Bhubaneswar : In a landmark step towards strengthening adolescent participation in urban governance, more than 200 adolescents from across Bhubaneswar came together today for Chintana Mandap – Odisha’s First City-Level Adolescent Parliament, organised by Humara Bachpan Trust (HBT) under the Safe, Vibrant and Healthy Public Spaces (SVHPS) Programme in partnership with the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and WRI India.
The unique adolescent-led parliamentary forum provided a platform for young people to deliberate on key urban issues affecting their daily lives and directly engage with government representatives. Adolescents occupied all parliamentary roles, including Speaker, Ministers, Finance Representative and Zone Representatives, making Chintana Mandap the first adolescent-led governance platform of its kind in Odisha.
Drawing upon evidence gathered through adolescent-led audits conducted across 297 communities in Bhubaneswar, participants debated pressing concerns related to water and sanitation, social safety and security, public infrastructure and mobility, and responsive governance and budgeting.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Chanchal Rana, Commissioner, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, emphasized the importance of adolescent participation in city planning and governance, stating that young people are active stakeholders in the city’s present and their evidence-based insights are critical for building a more inclusive and responsive Bhubaneswar.
The Mayor Smt. Sulochana Das appreciated Humara Bachpan Trust’s sustained work with children, women, and youth, and commended the thoughtful deliberations by adolescents during Chintana Mandap. Describing them as the city’s future citizens and leaders, the mayor emphasized that their voices and ideas should play an important role in shaping a more inclusive and responsive Bhubaneswar.
The Parliament featured four thematic sessions:
• Water and Sanitation – focusing on drinking water access, functional toilets, menstrual hygiene, waste management and drainage.
• Social Safety and Security – addressing safety in public spaces, bullying, gender-based violence, online safety and adolescent rights.
• Infrastructure, Mobility and Public Spaces – discussing roads, street lighting, footpaths, accessibility, public transport and environmental quality.
• Responsive Governance and Adolescent Budget Integration – examining budget gaps, grievance redressal systems, accountability and adolescent priorities.
The event culminated in the formal release and submission of several adolescent-led policy documents, including:
• Adolescent-Friendly Bhubaneswar Charters, outlining department-wise recommendations and action points.
• Policy Recommendation Brief on adolescent wellbeing, safety, public spaces and inclusion.
Chintana Mandap is the culmination of four years of sustained adolescent engagement under the SVHPS Programme. Since 2022, the initiative has engaged more than 3,100 citizens, directly involved 2,000 adolescents, trained 540 adolescent leaders, and consulted 312 stakeholders across the city.
The event was attended by representatives from Fondation Botnar, WRI India, Ecorys, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA), corporators from different wards of Bhubaneswar, and other key stakeholders committed to advancing adolescent-friendly urban development.
As Odisha moves forward with major urban initiatives such as the Child-Friendly Public Space Design Regulations, Odisha Urban Design Hub, and upcoming municipal budget consultations, Chintana Mandap demonstrates how meaningful adolescent participation can contribute to more responsive, inclusive and equitable cities.
