ABHIJIT SEN RURAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME

The National Foundation for India is thrilled to invite students pursuing undergraduate and post-graduate studies to apply for the third cohort of the Abhijit Sen Rural Internship Programme. This 50-day field-based research internship offers a unique opportunity to explore the realities of rural India and gain a deeper understanding of the existing socio-economic challenges. The program is named in honour of the late Professor Abhijit Sen, a renowned economist who dedicated his work to rural development. The program encourages rigorous academic scholarship amongst university students and sensitise them to the challenges faced by the diverse rural communities in the country.

During the internship, you will have the chance to travel to rural areas, interact with local communities, and conduct research on topics that interest you. You will gather data through surveys, interviews, and group discussions with communities, helping you build skills in research methods and critical analysis. The internship will also initiate you in appropriate research methodology and help introduce you to relevant secondary literature on your topic. This is not just a theoretical exercise – your research will allow you to contribute meaningful insights into the socio-economic conditions of rural communities, and at the end, you will compile your findings into a research report.

Throughout the process, you will receive guidance from a team of mentors who will support you in your research journey. Local community organisations will help with field logistics, allowing you to focus on the important work of data collection and analysis. Lastly, selected research reports will be published for better dissemination of your findings from the field.

 

  

About Prof. Abhijit Sen was one of India’s most distinguished development economists, teachers and policymakers. His most important contributions include the recommendations towards remunerative Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farm produce and universal Public Distribution System (PDS), and his role in framing National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), National Food Security Act (NFSA) and the Forest Rights Act (FRA). He believed in the core principle of growth with equity and dignity and was a powerful advocate of decentralised governance. Prof. Sen was always keen on encouraging students to explore developmental issues and develop a scholarship that is rigorous, committed and informed by experiences on the ground.
 

Benefits:

  1. Capacity building for guided and informed research, and advance knowledge in a topic of your choosing
  2. Opportunity for exposure to rural India and actors working on rural issues
  3. Fieldwork and Research Report writing experience with academic mentorship
  4. NFI will cover travel, food and accommodation expenses
  5. A stipend of Rs. 20,000 will be paid to the intern upon completion of the research report
  6. A chance to get your report published


Programme details:
1. In-person Orientation and Formation of Cohort – 5 days
2. Field Visit – 30 days
3. Report Writing – 15 days
 

Field locations in:
Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra.

Positions:
Up to 100 internships will be provided to students across India.


Eligibility:
Students pursuing undergraduate/post-graduate courses from any Indian university/college/technical educational institution.

Selection Process:
Written application, a brief essay exam, and final in-person interview.
Women students and students from Dalit, Adivasi, Tribal and minority communities are encouraged to apply.
 

Tentative timeline:

  1. Application deadline: 11:59 PM, 31 December 2024 (Tuesday) APPLY HERE !
  2. Announcement of shortlisted candidates and in-person interviews: February 2025
  3. Orientation programme to be held in Delhi: May 2025
  4. Interns will leave for fieldwork directly after the orientation programme: June 2025

 

Broad Research Areas (ASRI-III)

Research topics lying under these areas will be encouraged. Please go through all research areas and the sub-themes within each before you choose your research topic and questions. Applicants are advised to do some background reading before filling up the section on the Research Proposal. AI-generated responses will be disqualified.

 
1. Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods
This theme explores the backbone of the rural economy – agriculture and allied activities. It looks at farming practices, challenges faced by farmers and the intersection of agriculture with broader economic well-being of rural communities.

• Agriculture productivity and farming practices
• Livestock and dairy farming
• Fisheries and aquaculture
• Forest-based livelihoods
• Farm credit; rural debt and agrarian distress
• Agricultural Markets
• Land ownership and agrarian structures
• Women in agriculture; women farmers
• Gendered/caste processes in agriculture and allied activities
2. Non-Farm Sector and Rural Economy Diversification
This theme focuses on the growing importance of the non-farm sector as a livelihood source for rural populations. It includes industries such as handicrafts, small-scale manufacturing, and services that help diversify rural incomes and reduce dependence on agriculture

• Rural industry (e.g., handlooms, handicrafts, food processing, etc.)
• Construction sector
• Rural retail and local markets
• Services sector in rural areas
• Rural women’s participation in non-farm enterprises
3. Labour, Livelihoods and Employment
This theme examines rural labour markets, employment patterns, and the challenges faced by rural workers, including issues related to informal labour, wage disparities, and government employment schemes like MGNREGA.

• Agricultural labour markets, labour market segmentation and wage disparity.
• Informal sector labour and working conditions
• Employment schemes (MGNREGA, Skill Development)
• Child labour and youth employment in rural areas
• Gender disparities in rural work and employment, and rural women’s participation in labour force
• Impact of technology and mechanisation on rural labour especially women
4. Migration and Mobility
This theme delves into migration patterns—both seasonal and permanent—between rural and urban areas. It investigates the drivers of migration, its socio-economic impacts, and the role of remittances in supporting rural households.

• Rural-to-urban and rural-to-rural migration patterns
• Remittances and their impact on rural households
• Internal migration and displacement due to infrastructure development, mining, industrialisation or climate change
• Migration policies and welfare for migrant workers and their unmigrated families
5. Social Identity and Inequality
This theme explores the layers of social inequality in rural India, with a focus on caste, gender, and class dynamics. It investigates how these factors shape access to resources, opportunities, and the lived experiences of marginalised communities.

• Caste-based and gender-based discrimination in rural areas
• Rural poverty and socio-economic stratification
• Intersectionality of caste, gender, and class
• Disability in Rural Areas
6. Environment and Climate Change
This theme looks at the impact of environmental change on rural communities, particularly the challenges posed by climate change on agriculture, water resources, and rural livelihoods.

• Climate change impacts on agriculture
• Water scarcity and rural resource management
• Use of toxic chemicals in agriculture
• Soil health and land degradation
7. Governance, Decentralisation and Policy
This theme examines the role of governance structures in shaping rural development, with a focus on decentralisation, local self-governance, land rights, and the effectiveness of policies designed to improve the rural economy.

• Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA Act) and rural political participation and decision-making
• Land rights, Forest Rights Act (FRA), and community land management
• Community-based resource management and village commons
• Food security
 

APPLY HERE !  DEADLINE: 31 December 2024

For frequently asked questions, refer to: FAQs.

For more details on the previous batches, have a look at ASRI Cohort I and Cohort II.


Please check out our social media handles for regular updates: Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

For further queries, you can also write to us at internship@nfi.org.in
 

Postcards From Rural India

(Pictures by the Interns)