SANKALP
sankalp.msde.gov.in
SANKALP aims to address the ongoing challenges like bringing about convergence, infusing quality in skill development programs and making them market relevant and accessible while ensuring private participation in the context of short-term training. Four key result areas have been identified under SANKALP viz: (i) Institutional Strengthening; (ii) Quality Assurance; (iii) Inclusion; and (iv) Expanding Skills through PPPs.
MAHATMA GANDHI NATIONAL FELLOWSHIP (MGNF)
A premier national fellowship programme fully funded by MSDE to strengthen the ecosystem of decentralised skill development governance.
As part of SANKALP, Mahatma Gandhi National Fellowship (MGNF) is a two-year academic programme which combines classroom sessions at IIM with an intensive field immersion at the district level. The primary purpose behind instituting the MGNF programme is to strengthen the district skill administration and the District Skill Committees (DSCs). The Fellows would acquire academic expertise and technical competency in understanding the overall skill ecosystem and help the District Skill Committee's (DSCs) to manage skill development planning at the district level by formulating District Skill Development Plans (DSDPs).
Eligible Fellows will have minimum graduate degree from a recognized University and will be citizens of India in 21-30 years of age-group. Proficiency in official language of State of fieldwork will be mandatory. Fellows will not be employees of Government. Fellows will receive stipend of Rs. 50,000 per month in first year and Rs. 60,000 per month in second year of their Fellowship (based on performance) as compensation. Upon completion of the programme, the Fellow will be awarded a Certificate in Public Policy and Management.
MSDE launched Phase-I of MGNF on 8th March 2020 with IIM Bangalore as Academic Partner in the presence of Hon’ble Minister, MSDE with 74 Fellows deployed in 74 districts across six States (Gujarat, Karnataka, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh). For this, the Government had onboarded IIM Bangalore as Academic Partner and NIMI as implementation partner. Currently, a batch of 69 Fellows are deputed in 69 districts across six States.
With the successful launch of the pilot project (MGNF-I) in six States and based on its learnings, the national roll out of MGNF programme was launched to cover the remaining districts in the country. MSDE launched the Phase-II of MGNF programme with 9 IIMs namely IIM Bangalore, IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Lucknow, IIM Kozhikode, IIM Visakhapatnam, IIM-Udaipur, IIM Nagpur, IIM Ranchi and IIM-Jammu as Academic Partners on 13th February 2021 in the august presence of Hon’ble Union Minister for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and other dignitaries.
The selection of Fellows was done by IIM Bangalore through a common admission process. The entrance exam was held on 18th July 2021.
The national roll-out of the Mahatma Gandhi National Fellowship Phase-II was inaugurated on 25th October, 2021 in partnership with 9 IIMs and Fellows were deployed in districts from 8th November 2021 onwards after completion of Academic sessions.
Role of IIM B
The purpose of IIM – B is to create a learning ecosystem for Fellows so that they can
contribute towards the strengthening of the district institutions in order to improve their
functioning. IIM B would teach course content under each course module that is consistent
with: 40 contact days; along with off-campus mentoring, field experience and workshops that should form an integral part of the learning..
Role of NIMI
NIMI will handle the HR and other finances of the fellows, designing HR policy
for proper implementation of fellowship program in consultation with MSDE and IIM B, administer the payments to the fellows basis the monthly attendance, travel
arrangements to the academic institution, and facilitating the provision of the logistical and
administrative support including IT equipment and any other tasks/functions necessary for
the implementation of the fellowship.
