the 18minus mission statement

The WaLL
wall /w :l/ n. A thing regarded as a protective or restrictive barrier:
Oxford University Press

There is a wall between those who can vote and those who cant. Lets break down that wall.

#18minus

What is 18minus?
18minus is, a non-governmental organization by definition, a school of thought by passion, and a revolution by choice.

Who is 18minus?
The members of 18minus comprise the non-voting population of the worlds largest democracy. We are the motherlands children (quite literally!) and we feel that there is no minimum age before which we can start fulfilling our duties towards the nation. 18minus refers to and represents each and every Indian citizen under the age of eighteen, and by definition, that makes us the largest neo-political organization in the country, as over 44%[1] of Indias population are legal minors.

What does 18minus stand for?

In one word, 18minus stands for change. 18minus advocates greater involvement and interaction of non-adults in the decision making process - directly or indirectly. We promote inclusivity and strongly feel that the very maxim which acts as the foundation of Indias Constitution be enforced. Remember, it is We, the people of India..., and not We, the adults of India....

Why does 18minus exist?

As of 2014, about half (~44%) the countrys citizens are currently under the age of 18, and hence unable to take part in the political arena of the country - directly or indirectly. To put this number into context, the government of what is described as potentially the next superpower, will be formed on the opinions of just about half the country! And of course, keeping the population growth in mind, this number will only decrease with time! Exclusion of such a big chunk of society clearly goes against the principles of democracy, which explicitly grant every citizen his (or her) right to be heard. Even 67 years after our Independence, most politicians hear out only those sections of society and their demands and suggestions which could act as an incentive to win votes. Putting 2 and 2 together, if a certain section cant vote, why would someone waste precious campaigning time on them? It is this very thought process we plan to change. Once 18minus starts to matter, these #18minus

suppressed teenage voices will be heard. Only once these voices are heard, can India call herself a democracy with pride. We told you, we stand for change. Change for the better.

What do 18minus want to achieve?

Education. We wish to educate the voters, future and current, that their duty doesn't start and end with pressing a button on a fine weekday morning, but extends to demanding answers from our leaders and working in tandem with them to benefit our country. Accountability. We wish to remind our leaders that they're one of us and giving us the answers we demand is not merely an obligation but a fundamental duty. Interaction. We wish to create a forum to promote debate and discussion between the voted, and the non-voters. Before our problems can be addressed, they must be heard. India must transition into an era of true democracy where our representatives act in the best interests of the community and its members, irrespective of their age. Encouragement. We wish that our leaders think tangentially. Sports and Entertainment should no longer be an experimental profession. We want our leaders to support these tangential Indians, both financially and socially by creating an environment for their growth and practice. And lastly, Flight. India was once called the Golden Bird. In this chaos of corruption and this pandemonium of perfidy, that bird has dreamed to soar the skies again. We want it to fly. And only together can we give this country wings. Only together, can we achieve flight. Note : We would like to clarify that we are NOT campaigning for voting rights for the non-adult citizens.

How does 18minus plan to achieve what it wants to?

We seek to be THE voice of the non-voting populace. We wish to reach out to each and every fellow non-adult. We want to to educate, empower and transform this populace in matters of the country and get rid of political apathy that looms in fellow non-adults. 18minus is a process, not a tool, and hence is highly dynamic and spontaneous. As a result, we

#18minus

only have an initial and final destination, for we feel that a rigid A-B-C process is no longer relevant in todays constantly changing world. Hence, our modes of operation will include, but are not limited to on-the-ground work and interaction with leaders and officials, inception and encouragement of discussion clubs to foster the right line of thinking, social media campaigns to involve the future of the country, visiting schools to create political awareness and so on and so forth. Of course, we are always open to suggestions!

Only together, can we change India for the better. Lets #BeTheChange. Lets Break Down The Wall.

#18minus

18minus
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contact 998 605 1097 chanakya varma contact 080 2584 2307 agni jasthi

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