Over 350+ students in Malviya NIT, Jaipur joined the National Agenda Forum (NAF) in presence of a field team from Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC). The students discussed Mahatma Gandhi’s 18-point Constructive Programme and its relevance in current times. They also talked about their own priorities (in addition to the points from Mahatma Gandhi’s constructive Programme), which should find a place in India’s agenda.

Along with the students, several teachers also supported NAF, calling it as a unique initiative that would strengthen participative democracy. The agenda point that garnered most support in the institute was ‘Employment’, which the participants believed should feature in the top 10 agenda points for the nations.

I-PAC launched the NAF as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th birth anniversary year, on 29th June 2018. NAF is a pan-India initiative to resurrect the conversation around Gandhiji’s 18-point Constructive Programme and use it to re-imagine and co-create India’s priorities to formulate an actionable agenda for contemporary India.

Till date – 50,000+ youth associates from over 4,000 colleges, 225 distinguished personalities from 6 countries and 20 states, and 283 civil society organizations spread across 346 districts have joined the ever-growing NAF ecosystem.

Download the UT App here

The National Agenda Forum has garnered support from a diverse group of people and organizations, which includes:

• UNESCO – MGIEP supports NAF’s effort in setting the people’s agenda of promoting peace and sustainable development based on Gandhiji’s 18-point Constructive Programme
• Arun Manilal Gandhi (Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson), Tushar Gandhi (Mahatma Gandhi’s great-grandson), and Neelam Parekh (Mahatma Gandhi’s great-granddaughter)
• Gandhians, such as, Ramjee Singh (Freedom fighter and a pioneer in study of Gandhian thought in India), Dr. Ravindra Kumar (Padma Shri Awardee, Sardar Patel National Awardee), Natwar Thakkar (Padma Shri awardee, Jamnalal Bajaj awardee), Dr. D Chelladurai (Dean, Gandhi Research Foundation), Baji Mohammad (Freedom fighter), Prakash Amte (Baba Amte’s son)
• Gandhian organizations, such as, Gandhi Smarak Nidhi, Sarvodaya Ashram, Gandhi Mission International Society of India, etc.
• Recipients of civilian honors, such as, Shrimati Teejan Bai (Artist, Padma Bhushan awardee), Rajan Mishra (Indian classical singer, Padma Bhushan awardee), Dr. Brahm Dutt (Padma Shri Awardee for working for lepers), Dr. Usha Kiran Khan (Padma Shri awardee and Sahitya Academy Award winner), etc.
• Eminent public servants, such as, Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary (Ex-Governor of Meghalaya), Justice NN Mathur (Former Judge, Rajasthan and Gujarat High Courts)
• Sports personalities, such as, Mary Kom (Boxer, Olympic Medalist), Babita Phogat (Wrestler, Commonwealth Games Medalist), PT Usha (Track Athlete, Asian Games Medalist), IM Vijayan (Former Captain, Indian Football Team), Ishwwar Pandey (Cricketer), etc.
• Entertainment personalities, such as, Piyush Mishra (Actor, Screenwriter, Lyricist), Shyam Rangeela (Mimicry Artist), Shibani Kashyap (Singer), Raza Murad (Actor), etc.

Over the next couple of weeks, I-PAC plans to reach out to students in 750 colleges and 320 civil society organizations across 21 states, during our field visits.

The voting is still open; citizens can continue to become a part of NAF by logging on to http://www.indianpac.com/naf/ and voting on the agenda and the leader.