Constitution Day: Yuva Dastak's 25-Year Vision for Empowering Marginalized Youths

Motivated by the principles of the Constitution, Yuva Dastak focuses on examining and promoting principles such as Justice, Liberty, Fraternity, and Equality. The organization is dedicated to advocating for the rights of youth, especially from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC), who often find themselves at the margins of society.

Lucknow: As the nation completed its 75th year of independence, the government celebrated it in the form of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav in 2022. Activists in the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh realized that youths from the marginalized groups of the country have not received their due. With this realisation, was the seed of Yuva Dastak sown, which is a social organization founded on the principle of serving the youth, particularly those from marginalized communities. Comprising lawyers and activists, the organization has a long-term vision spanning 25 years, aiming to address gaps in constitutional values by the centenary of India's independence. Established in 2022, Yuva Dastak has completed its first year as of November 26, 2023.

The Mooknayak spoke to Kuldeep Kumar Baudh to discuss the motivation behind Yuva Dastak. "On the occasion of Babasaheb," he said, "Republic Day on January 26, 1950, we are going to enter into a life of contradictions. In politics, we will have equality, and in social and economic aspects, we continue to deny the principle of one man one value. How long shall we continue to live this life of contradictions? How long shall we continue to deny equality in our social and economic life? So the question is, what have the youths from the marginalized sections of society got after 75 years of independence?"

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There is no clear youth policy. At Yuva Dastak, we reviewed the youth policy based on the parameters of Justice, Liberty, Fraternity, and Equality, which are the soul of the constitution. We observe that the youth of the country is at the margins, particularly those belonging to SC/ST/OBC. There is no manifesto for the youths.

On November 26, 2022, the group organized a discussion on how the constitutional ideals can benefit the youth. They found that even after 75 years of independence, the youth of the country face unemployment, and issues like untouchability persist.

The fundamental principles of the constitution remain unfulfilled. Kuldeep Kumar Baudh says that we need to examine the ideals of Equality, Freedom, Fraternity, and Justice. "If we examine the four founding principles, i.e., Equality, we see that there is widespread untouchability and casteism prevalent in society. Examining the ideal of Freedom," he says, "although the country gained independence 75 years ago, we have not achieved freedom in the real sense as we see manual scavenging and a lack of freedom of expression for women."

He added that fraternity is also in doldrums as the country is riddled with Hindu-Muslim disputes, and justice eludes. Yuva Dastak is an outfit founded on the principle of "by the youth, for the youth, to the youth."

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Vision 25 years: A Long-term Vision to Realize Constitutional Values

The outfit has a long-term goal, and through Vision 25 years, it aims at addressing the gaps in constitutional values by the centenary of independence in the next 25 years. The organization, consisting of lawyers and activists, completes one year on November 26, 2023. Members send letters and emails every year on Constitution Day to remind public representatives about their goal in achieving these ideals.

The Mooknayak spoke to Rashmi Verma, a young advocate who is a part of Yuva Dastak. She said, "The government is increasingly privatizing jobs and providing employment on a contract basis, leading to rampant unemployment and an increase in crime. We go to youths in villages to sensitize them about their rights given in the constitution."

To reach out to the youths, Yuva Dastak has a YouTube channel and a Facebook Page. Kuldeep Kumar, the activist, and the brain behind this campaign, interviews youths from the marginalized sections of society for his YouTube channel. The youths mostly comprise young girls who face challenges in achieving their dreams. In one such video published on the channel, Akanksha, a girl, tells how she managed to study despite problems in the family. In another video, Riya, a Dalit girl, complains that she faces caste discrimination in schools. Ashish, an ITI graduate, says that despite being an ITI graduate, he has not been able to get a job because most places where he goes, he is asked about his caste.