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The organisation’s motive is to help people become responsible citizens.
Are you one of those who want to bring about a change in the society and get furious at the sight of unlit roads or streets littered with garbage? Now, you can make move beyond sulking and make a difference too.
‘We, the People’ is a network of individuals and organisation that helps common man understands the ways to reach out to authorities with their grievances and instill the idea of responsible citizenship.
Set up in April last year, the network with a total of 50 members, is active in mobilising people and giving them citizenship training programme to connect or reconnect them with the system by making them aware of their constitutional rights.
“Citizens have certain rights and responsibilities towards their country. But there are certain gaps that come in the way and disconnects us with the system. This happens due to lack of information and cynicism that nothing is going to change,” says Vinita Singh, core group member of the network.
“So, we tell them how to go about if they are not happy with any service of the government. Where to complain, who will be the authorities concerned and apprise them of all legitimate means such as grievance cells or Right to Information Act,” she says.
As of now, the network is active in Gurgaon, Nashik and Hyderabad. Volunteers from all walks of life are spread over different places and organise citizenship training programmes. These volunteers are called anchors some of who ideate, build study material or organise events to engage with people.
“Apart from giving citizenship training programmes which goes on from fifteen days to four months, we also organise other events to create awareness,” says Vinita, who has been spearheading the initiative in Gurgaon.
The citizenship training programme offers basic training in understanding governance comprising constitutional rights, duties and structure of the state. In Gurgaon, the network works in the cooperation of Literacy India, an NGO.
“A lot of people think that one person can’t bring about any change alone or nothing is going to change ever. Our motive is to change that thought and remove the pessimism. A collective effort begins with one person and by knowing the constitution, you’re being privy to your own rights and that will help in bringing about a larger change,” says Kadambini Devarakonda, who looks after the initiative in Hyderabad.