ABOUT THE MILLENNIUM FELLOWSHIP - CLASS OF 2022
United Nations Academic Impact and MCN are proud to partner on the Millennium Fellowship. Over 31,000 young leaders on 2,400+ campuses across 140+ nations applied to join the Class of 2022. 200+ campuses worldwide (just 8%) were selected to host the 3,000+ Millennium Fellows.
UNITED NATIONS ACADEMIC IMPACT AND MCN PROUDLY PRESENT SAHIL MUKHERJEE, A MILLENNIUM FELLOW FOR THE CLASS OF 2022.
National University of Study and Research in Law | Ranchi, India | Advancing SDG 3 & UNAI 6
" The UN Millennium Fellowship will provide me with a platform to further the social cause that I am passionate about and help me connect with likeminded people working for a social change. This is in turn will allow me to expand my reach to not only the tribal inhabited villages of Jharkhand but also to entire India within the next few years. This Fellowship will provide me a medium via which I can spread the plight of these tribal women and vouch for more passionate people to join my journey and contribute in my effort to help these tribal women lead a better life. "
Millennium Fellowship Project: Project Samman: Our Body Our Right
My project primarily focuses on the sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) of the tribal women residing in the state of Jharkhand, India. SRHR includes efforts to remove avoidable maternal and infant mortality and diseases, to ensure quality sexual and reproductive health services, including contraceptive services, and to address sexually transmitted infections (STI) and other aspects of women sexual healthcare and wellbeing.
Under the aegis of this project I plan to work in 3 stages-
The first stage includes field work wherein I plan to visit the tribal inhibited villages in the state of Jharkhand and distribute sanitary pads, have an interaction with the tribal women residing there and educate them about SRHR. This step will be helpful in eradicating the taboos and age old practices that are vividly prevalent in these villages around menstruation and other sexual health aspects of women. This may also include spreading awareness by means of play performed by my team. This is primarily considering 2 facts- firstly majority of the target population is illiterate, and secondly, this would draw the attention of more people especially minor tribal girls who are one of our main target populations.
The second stage includes research work and policy development for the betterment of the tribal women in the domain of SRHR. I plan to conduct extensive research on the condition of the tribal women of Jharkhand, primarily on their level of awareness of SRHR, the lack of which leads to many difficulties in their daily lives. This research will further provide me grounds for formulating policies for the betterment of this situation and present these policy recommendation before the state government to work upon the same.
The third stage includes organising awareness and welfare programmes. This will include but not be limited to medical camps in the tribal inhibited villages, online or offline awareness webinars or campaigns in government schools or universities and also sensitisation programmes for the urban population. I will also work on raising funds online which would help in contributing towards my project.
This step will not only benefit the tribal women but also educate and sensitise the urban population who otherwise are mostly oblivious of the conditions the tribal women live in. This in turn will make this project a collective effort of every strata of the society.
About the Millennium Fellow
Sahil Mukherjee is a 3rd year law student at National University of Study and Research in Law, Ranchi, India. He was born in the tribal state of Jharkhand, India, and has stood witness to the struggles faced by the tribal women residing in the state. He has been passionate about bringing a positive change in the lives of the tribal communities. He is very deterimined to promote the idea of sexual and reproductive health and rights , especially among the tribal women and has been actively working towrds this cause. He strives to sensitise not only the tribal population about sexual and reproductive health and rights but also the common masses about the plight of the tribal women. Thus, Sahil plans to work for spreading awareness regarding menstruation and other women's sexual health related topics that are more often than not considered a taboo in the society .
