Fellowships refers to short term professional or amateur work programmes. They may last for a few months to few years. The candidates are attached to some organisations or government bodies to start new initiatives or community outreach programmes. Fellowships are generally offered to candidates who are graduates or postgraduates and they do take a first hand experience of sorts, from deciphering policies to creating visions and being part of projects.
The various Chief ministers fellowship program appears to be thought provoking work schemes run by the Chief ministers office. These fellowships do come along with different aims, objectives and visions.
Fellowship In Different States
Fellowship in Delhi
The Delhi Urban Leaders Fellowship programme sets up a dias for young leaders across the nation to be a part of Delhi Govt and its scheme is for dynamic young people below 35 years who would love to create an amalgam of hopes and work while doing public service for two years. The programme is being managed by the administrative reforms department, Govt of NCT of Delhi, in collaboration with the Chief minister and deputy Chief Ministers house. Selected fellows go through a rigorous selection process and help formulation of policies and are also given handsome remuneration.
Fellowship in Maharashtra
Maharashtra has an eleven month fellowship program to invite and moderate young people to have a better introspective eye to comprehend the basics of governance, management and administration, that way it would be enfusing new energy and vision to create a sync between existing projects and take a lead towards creating new entrepreneurs.The programme was launched by the Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Devendra Fadnavis in 2015. Applicants between the age of 21 to 26 are eligible to apply. A graduate in any discipline and one year experience is required. Every year approximately 50 candidates are selected and given the responsibility to work for the state. It’s really heartening to see fellows work on projects like Mumbai Metro, Navi- Mumbai Airport, Jalyukt Shiva Abhiyan, Pune Metro and Ring Road Project, Electric Buses for BES and other such important projects. The fellows fill up the gaps between local and state government.
In both Delhi and Maharashtra, fellows are assigned with ministers and officials to work for health, water, education, environment, art and culture areas, etc.
Fellowship In Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh Government Scheme looks for graduates who would do analysis of ground work and to look out for policy challenges. The period of fellowship is to be for at least eleven months and will not exceed two years. A good remuneration of 70,000 per month is paid to the fellows and certificates are issued by the state govt after successful completion of the programme. Candidates who have completed Masters in any discipline with 3 years experience or graduation with 5 years experience are eligible. They shall be working without the channels of the state government.
Fellowship in Chhattisgarh
The government of Chhattisgarh too has taken a prominent step in initiating the fellowship programme, getting inspired by the good governance theme of our PM, Shri Narendra Modi. The agenda of the state govt is on high economic growth, development of agriculture, innovation in education and use of advanced technology. In the 2017-19 programme, a total of 42 fellows were selected. Post graduates with 3 years experience and graduates with 5 years experience are considered. Candidates with domain experience are preferred, proficiency in computers is considered an additional quality. The State Government is trying to inspire best professionals to execute themes and projects in government domains. It aims specially to deal with problems of health and literacy.
Fellowship in Andhra Pradesh
Similarly, the Economic Development Board of the government of Andhra Pradesh has been established with the objectives of promoting sustainable economic gains and large investments. The candidates are supported to work and provide developmental trajectories of a new state. The Andhra Pradesh CM has been hiring Chief Minister fellows from the Indian school of business.
Fellowship in Haryana
In the state of Haryana the Khatter govt has teamed up with Ashoka University to facilitate the most qualified men and women to work with the state machinery. The selected fellows are ported in each of the 22 districts of Haryana. They are selected for a year and work closely with the DC’s and district officials. They are paid approximately 50,000 per month.
Fellowship in Madhya Pradesh
In Madhya Pradesh, opportunities are given to young professionals to give them feedback on the functioning of the government. The candidates work under mentors to look for accountability and various projects. Approx 51 research associates are selected under the young professionals for development programme. While the research associates get a remuneration of Rs 40,000 each, the advisors get around 60,000 per month besides HRA. The fellows are placed in each district to give feedback on the projects. A handsome budget of Rs 11.2 crore is kept for such programmes.
Many other state governments run different fellowship programs to cater to the needs of their state policies. Generally, the essential qualifications are a graduate degree with an age group varying from 21 to 40 years. The desirable qualifications may ask for basic components levels, proficiency in local and english language and some relevant work experience.
Impact and Ways to Benefit Oneself
- Experience
The impact on the receiver of fellowship can be in great magnitude. One can have a first hand experience of the problems faced by the society. To see problems at close quarters and to see them with a capacity to do something are two wonderful exponents that might set up the best benefits of this fellowship. In states like Maharashtra, one is likely to be equivalent to a Grade A officer in the government service. One can share the working space of district collectors and feel the basic nuances of problems underlying in the society. That way, one can also have a great experience with the government machinery.
- Creating opportunities
Instead of the odd cribs and frowns one can go well with the system and take a part in creating solutions. The marginalised and under privilege often looks towards the authorities with hopes and aspirations. They have problems of all kinds. The amalgam needs to be well created.
- Developing life skills
The fellows have a chance to work on policy making, drafting out visions, working with social media related to the government and to be able to meet notable personalities who decide the fate of states. The advantages are no doubt many. One gets to have a feel of real society, also one has the chance to develop one’s personality. The social relations, the public duties all create life skills in one, needed for a healthy growth. One gets a first hand experience while setting goals for the future. The genuine relationships one makes do help in making a good resume for future. Experience is gained by going in an active field.
- Better communication skills and leadership qualities
Fellowship programs may be hard to crack but they come along with wonderful benefits. The dynamics of responsibilities and doing projects under mentors and governments help in gaining practical experiences. It in turn, helps in getting better jobs after graduation. Fellowship endeavors are good for professional development too. One gets to learn public speaking, deals better with social relations and harnesses leadership skills. They give a new forum to new creativity.
- Great packages
Fellowship programmes do come along with good packages too. Significant allowances and leave facilities too are given so that there is little work stress. The candidates are also covered under accidental insurances. Such programmes help in future research work. The field work helps a candidate to prepare for future projects.
- Social Impact of Fellowship Programmes
Fellowship programmes do help in creating a good social impact too. Through one’s desire to learn and be part of the system, one is able to add to some kind of social values and roles. Programmes and fellowships like fulbright and UKIERI do create international connections and cooperation scenes and help the participant to translate some of the impact for the fellow’s home country.
- Impact on Career Goals
Fellowships help to further one’s self goals too.It gives a good direction to the future course of action for the one doing fellowship. The scheme gives a dynamic space for one to grow and learn. Fellowship giving bodies do actually know that they are making an investment that might yield in good returns.
It’s a cut throat world that we are living in. So to survive and evolve we need cross cultural competency, empathy, decision making and awareness. It helps in developing intercultural communication skills. Through such schemes one gets to enjoy the company of professionals and learns to evolve from peer to peer. The reciprocal learning drills new ideas, innovative planning, teamwork do help in making one take responsibility. The beautiful bonds are created in the active work areas and learning remains long after the fellowship is over.
One is able to test drive all that he longs to do in future. One can nicely explore beyond their comfort zone. The schemes do provide analytical support in the formulation of policies, projects and the initiative. The fellows on the other hand bring a degree of passion and thought to the policies that might not have been possible otherwise. Extensive ground work, planning and execution do make for ways to benefit from Chief Ministers Fellowship Programs.
