Project- “JIGYAASA” Hamari Pahchan
In 2023, a movie created a sensation in the media, “12th Fail”, which through its storyline and a beautiful monologue shared the message that, “If the poor remain uneducated, they will continue to follow politicians blindly like a herd. Everyone knows that these uneducated masses become their vote bank. The day people become educated and politically aware, it will become a serious challenge for those who thrive on their ignorance.”
This reality check truly shook the youth and forced them to broaden their perspectives and actually look beneath the layers of corruption.
Privilege is a strange thing. Most of us who have it are often unaware of its presence, while those without it look towards opportunities that many of us take for granted. As an organisation focused on humanitarian rights, we find it impossible to ignore the waste of countless bright young minds due to a lack of educational opportunities.
A child’s curiosity is one of the most powerful and beautiful forces in the world. It drives innovation, creativity, and growth. Yet, many children spend their entire lives without access to quality education. It is disheartening to realise that even though the Right to Education is a fundamental right (Article 21A, Constitution Amendment Act 86, 2002) guaranteed to every child, education continues to remain a privilege for many. Countless young minds are denied opportunities not because they lack potential, but because they lack access.
As per Census 2011, the literacy rate at the all-India level is 72.98%, and the literacy rate for females and males is 64.63% and 80.9% respectively. During the last decade, the highest improvement in literacy rate was observed among rural females (24%). According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) conducted in 2025, Mizoram (98.2%), Lakshadweep (97.3%), and Kerala (95.3%) stand as the states with the highest literacy rates in India, while Andhra Pradesh (72.6%), Bihar (74.3%), and Madhya Pradesh have the lowest literacy rates.
Considering Census and National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) data thereafter, almost 1 in 5 Indians cannot read and write on paper. Though we must acknowledge that most of the illiterate population now falls under the age of 50 and above, children and teenagers are quickly filling the gap while having a maximum number of literate working adults. However, not all groups are at equal levels of literacy—male literacy is higher than female literacy, and literacy is higher in urban areas than in rural areas. These gaps have narrowed over time as well.
Now, if we move on to the data about political literacy, you would be shocked to know that not even half of the literate people are politically literate, and they still cast their valuable votes. Of course, voting is not about being literate or not; it is about being a responsible citizen of the nation who takes initiative in the reforms and systems of the nation. But what is actually the value of being a part of the system without knowing your rights, without knowing your dignity as a citizen, without knowing what the government actually owes you, and without knowing the true value of your cast vote?
A recent apt example would be the Tamil Nadu State Elections 2026. According to reports, Tamil Nadu had one of its highest polling percentages in recent memory, while youth turnout proved to be a decisive factor in political outcomes. Digital campaigning was done along with rigorous initiatives to increase political awareness, which led to a rise in the participation of first-time voters.
Political parties, educational institutions, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), media organisations, and election authorities increasingly acknowledged young voters as a decisive electoral force capable of influencing constituency-level outcomes. Consequently, a series of massive awareness campaigns were launched to impart knowledge to the youth about democratic participation, voting rights, political ideologies, and election procedures.
The point here is that in a country like India, being the world’s largest democracy, it is our duty to educate our citizens about politics and make sure that each one of them is well aware of their rights and dignity. Holding elections every five years does not make sense if people are not confident and aware of their choices as citizens. We need to bridge the gap by educating people about their fundamental rights, basic constitutional knowledge, and legal rights. We need to make them believe and understand that the government they are voting for is actually a part of the system that is of the people, for the people, and by the people.
Hamari Pahchan, throughout the years, has taken various initiatives to lessen the gap between literate and illiterate children. As members of a society fortunate enough to receive an education, we have the ability and the responsibility to help create opportunities for others.
Under “Drishti”, weekly life skills classes are conducted, and children are taught computer literacy through the initiative of “Gadgetshala”, in which digital access and internet facilities are provided to the underprivileged through digital labs, as the NGO recognises the need for digital literacy too, especially when the world is developing at such a fast rate.
Considering this huge social issue, which is not commonly addressed in society, I, as an intern under Hamari Pahchan, decided that political literacy should definitely start from the classrooms themselves. The privileged section of society usually gets to understand the basics of the Indian Constitution, but the underprivileged usually spend their entire lives unaware of the Constitution of their very own country.
Addressing this issue, I created a project called “JIGYAASA”, an initiative aimed at empowering children through education, awareness, and self-expression.
The project focuses on:
- Promoting literacy, awareness, and critical thinking among children.
- Encouraging basic civic and political literacy, helping children understand their fundamental rights, dignity as citizens, and the importance of child rights in India.
- Creating awareness about government schemes, opportunities, and platforms that can contribute to their education, growth, and future prospects.
- Introducing the role of art as a medium of expression and social change, highlighting forms such as theatre that enable individuals to raise their voices and share their stories.
Dealing with underprivileged children requires completely different tactics and procedures, for which child rights and a story format as an easy way to share basic constitutional knowledge has been initiated. The project covers various workshops, including:
- Awareness of Government Schemes and Opportunities
- Distribution of printed resource sheets containing information about relevant government schemes, educational opportunities, scholarships, and support platforms available for children and their families.
- Theatre and Social Awareness
- Screening and discussion of nukkad nataks (street plays) based on social issues such as education, equality, and child rights.
- Encouraging participation in interactive theatre activities, with the long-term goal of facilitating live performances as a medium of expression and awareness.
- Situational Learning and Discussions
- Interactive sessions where children can share experiences and discuss challenges and inequalities they encounter in their daily lives.
- Introducing concepts of social justice, equality, dignity, and rights through age-appropriate examples, storytelling, and group discussions.
These small steps and initiatives actually build something huge for the future, but living in a capitalist society, we cannot ignore the fact that every little step requires funding as well. For the same, I am working on raising a fundraiser of about ₹31,000. The funds raised through this campaign will be directed towards educational materials, awareness campaigns, community outreach programmes, and the operational requirements needed to keep this initiative running effectively. Every rupee contributed will go towards empowering individuals with the gift of literacy, awareness, informed thinking, and confidence.
Coming to the end of the essay, I would like to say that now it is time to actually change the vote-bank politics in India and not let those in power thrive on ignorance. It is time to actually consider the monologue from “12th Fail” and bring a positive and evolved change in the country by not just focusing on basic literacy but also ensuring political literacy, so that every citizen can feel the pride of being an Indian without spending their whole life being unaware of their status and rights as an Indian citizen.
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