Political movements in any country as we all know form the crux of sweeping in huge change and this programme initiated for the first time in the country for its women is surely one of its kinds.

Being a journalist I often come across this breed called 'politicians' who are sadly at times quite ignorant on the ways and means of handling their positions when in power.The intricacies of governing the public machinery is quite a deft task and most politicians, especially at the local level are unaware of it.

Which was why I found it interesting enough to enrol for this Programme in order to understand the role of what a public representative in any society should be and the ways and means of tackling issues that come with the office.

My project on the Nationalist Congress Party, during our internship period, highlighted the nuances of vote ban creation and brought to the forefront, the role of women in the political party structure and that how they are still struggling to get their share of control with their male counterparts.

The Programme has helped me tremendously in my profession as well in understanding the difficulties faced by political entities and in correcting the damages cause by them.I plan to use this platform in garnering more and more educated individuals, specially women who currently only exercise their views as armchair critics rather than participate in their melee. Also on the priority list is mobilising governance at a local level politics and getting in more of the fairer sex involved in this power game.

Mamta Sen
Senior reporter