ABOUT THE MILLENNIUM FELLOWSHIP - CLASS OF 2024
United Nations Academic Impact and MCN are proud to partner on the Millennium Fellowship. This year, 52,000+ young leaders applied to join the Class of 2024 on 6,000+ campuses across 170 nations. 280+ campuses worldwide (just 5%) were selected to host the 4,000+ Millennium Fellows.

UNITED NATIONS ACADEMIC IMPACT AND MCN PROUDLY PRESENT ISHAN KHURMA, A MILLENNIUM FELLOW FOR THE CLASS OF 2024.
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras | Chennai, India | Advancing SDG 10 & UNAI 1

" "Every individual deserves to live a healthy life, free of sickness. Through the Millennium Fellowship, I hope to improve awareness regarding government policies among tribal populations who stand to benefit the most, so that they may have equitable access to opportunities, resources and healthcare, allowing them to contribute to society to their full potential" "
Millennium Fellowship Project: Tribe Thrive Project
The Tribe Thrive Initiative is a grassroots project focused on supporting the Irula tribe, one of Tamil Nadu’s most marginalized communities, by addressing systemic challenges in accessing government welfare. The initiative aims to empower the Irula people by bridging the gap between policy frameworks and their on-ground implementation. This includes providing tailored policy education to the community, helping them understand their rights and entitlements, and advocating for the effective delivery of benefits such as housing, healthcare, education, and livelihood support.
A significant aspect of the initiative is assisting the Irula tribe with navigating complex administrative processes, particularly those related to land ownership and resource access. Land rights remain a critical issue for the tribe, impacting their traditional livelihoods and overall well-being. By streamlining the process and providing consistent support, the project seeks to secure the tribe’s rightful access to land and resources.
The Tribe Thrive Initiative also fosters collaboration with local stakeholders, policymakers, and non-governmental organizations to ensure that government programs are inclusive and sensitive to the unique needs of tribal communities. Ultimately, the project envisions creating sustainable pathways for the Irula tribe to thrive socioeconomically, preserving their cultural heritage while promoting dignity, equity, and self-reliance.
About the Millennium Fellow
Ishan Khurma is a pre-final year student at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, majoring in biological engineering with a minor in international relations. Having been involved in various academic and social endeavours all through his life, Ishan has seen how public policy is instrumental in shaping society and believes that with a combined knowledge base in biology and medicine as well as socio-political science, he can drive impact in the field of healthcare policy in his home country of India. Ishan aspires to someday represent India at the United Nations and engage on important discussions on equitable access to healthcare and resources for developing populations around the world.





