I am Rohit Bharti, an ex-student in MA in Good Governance and Public Policy from Sri Sri University. While graduating in economics from Banaras Hindu University, my interest shifted towards gaining a better understanding of governance and public policy while working as an activist with social activists. That is why I chose the subject of Good Governance and Public Policy in the masters. To study Good Governance and Public Policy in the Master’s course from Sri Sri University I got support from OVBI as financial assistance and received a scholarship for my education, for which I am very grateful to OVBI.

While doing my masters, I took part in the Swachh Bharat Mission of the Government of India and conducted the Swachhta Pakhwada program in Madhupur Gram Panchayat of Bhubaneswar District of Odisha State. I have been involved in the open defecation program while studying in the university, under which people living in the villages next to the university were encouraged to make their toilets.

I joined the Gandhi Fellowship after post-graduation. In this fellowship, I worked with the District Transformation Programme (DTP), the aspirational district program of NITI Aayog. Under this, I got an opportunity to work on Elementary Education in the Araria District of Bihar State and to understand the working and departmental structures of the District Education Department. Got an opportunity to get a closer understanding of the governance system of allocation of funds in government schools and distribution of resources like dress money, book money and incentive money, etc. among the children. I had to work jointly with the education department of the Araria district to improve the elementary education system. The knowledge I learned in my Masters helped me a lot in pursuing the fellowship. It was a great learning experience for me.

While studying at Sri Sri University, during the field visit curriculum and cross-learning activity, I understood the government structures and process of governance from center to state and state to district and the complexities present in the governance system. There I got a chance to live in a spiritual ecosystem whereby I learned to practice balancing my mental and emotional wellbeing. It was very beneficial for me.

I will always be grateful for the contribution by OVBI in my career and will always try to keep this valuable contribution meaningful towards myself and the country.