HOPE initiative sparks detailed discussions on education, employment and skill development
Young people urged to become active participants in policymaking rather than remain mere beneficiaries of government schemes
Firozabad, September 2026: More than 800 young people participated in a ‘Youth Policy Dialogue – Uttar Pradesh (Decoding the Grassroots)’ organised by the House of Political Empowerment (HOPE) at Aradhya Garden in Shikohabad, Firozabad.
Held on the theme ‘Discussion, Deliberation and Development’, the programme aimed to bring young people to the centre of discussions on policy, development and democratic participation. The dialogue focused on key issues including education, employment, skill development, entrepreneurship, technology, social security and local development, with participants discussing their policy priorities and grassroots concerns.
Youth as Active Participants in Democracy
The programme featured speakers including HOPE founder and Delhi University faculty member Dr Digvijay Singh, Hansraj College, Delhi faculty member Dr Prabhanshu Ojha, former principal of Adarsh Krishna College, Shikohabad, Prof Maukam Singh, Paliwal College, Shikohabad faculty member Dr MP Singh, advocate Rahul Yadav and environmentalist Deepak Gauri.
The speakers emphasised that young people should not be viewed only as beneficiaries of government schemes but should also have an active role in policymaking.
Participants from diverse socio-economic backgrounds were provided information about various government policies, schemes and development programmes. Discussions also focused on the impact of these initiatives and the challenges encountered in their implementation at the grassroots level.
The organisers said suggestions emerging from the dialogue would be conveyed to relevant policymaking platforms and the government.
Youth Have an Important Role in Building a New India
Dr Prabhanshu Ojha said young people have historically been at the forefront of social change and creativity. He said political awareness was an essential part of broader social awareness.
Ojha said young people had an important role to play in the vision of building a ‘New India’ articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
He highlighted the Chief Minister Abhyudaya Yojana, saying young people from rural areas had been able to prepare for and qualify competitive examinations such as the UPSC examinations with the help of the scheme.
He also referred to the proposed establishment of a State Youth Commission in Uttar Pradesh, describing it as an important step towards addressing issues concerning young people.
Dialogue on Positive Change and Policies is Essential
HOPE founder Dr Digvijay Singh said the organisation was working to convey the aspirations of Uttar Pradesh's youth to the government.
He said society had two broad approaches — one focused on finding opportunities and creating constructive change, while another, according to him, could lead young people in a negative direction. He stressed that change was a natural part of society and that solutions to public issues could not emerge without policy debate.
Singh said that following the organisation's agricultural outreach programme, the initiative to take the voices and concerns of young people to the government would continue across Uttar Pradesh over the next three months.
Live in the Present and First Develop the Will to Achieve
Prof Maukam Singh, former principal of Adarsh Krishna College, Shikohabad, advised young participants to focus on the present and work consistently towards their goals.
He said many young people were currently facing uncertainty and that success comes through concentrating on the present rather than remaining preoccupied with the past or future.
Sharing the principle of ‘Desire and Then Deserve’, he urged young people to first establish a clear goal and then take consistent action to achieve it. He also said that challenging circumstances can often become a source of determination and achievement, pointing to the contribution of people from rural and economically disadvantaged backgrounds in various fields.
Young Participants Share Candid Views
Young participants also shared their views during the dialogue.
Local participant Vishal Yadav said the programme helped create a direct link between grassroots realities and national policies and gave young people greater clarity in understanding issues affecting them.
Vinay Yadav said the programme helped participants understand how policies function and provided a platform to openly discuss ground-level challenges related to education and employment.
Yash Yadav said he gained detailed information about government schemes related to self-employment and skill development and that such dialogues could help young people identify opportunities for progress.
Mayank Yadav said that while young people often listen to discussions about policies, the programme gave them an opportunity to articulate their own challenges. He said young people's voices should also form part of policymaking discussions.
Sheelendra Yadav said the theme ‘Young Thought, Strong Democracy’ was reflected in the programme. He said participation in a democracy should not be limited to voting and that discussing policies and public issues was equally important.
The programme was moderated by Ashutosh Yadav and Himanshu Dwivedi. Utsav Kumar Rai, Nayan, Aryan and others also contributed to the successful organisation of the event.
