ABSTRACT
The hopes, aspirations, and energy of India's youth, comprising 253 million individuals, play a pivotal role in powering the nation's economy and society. Despite being hailed as a demographic dividend, concerns regarding their health and well-being persist. Recent studies, including data from NFHS 5 and studies both in India and abroad, highlight prevalent health and nutrition challenges among young people, encompassing a deficit in overall well-being. Within this context, the Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA) recognises the imperative of health and nutrition literacy, particularly among disadvantaged youth born into families engaged in the informal economy. Addressing these challenges necessitates innovative approaches that empower young individuals and foster community resilience. SEWA's initiative focuses on establishing membership-based organisations, termed Kishori and Kishor Mandals, providing essential health and nutrition education facilitated by trained mentors known as ‘aagewans’. Through participatory sessions, young people are equipped with scientific information on sexual and reproductive health. Related social issues like pre-natal sex determination, early marriage, gender-based violence, and gender equality are also raised, and questioning existing norms of patriarchy is encouraged. We co-created action plans which included health check-ups, haemoglobin testing at the nearby primary health centres, preparing nutritious food from locally available vegetables, especially greens and millets, counselling for mental health issues during the COVID-19 pandemic and after, and organised exposure visits to banks, health centres, and government offices. Apart from this, the 116 mandals in Gujarat are the hubs for both education and action and involve both young women and men. They, in turn, are linked to SEWA Shakti Kendras or empowerment centres where ‘aagewans’ provide information on nutrition, health services, and entitlements to informal workers. Young people are also linked to skill training programmes for self-employment in both rural and urban areas. This grassroots approach not only enhances health literacy and nutritional awareness but also instils leadership qualities among youth, evidenced by their active engagement in local health committees and community initiatives, like cleanliness drives. Moreover, it underscores the significance of horizontal solidarity groups in fostering inclusive dialogue and collective action for improved health outcomes. Empowering young individuals not only augments their access to health and nutrition schemes to which they are entitled but also cultivates a culture of collective action, and their communities develop in a manner that fosters inclusion and participation of all for health, nutrition, and overall well-being.
