More than 200 students from across Dakshina Kannada gathered in Mangaluru on Friday to participate in a district-level youth parliament, or Yuva Sansad. The event, held at the Nethravati Hall within the Zilla Panchayat office, provided a platform for 224 students from nine different taluks to simulate the proceedings of a state legislative assembly.
The participants, representing areas including Mangaluru, Bantwal, Puttur, Belthangady, Sullia, Moodubidire, Kadaba, Mulki, and Ullal, engaged in a structured debate that mirrored real-world governance. The session opened with a formal tribute to the legendary singer S. Janaki, before transitioning into the standard legislative procedures of Question Hour and Zero Hour.
During the debate, student delegates raised a series of pointed questions regarding environmental protection and social welfare. A representative from Moodubidire highlighted concerns over deforestation, alleging that nearly 9,000 hectares of forest land had been cleared and over 8,000 trees felled to facilitate power projects. Other delegates focused on the education sector, questioning the administration on the closure of 3,617 government schools and persistent delays in salary payments for guest teachers.
The issue of public safety was also brought to the floor, with delegates expressing alarm over the prevalence of drug abuse near educational institutions. In response, the student acting as the chief minister defended the government’s record, citing the implementation of a large-scale reforestation project involving one crore teak saplings and social forestry initiatives covering 1,250 hectares. Regarding law enforcement, the student leader pointed to 1,544 arrests made under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act as evidence of the government’s commitment to curbing drug-related crime.
The event was designed to foster a deeper understanding of democratic processes among the youth. Shashidhar GS, the Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI) for Dakshina Kannada, emphasized the importance of the exercise, noting that the youth parliament serves as a vital tool for empowering future leaders to engage with the complexities of governance. Hemalatha, an official from the social welfare department, echoed these sentiments, praising the participants for their clarity and commitment to addressing critical social challenges.
While the proceedings were marked by serious policy debate, the session also featured moments of levity. A lighthearted exchange occurred when the student chief minister teased the leader of the opposition over a delayed response, drawing laughter from the assembly. The event concluded as a successful demonstration of civic interest, with students showcasing their research and ability to navigate the nuances of parliamentary debate.
