Know Your Rights Campaign
On 18 Dec 2019, APNA held a round table in Ranchi on “Constitution and Citizen Responsibilities” with 85+ participants, part of its SDG 16 “Know Your Rights” campaign. Later, 20+ events in Ranchi and Hazaribagh reached 1,200 people on justice, rights, and legal literacy.
Realizing Rights
On 18th December 2019, the Association for Parivartan of Nation (APNA) organised a round table discussion at M.R. Hall, near Marwari College, Ranchi on the theme “Constitution, Constitutionalism, and Citizen Responsibilities” The event, attended by over 85 participants including students, faculty, local leaders, and civil society representatives, sought to engage citizens in critical dialogue around justice, accountability, and the role of constitutional values in everyday life. The session opened with a thought-provoking statement from Mr Hasan Al Banna, who emphasised, “Even though our Constitution gives us significant fundamental rights and duties, most citizens are not aware of them. As a consequence, it becomes a collective duty of the youth of this country to educate others about basic human rights and duties and encourage them to hold the government accountable and transparent in its functioning.”
The discussion reflected on the idea of justice and its existence in contemporary Indian society, highlighting the gap between constitutional guarantees and ground realities. Shubham Raj, a student from Marwari College, noted,
“For many in rural Jharkhand, access to justice feels like a distant dream. What we are doing here is bringing law closer to people’s lives, showing them that rights are not abstract, but tools they can use to fight injustice.”
The initiative is a part of APNA’s wider campaign, “Know Your Rights,” rooted in Sustainable Development Goal 16, which recognises the importance of building peaceful, just, and inclusive societies. The campaign emphasises equal access to justice, effective rule of law, and transparent governance at all levels.
In the months leading up to and following the round table, APNA has conducted over 20 community-level events across Ranchi and Hazaribagh, reaching nearly 1,200 citizens through campaigns, workshops, Nukkad Sabhas, and seminars. These have focused on vital laws and acts covering sexual harassment at work, domestic violence, child rights, dowry, human trafficking, physical and psychological abuse, and fundamental rights and duties. Through such initiatives, APNA aims to bridge the gap between citizens and state institutions by equipping people with practical knowledge of legal rights. By creating a tidal wave of conscious citizens, the organisation hopes to foster an environment where justice is not only accessible but also demanded collectively.
