Global Citizen, a social action platform, and the Global Education and Leadership Foundation (tGELF), recently launched the Global Citizen India platform. The platform will comprise a distinctive mix of events, grassroots activism, media campaigning and online activation, to catalyse India’s journey towards achieving the Global Goals for Sustainable Development, and to bring about the end of extreme poverty. The inaugural Global Citizen Festival India, to be held in Mumbai on 19 November, will be Global Citizen India’s first initiative and several major artists and international guests will be announced at different stages of the campaign.  

A press communiqué issued by WizSpk  Communication said, "In its first year, Global Citizen India will offer a wide cross-section of content and actions focused on creating meaningful impact in three key areas: Quality Education, Gender Equality, and Clean Water and Sanitation. Achieving impact across these interlinked issues is a critical first step on the journey to focus positive pressure on major players to influence dialogue, policy and social change in India. One of the first actions people can take is to call on their chief ministers to adopt a comprehensive action plan to achieve the Global Goals." 

Shiv Khemka, chairman of tGELF, said in a statement, "Young people are starting to engage with the challenges facing our country and the planet, and are becoming increasingly committed to taking action for social change. tGELF’s mission is to nurture and support ethical, altruistic and decisive leadership among young people at schools and colleges. Each one of us is responsible for our actions and the power of each action taken collectively can help achieve the global goals." 

Global Citizen, which has mobilized millions since its inception in New York City in 2012, has a unique capacity to amplify the voices of Global Citizens through social media. In the past four years of this movement, actions taken by Global Citizens has led to commitments from governments, corporates and partners, and are set to affect the lives of 656 million people. The Global Citizen Festival is a platform created by Global Citizen, which leverages the voices of Global Citizens to influence world leaders and decision makers to enact policy changes and commit significant resources to help solve some of the world’s biggest challenges. 

Further, Hugh Evans, CEO Global Citizen, said in the same statement, "The years I spent living and working in India as a teenager were a key catalyst of my passion for challenging the status quo of poverty alleviation. So bringing the Global Citizen movement to India is a moment many years in the making. Sixty-five per cent of India’s population is under the age of 35 — that’s 800 million young people, who can drive serious change for generations to come. Global Citizen India will engage these young people to drive behavioural change at scale through their individual actions, impact policy through commitments by governments, and amplify India&’s voice to the world in its commitment to achieving the Global Goals for Sustainable Development." 

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has extended his support to the initiative, saying, "The Global Education and Leadership Foundation’s focus on ethical altruistic leadership is important work that involves investing in our demographic dividend. The synergy of these promises exciting outcomes. The power of a digital India is unmatched. Connected individuals can amplify their collective voice and express their views on critical issues that people across the country face. The commitments raised over the last five editions of the festival are remarkable and the work done to get citizens to take action is unique. I believe this is an interesting and innovative approach to achieve important goals. Maharashtra looks forward to lead this movement across India. We are proud to bring this initiative to the country and be the voice of India to the world.” 

Fadnavis was joined by celebrated Indian actors and personalities including Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Farhan Akhtar, Kareena Kapoor. Coldplay&’s Chris Martin also shared his enthusiasm about the festival via a video message.