The Youth for Governance Program (Y4G) is a nine-month fellowship implemented by Grassroots Research and Advocacy Movement (GRAAM) in partnership with Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) India, reflecting their shared commitment to sustainable development.
Each year, 30 young people from Mysuru are selected to participate in a structured fellowship that provides them with a strong foundation in governance systems, civic rights, and responsibilities through carefully designed learning modules and field studies. The programme emphasizes experiential learning by enabling fellows to engage directly with local governance institutions and processes.
Participants design and implement community-based projects that address local development and governance challenges within Mysuru City. The fellowship also builds a platform for collaboration among youth, academia, civil society, and government, thereby creating a scalable model for meaningful youth participation in governance.
By empowering young leaders through initiatives like Y4G fellowship to deepen civic engagement and understanding of policy processes, HSF India advances its mission of promoting democratic values and good governance. In doing so, Y4G serves as a practical pathway towards realising this vision by nurturing informed and engaged young citizens who can actively contribute to decentralized and participatory governance systems from local to international level.
Against this backdrop, we invited Dr. Basavaraju R Shreshta, Executive Director, Grassroots Research And Advocacy Movement (GRAAM), to provide insights into the program’s impact, key achievements and long-term vision.
HSS: To what extent has the Youth for Governance Fellowship strengthened civic engagement and youth participation in governance processes in Mysuru? Can you share examples where fellows’ recommendations influenced local decision-making?
Dr. Basavaraju R Shreshta: The Y4G Fellowship has increasingly contributed to strengthening civic engagement and youth participation in governance processes in Mysuru by equipping young people with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities required to engage meaningfully with public institutions. Across four successful cohorts, the fellowship has cultivated a network of informed and responsible youth champions who actively contribute to governance discussions, public problem-solving, and evidence-based policymaking.
A key outcome of the fellowship has been the development of case studies and policy recommendations by Y4G fellows through fieldwork, stakeholder consultations, citizen interactions, and data analysis. These studies have addressed critical urban governance challenges in Mysuru, including public sanitation, mobility and parking management, public spaces, and recreational infrastructure. The findings and recommendations were compiled into detailed reports and shared with relevant government departments, including the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC). Their practical and evidence-based approach generated considerable interest among civic stakeholders and local authorities.
Notable studies such as “The Pedestrian Right-of-Way: Reforming Mobility and Parking Management and Beyond Rankings: A Swachh Survekshan Audit of Public Sanitation” provided fellows with an opportunity to engage with more than four government departments and critically examine how governance decisions influence citizens’ daily lives. Through field audits, stakeholder interviews, and citizen consultations across Mysuru, the fellows identified challenges such as footpath encroachments, inadequate parking management, barriers faced by vulnerable road users, and gaps between sanitation rankings and the actual condition of public toilet facilities. These studies enhanced fellows’ understanding of public service delivery, accountability, urban planning, citizen-centric governance, and evidence-based decision-making while demonstrating how they can be used to identify governance gaps, amplify citizen voices, and propose actionable solutions.
A significant milestone was the presentation of the findings of fellows to senior MCC officials on the condition of public toilet facilities in Mysuru, sharing evidence gathered through field assessments as well as community feedback. Their observations highlighted critical service delivery issues and brought citizen concerns directly to the attention of decision-makers. The MCC Commissioner acknowledged and appreciated the quality, relevance, and practical value of the youth-led studies and assured that the recommendations would be forwarded to the concerned departments for further consideration. This recognition highlighted the credibility of the fellows’ work and demonstrated the potential of young citizens to contribute meaningfully to governance and policy discussions.
HSS: How has the fellowship bridged the gap between classroom learning and real-world governance practice through its partnerships with educational institutions and the Mysuru City Corporation?
Dr. Basavaraju R Shreshta: One of the key strengths of the Y4G Fellowship is its ability to bridge the gap between academic learning and practical governance experience. Through strategic partnerships with educational institutions and local government bodies, the fellowship provides young people with opportunities to connect theoretical knowledge with real-world governance challenges.
Across four cohorts, GRAAM has collaborated with a wide range of educational institutions in Mysuru, including universities, engineering colleges, medical colleges, law schools, journalism departments, and multidisciplinary academic institutions. These partnerships have enabled fellows from diverse backgrounds to explore governance issues through different perspectives, thereby enhancing their understanding of public policy, service delivery, urban development, public health, law, media, and citizen participation.
The fellowship also extends learning beyond the classroom by facilitating direct interactions with policymakers, government officials, subject-matter experts and civil society organisations such as the Mysuru Water Forum and the Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP). Through Governance talks, workshops, policy dialogues, stakeholder consultations and mentorship, the Y4G fellows gain practical insights into governance systems and develop a deeper understanding of how policies are designed, implemented, and monitored.
Field visits, study projects on different social issues, and community engagement activities further strengthen the fellowship’s experiential learning. Fellows are encouraged to identify local governance challenges, conduct study, and propose practical solutions, thereby applying academic knowledge to real-life contexts. This process helps develop critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and civic responsibility. A particularly valuable component of the fellowship is the Governance expedition visits, ranging from the Gram Panchayat to State Legislative Assemblyand the National Parliament, conducted in collaboration with the Mysuru City Corporation and other government institutions. These visits provide fellows with firsthand exposure to municipal administration, public service delivery systems, and decision-making processes.
HSS: What would it take to scale the Y4G Fellowship model beyond Mysuru and institutionalize youth-led governance frameworks across India, contributing to the larger vision of Viksit Bharat (Developed India) 2047?
Dr. Basavaraju R Shreshta: The vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 recognizes empowered citizens as the foundation of a developed, inclusive, and democratic India. Achieving this vision requires not only economic growth and infrastructure development but also active citizen participation in governance, public accountability, and community-based problem-solving. Young people, who constitute one of India's greatest demographic strengths, must be equipped with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities to engage constructively with governance systems. The Y4G Fellowship offers a proven and scalable model to realize this vision by nurturing informed, responsible, and action-oriented youth leaders, thereby contributing significantly to the goals of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Over four successful cohorts, Y4G has demonstrated that when young people receive structured learning, field exposure, mentorship, and opportunities to interact with public institutions, they become active contributors to governance rather than passive beneficiaries of government programs. Scaling this model nationally can create a generation of empowered citizens who actively participate in local governance, contribute to public policy discussions, and strengthen democratic institutions from the grassroots level.
To institutionalize youth-led governance frameworks across India, stronger partnerships between educational institutions, local governments, civil society organizations, and policy think tanks are essential. Universities and colleges can integrate governance fellowships, civic leadership programs, and community-based engagement into academic learning. Urban local bodies, gram panchayats (village councils), and district administrations can establish Youth Governance Forums and Civic Innovation Labs where young people regularly engage with governance challenges and contribute practical solutions.
The Y4G fellowship can serve as a bridge between citizens and government by encouraging participatory governance practices. Through citizen consultations, community audits, public policy research, and technology-enabled feedback mechanisms, the fellows can help ensure that governance systems remain responsive to local needs and priorities. Such engagement fosters trust between citizens and institutions while promoting greater transparency and accountability.
