In September, 2016, Global Citizen and The Global Education and Leadership Foundation (tGELF), in partnership with the United Nations India, launched the Global Citizen India initiative which aims to mobilise social change in India to address the Sustainable Development Goals over the next 15 years.
The launch, which took place in Mumbai, was opened by the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis and was attended by Member of Parliament, Poonam Mahajan, and Bollywood celebrities Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Farhan Akhtar and Kareena Kapoor Khan.
The initiative’s aim is to popularise the SDGs, focusing particular attention on SDG Goals 4, 5 and 6 – quality education, gender equality and clean water and sanitation. It is hoped that by encouraging citizens to take action, millions of people will work together towards achieving the ultimate goal of ending poverty. By becoming involved, citizens are able to earn tickets to the Global Citizen Festival which will take place in Mumbai on 19 November, 2016, on World Toilet Day (free tickets are earned through taking action). The Festival will be hosted by the Government of Maharashtra, the strategic partner of the initiative, and will be headlined by British rock band Coldplay. Celebrities including Jay Z, Aamir Khan, Ranveer Singh, Katrina Kaif, Farhan Akhtar, Shraddha Kapoor, AR Rahman, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Arjun Kapoor, Arijit Singh, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and Monali Thakur will also participate.
Global Citizen India is part of Global Citizen, which has been actively promoting citizen involvement since 2008 and since 2012 has been organising the Global Citizen Festival in Central Park in New York, during the United Nations General Assembly, specifically to bring attention to global issues. The UN Secretary General has participated in the event, as has Prime Minister Narendra Modi.