Congress Fellowship Programme is Trying to Churn Out Dynamic Netas

Congress party launches a new initiative in a bid to change perception among first-time voters ahead of 2019 polls.

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Cameraperson: Akanksha Kumar

Video Editor: Mohd Irshad

Inside the conference room at the India International Centre Annexe, a batch of thirty-five students listened in rapt attention to the speaker. This is not a regular seminar related to academics. These students are part of the Congress’ initiative, called the ‘Future of India’ fellowship. All of them have been selected through a screening process and are now attending sessions being addressed by senior Congress leaders.

Cong Reaches Out to Young Professionals and Students

The four-week fellowship programme has helped Deepsha Dhal understand ‘the crux of legislative business and policy-making’. Deepsha, who hails from Odisha, completed her LLM in international law from Geneva and has prior experience of working at ILO (International Labour Organisation). What really impressed her was the honest admission by Congressmen on the front of policy-making.

(Photo: The Quint)

What I like about the entire programme was that these people were very vocal about issues that have happened during their regime as well, laws that came during their regime and unfortunately haven’t worked, and why that led to the creation of a negative image.

Deepsha Dhal, Fellow, ‘Future of India’

For Awantika Mohan, who has completed her first year of graduation at Gargi College, it was sheer interest in public policy that drew her to the fellowship.

Apart from senior Congress leaders, we also get to meet others who work at the ground-level so we get a first-hand account from them. I think it’s also a very humbling experience as a few speakers share their stories.

Awantika Mohan, Student

(Photo: The Quint)

Congress: No Longer a Party of Dynasts?

According to Ruchi Gupta, NSUI in-charge and AICC joint secretary, the idea behind this move is to reach out to the youth. Expanding the party’s base and dispelling the notion that the Congress party is all about dynasts are among the other objectives of the fellowship programme.

We want to be able to make a substantive intervention in the public discourse which has become extremely personalised. The idea is engagement and not necessarily affiliation.

Ruchi Gupta, NSUI In-charge and AICC Joint Secretary

With 133 million first-time voters expected to vote in the 2019 general elections, Congress party seems all set to woo them with a new avatar. Will some of these Fellows be inducted into the party or its student wing at some stage? Not really, as direct entry is not on the table yet.

No such proposal is underway in the NSUI to provide immediate lateral entry into the national executive body.

Ruchi Gupta, NSUI In-Charge and AICC Joint Secretary

Will the Fellowship Churn Out Professional Netas?

Will this passion for policy intervention ever translate into active participation in politics? There are mixed responses as these students try and make sense of the nexus between politics and policies that affect the masses.

What I certainly know is that I want to be involved in politics. Being in politics does not necessarily mean you have to contest an election. There are many ways you can be involved.

Mani Chandran, ‘Future of India’ Fellow & Lawyer

While Mani is not sure about being a politician herself, Delhi-based filmmaker Shalik Shah is confident of representing people one day.

Will I want to fight elections and be the face of people? Well, never say No.

Shalik Shah

Rishabh Kalra, law student at NLU Jodhpur, thinks corporate culture can help in attracting youngsters to politics.

(Photo: The Quint)

We should certainly offer salaries and not outrage when a news article appears that salaries of MPs have been increased by four or five times. I think they deserve it, without money, not many will join politics.

Rishabh Kalra, ‘Future of India’ fellow 

Real question is whether such outreach programmes will inspire youngsters to don the typical khadi kurta and undertake field visits for a better understanding. In a country where 51 percent of the youth is interested in politics, an incentive may not be a bad idea if that can help in attracting talent.