To impart grassroots understanding in policy-making and governance

Mysore/Mysuru: Grassroots Research and Advocacy Movement (GRAAM), Hebbal Ring Road, Mysuru, yesterday inaugurated its ‘Policy Bootcamp,’ a grassroots immersive and collaborative experience for young minds to understand public policy, policy-making and good governance in collaboration with Mount Carmel College, Bengaluru.

The Bootcamp was inaugurated by Prof. R. Shivappa, Registrar, University of Mysore.

The five-day camp will include expert sessions on public policy, development of a questionnaire, field visits, collection of data, interaction with Government officials and a visit to tribal settlements in H.D. Kote leading up to policy recommendations under the guidance of the experts.

Dr. Suma Singh, Dean of Humanities, Mount Carmel College, was a special invitee. 

Dr. Basavaraju R. Shreshta, Executive Director, GRAAM, chaired the programme.

Addressing the MA in Public Policy students of Mount Carmel College, Prof. Shivappa stressed on the importance of understanding the ground realities in any profession.  “Until and unless you understand the ground realities, you won’t become a perfect professional in any profession,” he added.

Prof. Shivappa further talked about his in-field learning experience and encouraged the students to take up grassroots studies. “When we understand the reality we will become wonderful persons in planning, administrators, and designing human beings,” he said.

Dr. Suma Singh said classroom instructions have limitations and such classes are not inspiring and interactive enough for policy students. “We want to trigger students’ interest through this Bootcamp.  It is easy to sit and make policies but challenges come while implementing them and understanding them,”  she observed.