Mumbai: In a transformative initiative to inspire and empower the youth, Josh Talks, in partnership with Meta, concluded a successful series of Citizens' Townhalls across Bhopal, Jaipur, and Hyderabad. With a reach of approximately 1.3 million across social media platforms such as Facebook, and Instagram, the events successfully engaged citizens across five states, fostering civic awareness and encouraging active participation in the democratic process.
The Citizens’ Townhall aims to educate and empower youth on the importance of exercising their vote and the power and responsibility that comes upon each citizen, as part of being a democracy. It seeks to heighten voter awareness among diverse communities, particularly focusing on engaging first-time voters.
The series commenced in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, and continued to Jaipur, Rajasthan, culminating in Hyderabad, Telangana. The events featured esteemed bureaucrats, including Rituraj (IAS, 2015), CEO of Zilla Panchayat, Bhopal; Dr Snigdha Sharma, Principal of Government College, Jaipur; and Sarfaraz Ahmad (IAS, 2009), joint CEO of the office of chief electoral officer, Telangana.
The Citizens' Townhall series not only provided a platform for open dialogue but also facilitated engaging interactions between students and prominent policymakers. The impactful sessions inspired students to exercise their right to vote, leading to interactive Q&A sessions that enriched the democratic discourse.
In conjunction with the Citizens' Townhall series, a comprehensive social campaign spanning five states — Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Telangana — was executed with the primary goal of encouraging citizens to exercise their right to vote. As part of this initiative, unique stories of citizens emerged, shining a spotlight on individuals actively working to empower citizens and ensure their exercise of fundamental rights. The social campaign, through its strategic outreach, aimed to instil a sense of civic responsibility and educate citizens about the significance of their participation in shaping the collective future.
The series emphasised the symbiotic relationship between informed citizens and a robust democracy, demonstrating the power of engagement and dialogue in shaping the perspectives of the younger generation. As Josh Talks and Meta continue their mission of building an informed electorate, the success of the Citizens' Townhall series stands as a milestone in their collective commitment to fostering active participants in the democratic process.
Josh Talks CEO Supriya Paul expressed her delight at the success of the Citizens' Townhall series saying, "Engaging nearly 900 students and reaching 1.3 million citizens across 5 states is a testament to the impact of our initiative. This success reinforces Josh Talks' unwavering commitment to creating a lasting impact on society by developing responsible citizens and empowering youth to make a difference—the core values of Josh Talks."
As part of the initiative, Josh Talks has also identified unique stories of citizens who are working to empower other marginalised groups to exercise their fundamental rights.
