50 candidates shortlisted for Jnana fellowship

Various government departments are ready with their wish list of assignments for potential “Jnana Fellows” who will soon be working with the government after taking a break from their current employment.

As many as 11 departments have evinced interest to absorb Jnana Fellows in the coming days. While the Health and Family Welfare Department is keen that the selected candidates take up a study on superstitions about health in the community and how to allay them, the Youth Services Department wants its new recruits to do research on ‘rising criminalisation of marginalised urban youth’.

Jnana Fellowship-2011, a joint initiative taken up by the Higher Education Department and the Karnataka Knowledge Commission (KKC),  provides an opportunity for professionals in the age group of 28-40 years to experience government functioning first hand.

As many as 50 candidates have now been shortlisted for the interview stage scheduled to be held in Bangalore on September 17 and 18. In all, KKC received 3,000 filled applications since the announcement of the fellowships in July. As many as 412 candidates were shortlisted in the first stage for a written test.

Options to choose from

The selected candidate has the option of choosing her/his assignment. The projects are varied and many.

The Department of Personnel Administration and Reforms (DPAR) has sent in three proposals. These include evolving strategies to make electoral rolls error-free and clean, strategies for human resource development and a project on finance-account management, logistics and security.

The Health and Family Welfare Department has the maximum number of assignments to offer (six).  From a general project to ‘evolve measures to improve work culture of government functionaries’ to a specialised assignment, ‘study on barriers of community in accessing government health facilities’.

The other projects shortlisted by Youth Services Department are interesting. These include a study and evaluation of motor skills, strength of children of various age groups and one on ‘streamlining coaching system’.

The Rural Development and Panchayat Raj project would require the candidate to have a science background. It has offered a project to study oil and chemical components of bio-fuel seeds. Candidates with a flair for education can opt to ‘design and execute training to faculty and staff’ or ‘conduct research in teacher education’ - the projects offered by the Primary and Secondary Education Department.

Women and Child Development Department, Horticulture Department and the Public Libraries Departments have also sent in their wish list to the KKC.

 The candidates can take a six month to one year sabbatical from present employment and work directly under the secretaries of various departments. They will be getting a fellowship of Rs 40,000 a month, besides eligible perks.