YOUTH CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IN INDIA:

A DEVELOPMENTAL PERSPECTIVE

RACHANA BHANGAOKAR, Ph. D.

Assistant Professor

DULARI MEHTA

Project Fellow

Department of Human Development and Family Studies

UGC-Center of Advance Study (CAS) in Human Development

The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda

INDIA URBAN CONFERENCE : EVIDENCE AND EXPERIENCE (IUC 2011)

MYSORE, NOVEMBER 17-20, 2011

DEEP DIVE SESSION

THEME: STATE OF CITIZENSHIP IN URBAN INDIA

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

An interdisciplinary, applied field of study in the social sciences

Integrates perspectives from psychology, anthropology, sociology and allied fields

Studies developmental changes in the individual in his / her socio-cultural context, with special emphasis on gender and development.

Concerned with optimizing human potential with contextually informed and culturally appropriate interventions

RESEARCH ON YOUTH

Understanding adolescence / emerging adulthood / youth

life stages, crucial for identity development

Focus on positive development and resilience

Inputs in childhood, adolescence and emerging adulthood

(youth) important for the development of citizen identity

Youth development and civic engagement / voluntarism a

new vista for research in India; Lack of formal service

learning programs in schools and universities

Positive Youth Development: A

Theoretical Framework

Proposed by Lerner, Damon, and others- USA

Aligns with the positive psychology movement

Absence of problems does not ensure positive development

Enhancing positive opportunities and outcomes in immediate environments is essential

Comprises 5 Cs- Confidence, Competence, Character, Caring/Compassion and Connection and the 6th C of Contribution

Civic engagement as a catalyst for positive development

It enhances the moral centrality of social issues in the lives of youth, necessary to foster the development of civic identity

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND CIVIC

ENGAGEMENT IN INDIA

India is among the world’s youngest nations with more than

40% of its population in the age range of 13-35 years

Reaping India’s ‘demographic dividend’

Indian youth: A complex, heterogeneous group

Youth as social capital; implications on nation building

Positive youth development and unequal opportunities for

the same (w.r.t gender, social class, place of residence)

Voluntarism and youth civic engagement: An avenue for

enhanced individual development and positive social

change

Conceptual Framework

Studies on Youth Civic Engagement

Youth civic engagement: Analytical profiles (2010)

Mentoring in the context of youth civic engagement

(on going)

School-going adolescents’ views on citizenship and

civic engagement (on going)

Understanding perspectives on voluntarism as a

value in the Indian context (proposed for 2012)

Research Objectives

Broad Objectives

• To understand youth civic engagement in the Indian context

• To understand the personal and environmental factors that enable

youth civic engagement

Specific Objectives

• To explain forms and processes of civic engagement among

Indian youth

• To know the developmental outcomes of civic engagement for self

development

• To explore the moral underpinning of civic engagement, if any.

• To understand the impact of youth civic engagement on their

families, peers and communities.

Method

Qualitative study

In-depth interviews / Case Profiles

Purposive sampling

Snowball Technique

Personal contact with participants

Informed consent

Participants were 19 civically engaged youth, both

men and women, from Vadodara, Ahmedabad and

Pune

Demographic Profile of Participants

(N=19)

Civic Engagement Causes (N=19)

Process of Civic Engagement (N=19)

Process of Civic Engagement for Youth from

Disadvantaged Backgrounds (N=6)

Shift in Moral Perspectives (N=19)

Rights

Harmony

Coexistence

Harmony

Neha Patel, Vadodara,

Animal Protection

Hozefa Ajmeri, Ahmedabad,

Communal Harmony

Anilbhai & Manish Solanki, Vadodara,

Tree Lovers’ Foundation

Johanna Lokhande, Vadodara, Social

Justice

Dinesh Gandhi, Vadodara,

Science Awareness

Kalpana Gagdekar, Ahmedabad,

(Budhan) Theater for Social Change

Rushabh Gandhi, Vadodara,

Yuva Unstoppable

Aakash Contractor, Vadodara, Animal

Protection

Effect of Civic Engagement on Others

(N=19)

Sensitive/

caring

compassionate

(N=9, N=5)

Awareness/

Empowerment

(N=9, N=4)

Change of

perception

about

participants/

their work

(N=10, N=6)

Attitude

Change

(N=4, N=5)

Family Change in

behavior like

feeding

animals, water

plants, not

discriminating

Increased

awareness

about issues;

refer people in

trouble to them

take pride in

their work,

trust them;

are happy,

satisfied, at

peace

Stopped

celebrating

festivals that

harm animals,

Volunteer

Sensitive/

caring

compassiona

te

(N=9, N=4)

Awareness/

Empowerment

& Behavior

Change

(N=9, N=4)

Change of

perception

about

participant/

their work

(N=10, N=5)

Networks expand

(N=6, N=2)

Friends Stopped

hitting

animals;

turned

vegetarian

Would seek

information;

use it and

spread it to

others, join the

cause

Are proud to

be their

friends, respect

their work;

believe in them

Like minded

people meet,

start to work

together and

make a

difference

Effect of Civic Engagement on Others

(N=19)

Sensitive/ caring

compassionate

(N=10, N= 5)

Empowerment &

Behavior Change

(N=11, N=5)

Change of

perception about

participants/ their

work (N=7 ,N=4)

Community

togetherness

(N=1, N=1)

Community

of reference

Know their rights;

raise their voice; join

the cause; live with

dignity; regain

confidence

Considers them their

“ray of hope”

Comes to gather in

times of trouble; share

a common platform to

represent their views/

problems, become

united Community

at large

Film festivals, drama,

PILs

Attitude change;

seek help,

suggestion, advice

whenever necessary

i.e. the larger

community is aware

of their work and

call for them

whenever necessary

Appreciate their

work, motivate them;

show a desire to

contribute in any

way possible;

neighborhoods

recognize them

Comes together for a

common cause;

contribute in cash or

kind

Effect of Civic Engagement on Others

(N=19)

The Road Ahead

Late adolescence – a critical period for (civic) identity development: Where are our INPUTS?

Role of schools, colleges: Providing formal avenues and choices for being civically engaged

Gender and civic engagement: Unequal opportunities

Urban youth – level of awareness and ability to respond to urban challenges

Existing infrastructure and diverse opportunities for civic engagement in urban areas –NGOs and other civic forums for volunteering

Interface with National Youth Policy,

2003, 2010

2010 policy draft acknowledges diversity and

vulnerable minorities within youth populations in India

Policy emphasizes civic engagement for social harmony

and nation building

Suggests creating forums and committees to address

issues

Fragmented view of central issues like health,

education, communal harmony

Much focus on national programs like NSS, NYKS –

Issues of program evaluation

Interface with National Youth Policy,

2003, 2010

Acknowledging already engaged youth

Understanding processes of engagement in micro-contexts

Liaisons between NGOs, Colleges / Universities, Corporate Sector and Government Functionaries; Replicating successful models of service learning

Integrating civic engagement in the school curriculum