The first day of the State Youth Conference 2024, Yuva Aagaz, Yuva Aawaz, concluded successfully today at the Bhopal School of Social Sciences, Hoshangabad Road, Bhopal. Organized by SYNERGY Sansthan in collaboration with Bhopal School of Social Sciences, this conference aims to discuss various aspects of youth development and to actively engage them as participants in societal growth. The conference commenced at 10:00 AM with the honoring of the guests. The inaugural speech was delivered by Vimal Jat, CEO, SYNERGY Sansthan, who highlighted the challenges and opportunities in youth-centric development and provided insights into SYNERGY Sansthans initiatives. Anil Gulati, UNICEF, Madhya Pradesh emphasized the importance of youth engagement and their active participation. Rajesh Kumar Gupta, Director, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Good Governance and Policy Analysis discussed the role of youth in policy-making. Dr. Smriti Gargava, Deputy Director, IGNOU, Bhopal shared her thoughts on empowering youth through education. Pramila Chouhan, Co-Founder and Director, Musht Samaj Seva Samiti, highlighted the necessary aspects for youth involvement in societal development. The first panel discussion focused on Youth Active Citizenship and featured: Abhishek Das, Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies, Dr. R.N. Syag, Civic Act Foundation, Delhi, Gauri Singhi, Dasra, Mumbai, Rajkumar Verma, Youth Officer NSS India, Bhopal, Aman Madan, Azim Premji University, Bhopal, Preeti Uikey, Youth Representative. The discussion explored the definition of active citizenship, the responsibilities of youth, and their contributions to society. The panel discussion on "Youth Active Citizenship," bringing together leaders and experts to explore the role of youth in society. Preeti, a leader within the Gond tribal community, praised the "We The Citizenship" program for her personal growth and stressed the need for sustained investment in youth. Gauri highlighted the importance of self-awareness and holistic youth leadership development, while Rajkumar called for redefining active citizenship as both words and action. Aman Madan of Azim Premji University discussed the need for a deeper understanding of youth roles and fostering dialogue. Abhishek Das emphasized the balance between market, government, and society in youth engagement, and Dr. Rn Syag underscored the importance of practicing citizenship in alignment with constitutional principles. The discussion underscored the necessity for long-term investment and comprehensive approaches to youth development. The second panel discussion centered on Youth Mental Health and included: Kanika Sinha, Commutiny The Youth Collective, Delhi, Payal Pandit, Youth Representative, Muskan Pradhan, Sangath Representative, Bhopal, Aseem Siddiqui, Azim Premji University, Bangalore, Dr. Rutwik J. Gandhe, HOD, Social Work, BSSS. The discussion highlighted the importance of mental health, suicide prevention, and addressing diversity among youth. In a  discussion on youth mental health, Dr. Rutwik J. Gandhe emphasized that direct engagement with youth is the most effective approach to support their mental well-being. Payal Pandit highlighted that academic pressure, family conflicts, communication gaps, addiction, and unemployment are major factors contributing to the alarming rates of suicide among young people. Asim Siddique pointed out that while there is much discussion about the mental pressure on youth, the root causes of this pressure are often overlooked and need to be addressed. Muskan Pradhan shared that civil society organizations have begun creating safe spaces where youth can openly discuss issues they may not feel comfortable sharing in more public settings, and stressed the importance of expanding these spaces. Kanika Sinha noted that the COVID-19 pandemic, which left many young people bereaved, has underscored the impact of such traumatic events on youth mental health, emphasizing the need to recognize and address the diverse issues affecting youth well-being.

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