change in the political landscape. 

Aside from the panel discussion, the event featured various activities, including a street play competition, poster presentation competition, quiz competition, and a reel challenge, engaging more than 325 youth from Mysuru and nearly 40 educational institutions.

For more information about the Youth for Governance Fellowship and the programme, contact 96202-07879. Also, visit  www.graam.org.in.