Bangalore

Date: 10^th June 2025

Place: Bengaluru

Details of the programme

Dr. Padmini Child Rights Fellowship selection Program

The Child Rights Trust, founded by Dr. Padmini with the motto “All rights for all children,” has been running the Dr. Padmini Child Rights Fellowship Program since 2022. This program aims to promote child rights in rural areas, targeting gram panchayats, schools, hospitals, and other local institutions.

The trust invited applications for the Dr. Padmini Child Rights Fellowship Program 2025 and received over 40 applications. After shortlisting, 23 applicants were selected to participate in the selection process, with 20 attending the event at SCM House, Bengaluru, on June 10, 2025. Dr. Vasudev Sharma N V welcomed the attendees and provided an overview of the Child Rights Trust and the fellowship program.

Fellowship Program Details

Five candidates will be selected for the Dr. Padmini Child Rights Fellowship Program. Key aspects of the fellowship include:

Nature of Work: The fellowship is an agreement to work on children’s rights in three designated Gram Panchayats, rather than a traditional employment arrangement with CRT.
Financial Support: Selected candidates will receive a monthly stipend of Rs. 10,000, with Rs. 1,000 deducted as tax, resulting in a take-home amount of Rs. 9,000.
Tax Refund: The deducted tax amount can be refunded upon filing IT returns in the next financial year.
Responsibilities: Fellows are required to participate in CRT-organized trainings and programs and submit weekly reports.

Insights from Current Fellows

Mrs. Suman Mathew and Ms. Shailaja, current fellows for 2024-25, shared their experiences, highlighting the importance of:

Engaging with local communities and authorities
Developing a network of acquaintances with local participants
Recognizing the value of working on child rights issues in rural areas

Introduction and Group Discussions

The participants were asked to introduce themselves, sharing their areas of interest and special skills. Following this, they were divided into three groups to discuss the role of Gram Panchayats in promoting children’s rights. The 40-minute group discussions were facilitated by:

Dr. Vasudev Sharma N V
Mr. Satish G.C.
Mrs. Nagamani CN

After the lunch break, candidates shared their positive experiences from the morning session, highlighting the valuable information they gained. They were then tasked with preparing and presenting an action plan on:

– Topic: Activities in support of children’s rights in three Gram Panchayats within their respective constituencies over a year.

Assessment Criteria

During the self-introduction, group discussion, and individual presentation, candidates were assessed on:

Communication skills
Subject knowledge
Field familiarity
Self-confidence

The assessment panel consisted of:

Dr. Vasudeva Sharma NV (Executive Director, Child Rights Trust)
Mr. Satish G.C. (Director)
Mrs. Nagamani C.N. (Project Coordinator)
Mrs. Suman Mathew
Ms. Shailaja

Conclusion of the Selection Process

After the personal presentations, participants shared their positive feedback on the selection process, praising its methodology. The Dr. Padmini Child Rights Fellowship Program is a 12-month commitment, and fellows are expected to complete it without dropping out. With the selection process concluded, the organizers expressed gratitude to all participants and finalized the list of selected fellows for the Dr. Padmini Child Rights Fellowship Program 2025.