Union education minister launches Mahatma Gandhi National Fellowship-II

NEW DELHI: Union minister for education Dharmendra Pradhan launched the phase-II of Mahatma Gandhi National Fellowship, a two-year long fellowship programme today. The fellowship is introduced for young individuals in the age group of 21-30 years with academic and professional expertise. The fellows are trained to contribute towards enhancing skill development at the grassroot level.

The two-year fellowship integrates classroom teachings by academic partner IIMs with an intensive field immersion at the district level. The fellows are shouldered with responsibility to create credible plans and identify barriers in creating employment, economic output, and promoting livelihoods in rural areas.

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The first phase of MGNF was launched in collaboration with IIM Bangalore as academic partner. The first phase had 69 fellows currently working in 69 districts across 6 States. The fellowship offers opportunity to aspirants in the age group of 21-30 years with academic and professional expertise.

While launching the fellowship, Pradhan urged the fellows to act as catalysts of social change at the grassroots by driving skill development efforts. “Called upon my young friends to act as catalysts of social change at the grassroots by driving skill development efforts. Also called upon district collectors and academic partner IIMs to facilitate the fellows and script a success story of change through this fellowship,” Pradhan tweeted earlier.

Called upon my young friends to act as catalysts of social change at the grassroots by driving skill development efforts. Also called upon district collectors and academic partner IIMs to facilitate the fellows and script a success story of change through this fellowship. pic.twitter.com/HQj2HUgXmT

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) October 25, 2021

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The fellowship under SANKALP was designed to provide a cohort of professionals at District level. MGNF is a blend of academic and work-based training handled at the IIM campus and the districts, respectively. The academic module by IIM includes concepts from management, development economics, public policy and the district skills ecosystem (DSC). As a part of the fieldwork (District Immersion), the fellows will work within the district with DSC officials on challenges pertaining to skill development in the district.

“It is heartening to see dedicated young fellows embark on their journey to bolstering India’s skill ecosystem. I congratulate all students who started their fellowship last year and wish the best of luck to all who are entering this noble mission today," added Pradhan.

It is heartening to see dedicated young fellows embark on their journey to bolstering India’s skill ecosystem. I congratulate all students who started their fellowship last year and wish the best of luck to all who are entering this noble mission today. pic.twitter.com/yYIfUwZl7w

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) October 25, 2021

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Phase two of the fellowship was launched today with 661 fellows who will be placed across the districts of the country. In the second phase of the programme, eight more IIMs have come on board. IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM-Jammu, IIM Kozhikode, IIM Lucknow, IIM Nagpur, IIM Ranchi, IIM-Udaipur and IIM Visakhapatnam will also be academic partners in the fellowship programme.