Women politicos get leadership skills, IIM-B way

The students of this class at IIM Bangalore are councillors, ex-mayors and those who have contested elections. And they are learning the nuances of politics, techniques of managing a constituency, analysing political films and understanding the working of Parliament.

The students of this class at IIM Bangalore are councillors, ex-mayors and those who have contested elections. And they are learning the nuances of politics, techniques of managing a constituency, analysing political films and understanding the working of Parliament.

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The first batch of India-Women in Leadership (i-WIL) programme launched by IIM-B and the Centre for Social Research (CSR) on July 15 consists of 27 women who have a passion for politics and social change. Of the 27, 20 have either contested assembly elections or currently hold office as members of municipal corporations, zilla parishads, taluk and town samitis.

These women represent eight different states and have different political affiliations including Congress, BJP, NCP, Janata Dal (Secular) and Shiv Sena.

The 8-week programme includes a study tour to Singapore and targets those women who are keen on enhancing political and leadership capacities.

“The course empowers women politicians in multiple ways. It gives them policy knowledge across various portfolios. It has a focus on personal development that will improve participants' effectiveness,” says Rajeev Gowda, chairperson Centre for Public Policy, IIM-B.

For Falguni Rajput who has served as general secretary for the NCP in Vasai — constituency development means infra-improvement.

She feels that the programme is giving her a holistic perspective about her country. Another student, Hemashree, who has successfully contested municipal elections as a JD (S) candidate wants to make her constituency safe, democratic and inclusive.