If you’re looking for a programme to catapult your ambitions of entering the area of public policy and decision making at the highest level, then the Young Leaders for Active Citizenship (YLAC) could be the need of the hour. Founded by Harvard and Oxford alumni Rohit Kumar and Aparajita Bharti, YLAC goes beyond conventional modes of learning in giving participants hands on experience of working with different Members of Parliament (MPs) and being active agents of change.
YLAC believes in drawing confluence over different aspects of citizenship and equips participants with the means to better understand the working of the society and its institutions.‘YLAC’s prime motivation is to draw active citizens towards policy research and advocacy, this can be successfully achieved through the blend of theory and practice.’ claims Aparajita who is also a PRS Legislative alumnus. The organisation started in June 2016 with its school level programme – High School Achievers Programme. The programme entailed a 21 day skill development workshop in the form of a boot camp at the end of which students were attached to different participating NGOs.
An ongoing programme of YLAC named Policy in Action is meant for university students and young professionals. The programme, spread over a month starting from 24th September, will equip participants with the know-how of legislation and policy making. At the end of the programme, participants will be deputed with various MPs to act as their assistants for a brief period. This year’s participating MPs include – Anurag Singh Thakur ( Lok Sabha), Baijayant ‘Jay’ Panda (Lok Sabha), Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo (Lok Sabha), M V Rajeev Gowda (Rajya Sabha), Supriya Sule (Lok Sabha) and Tathagata Satpathy (Lok Sabha).YLAC’s next Policy in Action programme is set to launch in the early part of next year.
Having received multiple requests from Bangalore and Mumbai, YLAC also plans on expanding its operations to the metropolitan cities. The organisation also has a diverse Board of Advisors which includes Baijayant ‘Jay’ Panda (MP – Lok Sabha), Shashi Tharoor (MP – Lok Sabha) and Michael Walton (Harvard Kennedy School).
Image Credits: Rohit Kumar
Sidarth Yadav
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