More than 70 years after the Constitution of India came into effect, most citizens are not aware of the values and deeper concepts enshrined in the document. Many are not even aware of the basics. To counter this, civil society organisations, movements, collectives, and even government agencies, have launched simple, fun-filled, activity-based initiatives to spread the message of the Constitution and equip citizens to contribute to nation-building. Here are a few of them:
Citizen 2022, Kerala
Sajin S., a 34-year-old constable with the Kerala Police, has become much more aware of the need to treat every citizen with equal respect and care. The resident of Chithara gram panchayat in Kollam district thanks the Citizen 2022 initiative for this. The initiative was launched in his district in April 2022.
"Kerala Police cadre is already trained to be careful and considerate to citizens, but this initiative has made me grasp the idea [better]," he said. "I hope all my colleagues across the state get the opportunity to go through similar programmes." His wife, Anju M.R., 31, a lecturer in an arts college, said she knew the basics earlier, but the initiative changed her outlook and behaviour perceptibly.
Citizen 2022 is a state government-promoted initiative that has led to Kollam becoming the first completely Constitution-literate district in the country.
Spearheaded jointly by the Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA), Kollam district planning committee and Kollam district panchayat, the initiative imparted the fundamentals and values of the Constitution to all 22 lakh citizens over the age of 10 in the district. Sudesan V., faculty, KILA, said that around 2,000 volunteers were trained for this task. "They used chart paper-based presentations and interactive sessions to communicate the topics to the citizens," he said.
This story is from the January 29, 2023 edition of THE WEEK India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 29, 2023 edition of THE WEEK India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
What Will It Take To Clean Up Delhi Air?
IT IS ASKED, year after year, why Delhi’s air remains unbreathable despite several interventions to reduce pollution.
Trump and the crisis of liberalism
Although Donald Trump's election to a non-consecutive second term to the US presidency is not unprecedented—Grover Cleveland had done it in 1893—it is nevertheless a watershed moment.
Men eye the woman's purse
A couple of months ago, I chanced upon a young 20-something man at my gym walking out with a women’s sling bag.
When trees hold hands
A filmmaker explores the human-nature connect through the living root bridges
Ms Gee & Gen Z
The vibrant Anuja Chauhan and her daughter Nayantara on the generational gap in romance writing
Vikram Seth-a suitable man
Our golden boy of literature was the star attraction at the recent Shillong Literary Festival in mysterious Meghalaya.
Superman bites the dust
When my granddaughter Kim was about three, I often took her to play in a nearby park.
OLD MAN AND THE SEA
Meet G. Govinda Menon, the 102-year-old engineer who had a key role in surveying the Vizhinjam coast in the 1940s, assessing its potential for an international port
Managing volatility: smarter equity choices in uncertain markets
THE INDIAN STOCK MARKET has delivered a strong 11 per cent CAGR over the past decade, with positive returns for eight straight years.
Investing in actively managed low-volatility portfolios keeps risks at bay
AFTER A ROARING bull market over the past year, equity markets in the recent months have gone into a correction mode as FIIs go on a selling spree. Volatility has risen and investment returns are hurt.
