Salaam Bombay Foundation Celebrates 20th Edition of Bal Parishad Youth Forum
Mumbai-based NGO Salaam Bombay Foundation has successfully marked the 20th iteration of its flagship adolescent engagement platform, Bal Parishad. This pioneering preventive health education programme creates a direct bridge between young people from underprivileged communities and the decision-makers who shape their environments.
Youth Voices Meet Policy Power
The forum brought together more than 200 students from government and government-aided schools alongside senior administrators and policymakers. The distinguished attendees included Maharashtra's School Education Minister Pankaj Bhoyar, Principal Secretary of School Education and Sports Department Ranjit Singh Deol, Deputy Commissioner of Police Vijayakant Sagar, BMC Education Officer Sujata Khare, and Joint Director of Public Health Department Dr. Umesh Shirodkar.
These student 'health monitors' courageously presented the pressing challenges facing their communities, including:
- Widespread tobacco addiction among youth and adults
- Inadequate hygiene facilities and practices
- Nutritional deficiencies affecting development
- Environmental sanitation concerns
From Problems to Practical Solutions
Through this unique platform for direct interaction, the adolescents didn't just highlight problems—they presented concrete recommendations and shared successful initiatives they've already implemented. Their community-driven approaches included:
- Creative poster campaigns raising health awareness
- Door-to-door outreach programs educating neighbors
- Collaboration with local leaders and community elders
- Peer-to-peer education networks within schools
Government Recognition and Support
Minister Pankaj Bhoyar expressed profound admiration for the initiative, stating: "Today we witnessed how a committed social organization can drive meaningful change in society. The confidence with which the students made presentations, and the joy on their faces reflect the true impact of such initiatives. To me, this is real success. The work being undertaken by Salaam Bombay Foundation addresses a critical need of our times, and the government and administration will support them."
Principal Secretary Ranjit Singh Deol added: "We are seeing the children of the Bal Parishad step forward as agents of social awareness. Through their success stories, we can see that when children are determined, they can mobilize their community, whether addressing waste management or other public health concerns, and bring about measurable change."
Breaking Cycles Through Youth Empowerment
Tshering Bhutia, Chief Innovation Officer and Senior Vice President of Projects at Salaam Bombay Foundation, reflected on the deeper significance of the event: "What we saw today was children speaking the truth from lived realities. Bal Parishad reaffirmed that when we listen to young voices, we help break the cycle of fear and ignorance, and nurture confident voices and conscious choices."
The 20th edition of Bal Parishad demonstrates how structured platforms for youth participation can transform adolescent energy into community improvement. By giving marginalized young people direct access to policymakers, Salaam Bombay Foundation has created a model that addresses immediate health concerns while building future civic leaders.
