Civic Engagement and Advocacy Skills

Introduction to the Course:

In an era where citizen participation shapes policy and governance, this 10-day intensive course empowers Indians with practical tools to drive social change, influence decision-makers, and strengthen democratic engagement. Combining India’s unique civic context with global best practices, the program covers:

Grassroots mobilization(RTI filings, peaceful protests, community organizing)
Digital advocacy(social media campaigns, e-petitions, countering misinformation)
Policy influencing(engaging with MPs, drafting public submissions, budget analysis)
Legal frameworks(Fundamental Duties, Article 19 freedoms, protest laws)

With case studies from successful Indian movements (e.g., Right to Food Campaign, #Metoo India) and international parallels (#BlackLivesMatter), participants will learn to navigate both street-level activism and institutional channels for impact.

Who Should Attend:

NGO workers and community leaders
Student activists and youth parliament participants
Government officials handling public grievances
Corporate CSR professionals
Journalists covering civic issues

Learning Outcomes:

Participants will:

Design impactful advocacy campaigns(online/offline)
Use RTI, PILs, and grievance redressal mechanismseffectively
Build coalitions across caste/class divides
Counter digital authoritarianism(IT Rules 2021 implications)
Practice ethical advocacy(avoiding “slacktivism”)

Course Structure and Session Plan:

Day	Session Topic	Key Components
Day 1	Democracy 2.0: India’s Civic Landscape	– Fundamental Rights vs Duties – Case: Anti-CAA protests
Day 2	Tools of Change: RTI, PILs, Grievance Redressal	– RTI filing simulations – CPGRAMS portal demo
Day 3	Digital Activism & Countering Misinformation	– Hashtag activism – Fact-checking tools (AltNews, Factly)
Day 4	Peaceful Assembly & Protest Laws	– Legal limits (Section 144) – Case: Farmers’ Protest 2020-21
Day 5	Policy Advocacy: From Streets to Parliament	– Pre-legislative consultation process – Lobbying ethics
Day 6	Community Organizing	– SHG models – Dalit women’s movements (e.g., Nirbhaya Vahini)
Day 7	Corporate Accountability	– CSR law advocacy – Environmental justice cases (Niyamgiri)
Day 8	Media as Advocacy Tool	– Op-ed writing – TV debate strategies
Day 9	Funding Social Change	– FCRA compliance – Crowdfunding (Ketto, Milaap)
Day 10	Capstone: Campaign Lab	– Teams launch live advocacy projects

Methodology:

·         Interactive lectures and expert sessions
·         Case studies from India and global civil movements
·         Hands-on exercises: writing RTIs, creating advocacy plans, campaign simulation
·         Digital literacy training: infographics, social media strategy, video creation
·         Peer collaboration, group discussions, and mentoring
·         Simulation activities and action planning for local issues
·         Field visits to MLA constituency offices, District Grievance Cells

Certification: Participants who complete the capstone campaign receive a Certificate in Civic Leadership endorsed by the FORE Centre for Political Leadership and Governance (FCPLG).

Duration: 10 days (60 hours, including workshops, field exercises, and advocacy simulations)

Fees: Rs25,000

Mode: Hybrid