Prabodhini Fellowship

Overview

Around the world, there is a growing interest in the role of politics amongst the youth, especially in a democratic system.

Rightly so, as the Youth play an important role in shaping every sphere of Politics, Media, Society or Science & Technology. Particular to political ecosystem, Youth are vital for strengthening democracy.

Despite their importance, it is ironical to realize the relatively low participation of Youth in formal, institutional political processes, especially when compared to their older counterparts. This challenges the representativeness of the political system and leads to the disenfranchisement of young people. The absence of right opportunities and skill management is also a constraint to become potential future leaders and lead the country from the front.

Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini (RMP) is the only institution preparing future political leaders. To establish the sincerity of this cause, RMP had also institutionalized the Indian Institute of Democracy and Leadership (IIDL), under whose aegis it is running a Post Graduate Diploma course. It constitutes a formal interdisciplinary course, with focus on filling the gap in India’s democratic political entity and governance through budding young talent.

Arising from this burning need, IIDL, in partnership with Manipal Education and Medical Group (MEMG), have established this interactive and knowledge-accentuating Fellowship Programme.

Programme Support & Trainings

Bootcamp

During the boot camp, frequent sessions focused on functional and behavioral skill-building are conducted to enhance research, communication, and leadership capabilities.

Contact Sessions & Workshops

Regular virtual and physical meetings and workshops to sustain team building and networking within the fellows.

Coaching and Support

Regular mentorship, coaching and periodic reviews to ensure success in the project.

About Prabodhini Fellowship

This programme is for aspiring youth leaders and policymakers in the field of leadership, management, politics, governance, democracy and public policy.

The Fellowship will empower participants to get work experience in the socio-political sphere by close interactions with leaders, think tanks and related organisations in the above-mentioned domain.

The Fellowship will also provide a space for the youth to contribute and inspire other young leaders to cultivate knowledge about politics.

We are ensuring that Fellows earn a decent stipend during their engagement, still our best offer is a unique experience to influence the socio-political ecosystem of this country.

Objectives

The main objective of this Programme is to inculcate the discipline of research in the youth of Bharat. It underscores the importance of academic endeavour in any field of social-political activity.
The Programme is designed to provide hands-on work experience in leadership, management, politics, governance, democracy, and public policy domains, making it a practical learning experience.
It aims to enable fellows to participate actively in socio-political developments.
The Programme also aims to hone the fellows’ soft skills, such as effective communication, writing, public speaking, etc., which will equip them to take on new challenges.
Additionally, the Programme aims to introduce the fellows to alternative career options in the socio-political sphere.

Eligibility

The applicant must be between 23 and 35 years of age
The applicant must hold a Post-Graduate Degree with a minimum of 50% marks
Applicants with a minimum of one year of experience in the socio-academic or political landscape will be preferred.
The applicant must demonstrate a keen interest in societal and political issues, with a desire to contribute to society.
The applicant should possess strong communication skills, both oral and written.

Duration & Stipend

The duration of the Fellowship varies from a minimum of 6 months to a maximum of 12 months, depending on the evaluation of the proposal.
The stipend of the Fellowship is Rs. 22,000/- per month.

Role of Prabodhini Fellow

The Prabodhini Fellow is expected to commit full-time to the fellowship for a period of 6 to 12 months.
The Prabodhini Fellow must maintain professional behaviour and conduct the necessary engagements and proceedings with their mentors and related organisations.

The Prabodhini Fellow is required to work sincerely and attend all trainings and workshops, including Bootcamp, conducted as part of the framework.
The Prabodhini Fellow is required to constantly report to the RMP-IIDL along with the mentor for monitoring and evaluation.

Important Disclaimer

RMP-IIDL reserves the right to reject any application without assigning any reason
Incomplete applications in any respect shall not be considered for fellowship
RMP-IIDL reserves the right to cancel the fellowship at any point of time on the grounds of nonperformance of the Fellow

Any Fellow is not entitled for Prabodhini Fellowship more than once
RMP-IIDL aims to promote the under-represented sections (such as women, persons with disability, people belonging to educationally backward areas etc.), in order to upkeep its diversity and inclusion ethos
A Fellow must possess a clean financial and legal background to support their candidacy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are we looking for ?

We are looking for young & dedicated individuals, who are keen to participate in the governance and socio-political ecosystem while keeping the welfare of the community at the center

Why has RMP-IIDL launched this programme?

The programme has been launched to bridge the participation, skill and experience gap that exists in the Indian political scenario for the youth. The role of youth in issues of politics and governance remains pivotal, therefore it is important to train and provide exposure to the youth and create potential future leaders.

Who are the stakeholders I would be engaged with?

Fellows may work autonomously as researchers or collaborate with relevant socio-political organizations.

What is the institutional support we will provide after the fellowship is over?

A year-long fellowship involves training of the fellows to configure their interest areas and build a network within the socio-political space. We do not provide any formal support once fellowship is over.

Where will the training of the fellows happen?

Generally, at the RMP-IIDL campus near Mumbai or Delhi. It will be communicated by RMP-IIDL.

What would be the location?

The location could be dynamic, and dependent on the location of the stakeholders you will be actively engaging with

Will there be regular classes for the fellowship?

No, there will be no regular classes. There will be trainings and workshops from time to time to enhance the skillset of the Prabodhini Fellows, the schedule for which will be provided beforehand.

Process of Selection?

Applications for the fellowship will be invited annually in the month of July.
All received applications will undergo preliminary screening.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview.
The selection will be based on the performance during the interview.

Is specific work experience desirable for a Prabodhini fellow?

Work experience in any field would be desirable to become a Prabodhini Fellow. However, due to the nature of the fellowship, exposure to socio-political environment might equip the fellows to work more efficiently and collaboratively with a specific organisation or a leader.

What is the duration of Prabodhini fellowship?

The Prabodhini Fellow is expected to commit full-time to the fellowship for a period of 6 to 12 months.

Established in 1982, Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini (RMP) is a unique Training and Research Academy, primarily aimed at enhancing the capabilities of voluntary activists and elected representatives of the people. RMP has an excellent state-of-art training facility spread over 15 acres of land on the outskirts of Mumbai, known as Knowledge Excellence Centre (KEC). RMP-KEC will be the host campus for the PGP course being conducted by IIDL. RMP is recognised by the United Nations as a Special Consultative NGO.

Manipal Education and Medical Group (MEMG), today, operates three Universities in India, recognised by the University Grants Commission. Separately, the businesses and other initiatives of the Group were restructured, where activities of similar nature were clubbed under four key verticals of Education, Healthcare, Research and Foundation. All institutions and businesses under MEMG are governed by a charter that requires them to offer socially relevant and affordable services.