Development history witnesses that any change takes place is owing to collective action of youth power. Motivated youth are the real change-makers and the fulcrums of development processes. Incidentally, the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MoHRD) recognises youth as the major human resource and can be easily mobilised towards societal development. Youth possess a high level of motivation, deep sense of sacrifice for the society, self-confidence, and spirit of unity & integrity as well. This is way, the youth power easily conquers the hearts of millions.

With the backdrop, CYSD’s Integrated Child Development Project in Mathili block of Malkanagiri district has identified some potential youth groups and is in the process of strengthening strong motivational bent of mindset among the groups to address critical societal issues towards ensuring the basic services, like drinking water and sanitation in the Block.

The youth groups have been strategically motivated through Capacity Building initiatives to deal with people’s issues concerning their lives and livelihoods. Further, they are being geared up to facilitate development dialogues between Gram Panchayat institutions and newly formed community-based institutions (CBOs) during the Gram Sabha to access their basic survival needs.

Ensuring safe drinking water and sanitation facility for each individual households was one of the prime mandate of youth groups.  In the process, the youth group generate demand on behalf of individual households and act as the principal facilitator at community front. However, the demand is generated through proper discussion and assessment of people’s needs at the ground zero with community-led monitoring process. As a result, 137 individual household latrines (IHHLs) are constructed and 237 households of 11 villages formally have accessed piped water and an estimated amount of Rs. 19 lakhs are mobilised to this effect as of now. “I am quite hopeful that the number of IHHLs will definitely go up as my group is deeply engaged for addressing the community issues collectively, says a youth group leader.

Because of the fact that the entire process is being closely monitored by the youth groups and the community, the occurrence of bribe and compromise with low quality of works are disappearing gradually. Further, increase in sense of accountability on the part of service providers and service seekers are being observed.  Of course, these were never happening before – the private contractors engaged by the government were simply leaving the half-way constructed toilets manipulating the culture of silence among tribal people.

For the wonderful initiatives, the youth groups are receiving ample appreciations from PRIs and goodwill from the communities. They have appeared as vibrant groups which can be trusted for years to come. Alternatively, the CYSD Project team members are being recognised as potential members of an enabling Organisation by the community and other institutions, especially PRIs.

Finally, in close coordination with CBOs, those groups have chalked out plans to take up other important issues revolving around Child Marriage, Child Labour, Youth Migration, PDS, SMC, GKS-VHND, JSY, JSSK, RKVY, PKVY and many more in ahead.