“There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.” — Nelson Mandela
Children are often described as the future of a nation. However, they are also active participants in shaping its present. Their aspirations, creativity, and potential can drive social progress when supported by equal opportunities. Despite laws for child development and strict laws against child labour many children do not have both access and awareness about education. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), 1,329 cases were recorded under the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act across six major states between 2015 and 2022.
Amid these challenges, young policy makers play a vital role in bridging the gap between policy and practice. One such voice is Sunidhi Gurjar, a Political Science scholar at Miranda House, University of Delhi, whose work focuses on child rights, gender equality, and youth participation in policymaking. As a Youth Advocate with YuWaah India at UNICEF, she contributes to youth-led initiatives aimed at creating meaningful social change. Further, she has also served as a Research Intern at NITI Aayog and is a recipient of the Indira Priyadarshini Award and the Gargi Award.
“Different Voices, Different Experiences, and Thus Different Policies”: Sunidhi Gurjar’s Perspective as a Youth Advocate
“Sustainable social change cannot be achieved through top-down approaches alone.” — Sunidhi Gurjar
In urban spaces, many of us fail to grasp the realities faced by children and young people in remote villages and underserved communities. At best, some may ask domestic workers whether their children attend school. While such conversations may serve as a starting point, they rarely move beyond acknowledgement. Encouraging access to education, informing families about opportunities, and addressing the barriers that keep children out of classrooms often remain overlooked.
What is accepted as someone’s reality today can, with the right support and awareness, become an opportunity for change tomorrow. For Sunidhi, recognizing these differences in lived experiences is central to creating effective policies and meaningful social impact. Her work with children and young people has exposed her to challenges that often remain invisible to those outside these communities. Reflecting on her journey, she says:
“This ground-level experience deepened my understanding of the systemic barriers affecting young people and strengthened my commitment to creating meaningful change.”
Gender, too, plays a significant role in shaping children’s experiences. While girls may not always be engaged in workplace child labour, many continue to face societal pressure for early marriage and domestic responsibilities during an age meant for education, dreams, and aspirations. As a recipient of the Indira Priyadarshini and Gargi Awards, Sunidhi believes that recognition and encouragement play an essential role in shaping a child’s journey. On her achievements, she states:
“These recognitions have been a reminder that my achievements are not solely personal—they also represent the aspirations of many young women striving for quality education and equal opportunities.”
“The Voices That Are Often Hidden Also Need to Participate”: What Policymaking Means to Sunidhi Gurjar
“Meaningful engagement is not about token representation; it is about creating spaces where youth perspectives are genuinely heard, valued, and reflected in policy outcomes.” — Sunidhi Gurjar
Young people play a crucial role in policymaking, particularly in areas such as child labour and child rights, because they often possess first-hand experiences and understand the realities on the ground. However, social divisions, economic inequalities, and entrenched stereotypes frequently prevent their meaningful participation in decision-making processes. Available data rarely tracks the participation of economically disadvantaged youth as a distinct category in national policymaking reports. Nevertheless, Sunidhi argues that excluding these voices creates policies that fail to address lived realities. She explains:
“My experience at UNICEF reinforced my belief that sustainable social change cannot be achieved through top-down approaches alone. It requires collaboration between policymakers, communities, and young people, along with inclusive decision-making processes that ensure every voice is heard.”
How Do Different Experiences Shape Policymaking?
“While many opportunities exist, they often do not reach young people from marginalized, rural, or economically disadvantaged backgrounds.” — Sunidhi Gurjar
Policy discussions often focus on broad solutions, but experiences on the ground reveal that access remains deeply unequal. Opportunities that are readily available in urban centres may never reach young people living in marginalized communities. As a result, awareness gaps continue to widen, limiting aspirations and future prospects. According to Sunidhi, policymaking must be informed by diverse voices and experiences. Without understanding the realities faced by different groups, even well-designed initiatives can fail to achieve their intended impact. Discussing the challenges confronting India’s youth, she notes:
“One of the most pressing challenges facing young people in India today is the lack of accessibility to quality education, skill development opportunities, digital resources, and career guidance. While many opportunities exist, they often do not reach young people from marginalized, rural, or economically disadvantaged backgrounds.”
Effective policymaking, therefore, is not merely about creating opportunities but also about ensuring that those opportunities are accessible to every young person, irrespective of their social or economic background.
“The Future of Policymaking Lies in Young Minds”: How Sunidhi Gurjar Began Her Journey and Inspires Others
“What continues to drive my interest in youth advocacy and governance is the belief that young people are not just beneficiaries of policies but important stakeholders in shaping them.” — Sunidhi Gurjar
Youth participation is increasingly recognized as a vital component of effective governance and policymaking. India reflects this vision through the National Youth Policy 2026, which aims to align the aspirations, capabilities, and participation of young people with the broader goal of achieving Viksit Bharat 2047. The policy recognizes young citizens not merely as beneficiaries of development initiatives but as active contributors to the nation’s future.
For Sunidhi Gurjar, this belief has shaped her journey from grassroots social work to national-level policy engagement. She began her advocacy work through Agamya, the Social Outreach Club of Miranda House, and later volunteered with Prayaan Foundation, where she worked closely with children from underprivileged communities. These experiences gave her firsthand insight into educational inequality, limited opportunities, and the challenges faced by marginalized groups, inspiring her to pursue meaningful social change. She further strengthened her commitment to child rights and youth empowerment through her role as a Youth Advocate with YuWaah at UNICEF and as a Research Intern at NITI Aayog. Reflecting on what motivates her work, Sunidhi explains:
“Through my experiences in child education, UNICEF, academic research, and NITI Aayog, I have seen how policies directly impact people’s lives and how valuable youth perspectives can be in addressing real-world challenges.”
Sunidhi Gurjar’s inspiring journey from leading child centred initiatives to engaging in policymaking highlights her commitment to understanding children’s lived experiences and amplifying their voices in decision-making processes. Through her advocacy and policy work, she strives to translate their concerns into meaningful action, contributing to positive social change and more inclusive governance.
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