IIDL launches post-graduate course to train youth for politics

A post-graduate programme in leadership, politics and governance, started by an institution headed by BJP vice president Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, aims at providing participants with necessary skill-sets for making a career in politics and public affairs.
The induction programme of the course, started by the Indian Institute of Democratic Leadership (IIDL) was held at the Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini, in adjoining Thane district today. Sahasrabuddhe, a Rajya Sabha member, is vice chairman of the Prabhodhini.
"For the first time we have started a post-graduate programme in leadership, politics and governance. This is the first of its kind programme in the country," Sahasrabuddhe said.

"There is a dearth of leadership in practically every walk of life. We don't have good institution leaders to man our colleges, universities, NGOs etc. We don't have good thought leaders. We lack good managers in socio-political sphere," Sahasrabuddhe told PTI.
Asked where does he see the course participants placed after five years, Sahasrabuddhe said "I see them providing leadership to political parties, voluntary organisations, media houses and to society at large."
The 32 participants from 14 states were selected from around 450 applicants for the nine-month course after due screening. It was launched earlier this month, he said.

"This is not a factory of leaders. But those who complete the course will become fully capable of entering public life in various spheres," he said.

"Leaders from politics, media and voluntary organisations play an important role in shaping the discourse and policy in a democracy," Sahasrabuddhe said.
"The youth today aspire to play a proactive role in the process of democracy. The government and the political entity needs young talent equipped with the right ideas and competencies to keep pace with the changing times," he said.
The course aims at providing a deep insight into the socio-political ground reality of India and inculcate and enhance leadership values and capacities in the students, he said.
"We will equip the participants with necessary skill-sets for having a career in politics, public affairs, voluntary organisations and allied areas," he said.

The course aims at building trained and competent political leaders and social workers and providing skilled and equipped human resource for governance both within the government and outside, he said, adding the aim is to ensure socially sensitised and politically aware youth.
"At the Prabodhini, we have coached not just BJP and RSS workers, but also those from the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena," he said.
Shekhar Sen, Chairman of the Sangeet Natak Akademi and Founder and Editor in Chief of Republic TV Arnab Goswami also addressed the first batch of the PG course today.