Yuva Jagruti Club Leads Social Change in Bharatpur Slum Through Indian Constitution

Bhubaneswar: In the heart of Bharatpur slum, Bhubaneswar, a group of young changemakers is rewriting the narrative of community empowerment. Yuva Jagruti, a youth club formed under the Samjho Toh! programme, has emerged as a powerful force for social change by using the Indian Constitution as a guiding tool to tackle deep-rooted issues like child labour, child marriage, alcoholism, and drug addiction.

At the core of their mission lies the vision of “Ghar Ghar Mein Samvidhan” (Constitution in Every Home), encouraging civic awareness at every doorstep. The Samjho Toh! programme equips youth to examine social challenges through a constitutional lens of equality, justice, and fraternity, turning them into active citizens and leaders of change.

Under the guidance of Youth Facilitator Gulabsa Sahin from VIEWS, Yuva Jagruti has organized street plays, Mohalla Sabhas, awareness drives, and community dialogues that have already impacted hundreds of residents.

The club’s Fraternity Lab initiative brought together government officials, NGO representatives, doctors, advocates, teachers, Anganwadi workers, and community members to discuss sensitive topics such as menstrual hygiene, SC/ST reservation policies, and LGBTQ+ inclusion. By engaging diverse voices, the youth created safe spaces for dialogue, challenged stigma, and promoted fraternity.

“Youth leadership gave me the opportunity to raise my voice against gender-based violence. Earlier I was silent, but now my voice is heard,” said Laxmi Goswami, a graduate student and active member of the club.

Another youth leader, Sahil Mahapatra, shared how the team’s street plays and awareness drives reached over 200 people: “This has helped the community to understand the dangers of alcohol and drug addiction and take steps to address it at the local level.”

For Manisha Mohanty, the journey has been transformative: “My understanding of the Indian Constitution has deepened, and I have started viewing various issues through a constitutional lens.”

The initiative reflects how youth, when empowered with knowledge of the Constitution, can challenge inequality and inspire grassroots transformation. The ongoing work of Yuva Jagruti stands as a model of how civic awareness and collective action can build a more inclusive and equitable society.