Youth Ki Awaaz, (YKA) has completed 12 years of its formation, an illustrious feat to achieve. Along with mine, it has voiced millions of those who aspired and needed the world to know what they think. My journey with YKA started in early 2017 with a piece on Indian freedom fighter Shaheed Bhagat Singh. Till date, the count of articles I’ve written on the platform is 36, that include topics like – Dalit rights, press freedom, public healthcare, inequality, unemployment, labour laws, science education, migrant workers, etc.
It is just not about writing on topics that concern me, but is more about utilizing a wonderful opportunity provided by YKA in times when critical thinking and rationality often come under fire by those who keep high unabated opinion about ruling forces in society. The curbing space of media freedom in contemporary times while questioning government policies is something unnoticed due to its scattered, episodic tightening of rules and selective targeting by those in power but not confronting it would have added much depression in minds of optimistic people. The ground to confront and question was provided by YKA.
I must reiterate the event that saddened me as a citizen of this country. It was about the deteriorating infrastructure of public healthcare in the state of Bihar. I did a ground report on the state’s premier government hospital by interacting with patients, their acquaintances, etc. But the real challenge was to get the report published so that the ground reality could reach the common man. I miserably failed to convince online media portals as I was not a trained journalist but YKA gave me the final breakthrough by publishing it. That day was of great relief as my first-hand experience of reporting the ground reality surfaced in public domain and was possible only because of YKA. It was lauded by the editor and his team which pumped in lots of confidence which still drives me to highlight issues that matter to people.
The youth of this country has a precious instrument to amplify their voice on issues that matter in the form of YKA. I appeal all to grab the opportunity and access their portal.
The existence and service that YKA has provided to millions cannot be summed up in a few paragraphs. Rather, it can be upheld by fellow citizens who urge to express their opinion. I cannot express my gratitude to Anshul Tewari and team of YKA by just writing a piece on their illustrious journey of more than a decade but will be in-debt forever for stimulating the passion for journalism, keeping facts over fiction and emboldening the conviction to use a pen to highlight plight and pain of society. I wish YKA thrives more with prosperity adding pride to journalism.
Thank you!