YUVA’s work is focused on driving people’s participation in planning and governance. We have served as the campaign secretariat of the Hamara Shehar Mumbai Abhiyaan (Our City Mumbai Campaign), which drove collective visioning and people’s participation during the revision of the Development Plan of Mumbai (2014-2034). Over 60 organisations participated in the campaign, setting a precedent for inclusive and people-centric planning and negotiating a crucial space for marginalized groups of the city to articulate their needs in the discussion on urban planning.

YUVA has been facilitating the formation and strengthening of Mohalla Sabhas and Mohalla Samitis across cities, promoting this under the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act process of decentralisation and decision-making at the basti-level, mandated under the Area Sabhas. Mohalla Sabhas help further capacity building in the community, engage people on issues concerning them, and help them take forward their demands for action. Mohalla Samitis have been set up across cities where we work, made richer with the participation of men, women, transgender persons, disabled persons, among others, who used the forum to discuss their local issues and advocacy strategies.

Over the decades, in our work with marginalised people for their dignity, justice and rights, we have focused on people’s capacity building and engagement on participatory governance. Visit our Urban Resource Centre to know more.