Sri Vijaya Puram, October 23: Chhatra Sansad, a youth initiative of the Zero Hour Foundation, has commenced operations in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands with the establishment of its first regional chapter, outlining plans to improve students’ access to practical training, internships, institutional exposure and platforms for raising youth-related concerns.
At a press conference held on October 22, the organisation formally introduced its founding team, whose appointments took effect on October 12, 2026, and presented its proposed activities for students and young people across the Islands.
Addressing the media, Chapter Chairperson Mandeep Singh Grewal said the initiative would focus on developing leadership skills, civic awareness, confidence and a sense of responsibility among students while creating opportunities for practical learning beyond conventional classroom education.
The organisation plans to facilitate educational visits to Parliament, stock exchanges and government institutions, alongside exploring internship opportunities with the Municipal Council and other departments. Grewal said students pursuing economics, history, arts and other disciplines could benefit from direct exposure to institutions relevant to their academic interests.
The question of whether training and exposure would translate into employment opportunities emerged during the interaction, particularly concerning skill development and the availability of locally trained workers in sectors such as hospitality.
Responding to the concerns, Grewal said the chapter intended to explore connections between island students and mainland institutions, including opportunities for those pursuing medical education to gain practical experience.
He said the broader objective was to help young people develop skills that could support employment and professional opportunities within the Islands rather than depend entirely on resources from outside.
On funding, Grewal said the organisation would explore corporate social responsibility (CSR) partnerships with companies and educational institutions to support student training and reduce participation costs.
He also described Chhatra Sansad as a non-political platform where students could discuss concerns, seek guidance and develop the confidence to raise issues through appropriate channels, irrespective of political affiliations.
The organisation identified youth parliaments, community service, entrepreneurship and interactions with subject experts as other proposed areas of activity.
The founding team comprises Deputy Chairperson Akshay Wadhwa, Secretary General T. Harish Kumar, Joint Secretary R. Kartik Shakti and Finance Secretary Alia Majid. Akshay Wadhwa and Uma Mahesh were also introduced as Executive Council members.
The conference included presentations on the organisation’s activities and recorded messages from National President Kunal Sharma and Vice President Aditya.
While the chapter outlined several proposed initiatives, it did not announce confirmed institutional partnerships, internship placements or specific implementation timelines during the press conference.
