Nagpur News.
The Indian government will recruit 140 young graduates from all over the country for a three-year fellowship scheme to oversee better delivery of its flagship schemes in backward and remote districts in the country. This is an extension of the ongoing Prime Minister’s Rural Development Fellowship (PMRDF) scheme for a two year fellowship while in the last year of service the fellows (interns) will have to mandatorily work under the National Rural Livelihood Mission.
PMRD Fellowship is an initiative of the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) where in the focus is to reduce poverty and improve the lives of people in rural India. PMRD Fellowship is being implemented in collaboration with state governments. During the two-year duration of the Fellowship, PMRD Fellows will work closely with District Magistrates of backward and remote districts in improving programme delivery and interface with marginalized sections, aiming to reduce the developmental and governance deficits.
PMRD Fellowship, which was launched in September 2011, has the twin objective of providing short-term catalytic support to district administration to improve the effectiveness of development programmes as well as to develop a cadre of facilitators that will be available as a ready resource for rural development activities over the long term.
Announcing the launch of the second phase of the scheme, Rural development minister Jairam Ramesh said , “In the second phase of PMRDF, we will recruit 140 young graduates for a period of three years after which they will get a masters degree in rural development practice from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences,” rural development minister Jairam Ramesh said after announcing the launch of the second phase of the scheme.
The students in the fellowship will get to participate in a post graduate degree programme through e-enabled distance learning and contact sessions .Immediately after successful completion of the two year fellowship, a PMRD Fellow is required to spend one year in public service as a paid full-time employee of the State Rural Livelihood Mission in the State she/he is assigned to.
It is expected that by their work in the field as well as through their participation in the academic programme, PMRD Fellows will enhance their capacity in programme implementation, gain field experience, acquire professional knowledge in development practice and become capable development leaders and facilitators – a much needed resource for ensuring equitable growth in India.
Under the ongoing first phase, 138 fellows are already working in 83 districts in nine states with the rural development ministry shelling out Rs 32 crore on training these fellows. These fellows were, however, not initially entitled to a masters degree till now, but with the launch of the second phase the existing fellows will also have the option of availing a degree by extending their stay under the scheme.
About 9,000 applications were received and 156 fellows were selected when the scheme was launched two years ago. These fellows get Rs 50,000 per month during the twomonth orientation period after which the salary is hiked to Rs 75,000 per month during the first year and by another 10% in the second year.
Prime Minister‘s rural development Fellows Scheme invites talented young professionals from all over the country with a desire to participate and initiate a larger change.
2014 applications are open.
For eligibility & Selection process the last date for applications are November 30 , 2013.
All India competency Assessment Test (online) is on Dec 15, 2013, written tests and personal interviews.
For other information the support numbers are 8377067647- technical support, application form guidance-022-25525252
