MGNF – Decoding district level skilling and entrepreneurship

It can be inferred that every district and every state are economically and geographically different from one another. This is not only an opportunity but also a challenge to the MGN Fellows and the district administration to craft out unique skill training programmes. Let’s understand more from the experiences of the MGN Fellows located in Uttarakhand and Meghalaya.

Uttarakhand

Ashwini Patekar

Pithoragarh, Uttar Pradesh

“Before MGNF, I was working in the field of monitoring, evaluation, and research. My major motivation to join the MGNF was to explore the challenges at grassroots levels, understand the skill landscape and apply my skills in designing interventions for promoting economic activity and enhancing the livelihood of the people.

I am currently placed in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand. My experience in the district has been quite enriching so far. I am engaged in various tasks assigned to me by the district administration. My mentor, the District Statistical Officer, and I conceptualized, designed, and published a district magazine ‘SOARGHATI’ with an aim of highlighting success stories from grassroots levels.

I have been a part of another major project known as the Horti-Tourism Growth Center Project right from its planning phase. The project is one of its kind and has the potential to boost tourism, generate rural employment, and also empower women-led SHGs in the district.”

Meghalaya

Meghan Satish Kadam

West Garo Hills, Meghalaya

“I have always dreamt of working in a manner which combines the beauty of theory with the sustainability of the practice. And, believe me, the opportunity to work as an MGNF on behalf of the MSDE, in Meghalaya, has been just that a once-in-a-lifetime experience that has constantly questioned my beliefs on development, and always pushed my work capabilities beyond imagination.

From debating new ideas to challenging old ones, this opportunity has provided me with a steep learning curve across all levels, whether it be in terms of grassroots mobilization, district-level capacity building, or state-level policy drafting.

For instance, one innovative experiment that we are working on here is called the PRIME Hub – a state-led start-up incubation centre that promotes self-entrepreneurship by providing ‘last mile’ hand-holding support across the domains of ideation, finance, and legality, to all deserving local entrepreneurs. Truly, no two days are the same.

Moreover, the brand value that an IIM Public Policy Certificate brings to such an otherwise priceless experience is what makes this sweeter amidst all the challenges.

In other words, it is this very opportunity to work across multiple levels of governance, along with multifaceted stakeholders that makes MGN fellowship like no other.”

Dipin Varghese Panicker

North Garo Hills, Meghalaya

“The initial days of MGN Fellowship in the district of North Garo Hills were filled with skepticism and anxiety. The worries about the reception towards an outsider from the District Administration, local stakeholders, and village people were real. Thanks to the government officials, gradually I found myself in a cordial environment.

A DSC, which was set up in December 2019, was made operational through adequate orientation in July 2020 under the able leadership of the Deputy Commissioner. The most exciting part of the programme was the field experience of interacting and working with entrepreneurs and cooperative society in the district.

Getting hands-on experience in working with farmers, artisans, and budding entrepreneurs, resolving bottlenecks in their value chain, and creating market linkages, helped to understand the economy of the district better. Dialogues with SDO, training providers, and trainees gave a thorough picture of the skill ecosystem of the district.

To anyone, who is willing to work hard and make a difference in the lives of the youth (at least a few) of the nation, MGNF is a brilliant paid experience at the grassroots.”