Pramod Kumar in Mumbai
As the democratic process in India becomes more engaging and participative, well meaning youth aspire to play a proactive role in it. But there is no mechanism in the existing political or university system, which adequately arms them with the real knowledge of democratic process, governance, society and the nation. In order to fill this vacuum, Mumbai based Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini (RMP), the pioneer institute known for imparting quality public speaking and communication skill training, has started a Post Graduate Programme in Leadership, Politics and Governance. To be executed by Indian Institute of Democratic Leadership (IIDL), the nine-month duration programme is going to begin from August 1. Over 400 people from all over the country have applied for 40 seats.
The Programme is targeted at students and young professionals who wish to make a career in politics, governance, public affairs and leadership. It has been designed to produce “new leaders for new India”. “The Programme is a mix of academic and experiential learning. The classroom lectures will be conducted by academicians, subject and domain experts, policy makers, elected representatives, politicians, administrators, journalists, activists and so on. Experiential learning would include at least one practical session/activity after every topic, field visits to Gram Panchayats, Parliament, Municipal Corporation, State Assembly, voluntary organisations and development projects. There will be two study tours—a short one (election study tour) and a long one (national capital study tour). The former will be more of grass roots study tour, whereas the National Capital Study tour would include a visit to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Parliament House, offices of political parties, ministries, along with interactions with Ministers, MPs and Politicians across party line,” says Shri Devendra Pai, executive head of academic programmes at RMP.
Enumerating details of the Programmes at Knowledge Excellence Centre of RMP in Mumbai on June 14, Shri Pai pointed out that the participants will be taught the actual functioning of institutions with the help of simulations namely Model Parliament and Model United Nations. “There will be two internships during the Programme. First internship will be a mid semester internship, where the participants will be expected to intern in their home constituency. The second internship will be their major internship wherein the participants will have to work for a month with a politician/elected representative/ministry/voluntary/civil society organisation. Keeping in view the significance of audio-visual aids, the participants will be shown movies, documentaries and short-films which would help increase their understanding of the module they are studying,” he added. Separate Deans have been appointed for each course. They have structured the programmes.
The foundation of this programme, according to Shri Pai, was laid following feedback from the participants of ‘Netritva Sadhna’ camps, the week-long socio-political certificate course started by RMP about seven years back for those who want to know the Indian society, the country and wish to contribute in positive manner. Such camps have been organised twice in Mumbai. Recently, it concluded in Chandigarh and the latest one is going to begin in Guwahati in last week of June. “The Netritva Sadhna participants were not satisfied what they got in seven days. They desired more. It was following that feedback that the new Post Graduate Programme has been started. There is no dearth of talent in our country. What is taught in most universities is outdated and even post graduates are not aware of their society and country. So, there is a need to have a contemporary course with a contemporary and properly structured curriculum. IIDL is going to be a bridge to fill this gap,” Shri Pai told Organiser. Interesting part of the curriculum designed for the course is that the training would be provided by experts with diverse ideological backgrounds—from Communist Party to Bharatiya Janata Party and from Socialist party to Shiv Sena.
The RMP imparts training to over 2,000 people every year and the trainees include workers and leaders of various voluntary organisations, political parties and even the elected people’s representatives. “Since training is equally important for the workers of any political party, people from different political parties come here for training without hesitation. The parties like NCP, Shiv Sena, BJP, MNS and even the Left associated leaders organise activities in RMP. It is an honest effort for capacity building of leaders. The functional training that we impart and the way the feeling of capacity building is gradually getting established motivated us to start this structured course on leadership, politics and governance,” says Dr Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, Vice Chairman of the RMP.
The reputation and recognition that the RMP has received during the last 35 years adds value to the course. “If any university wants to join hands with us, we shall definitely think over formal recognition of it,” adds Dr Vinay Sahasrabuddhe. He further said: “Leadership quality is required not in politics alone, but in every sphere of life. It is required at every moment of life. But there is no mechanism in the country to cultivate leadership among people. Except management, there is hardly any course which promotes leadership. Dearth of leadership is practically in every walk of life not only in India but all over the world. The RMP is making honest efforts to bridge this gap.”
He said the objective of training camps by RMP for political workers is to make those who win elections competent enough to govern also. We have imparted training from Panchayat members to MPs and Ministers and the leaders of various organisations and institutions. Capacity building, skill development and enhancing communication skill have been prime objective of the training.
This initiative by RMP to produce skilled and equipped human resources for governance both within the
government and outside may prove to be a milestone in building sensitised and socio-politically aware youth.
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