Cutting across party lines and putting aside political differences, 28 legislators of Meghalaya, including the Minister of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, donned the mantle of students seeking knowledge and exhibited exceptional working relationship by engaging and learning together during a week-long 'Public Policy Workshop for Legislators', conducted by the Bharti Institute of Public Policy, at the Indian School of Business, Mohali Campus.

The workshop aimed at strengthening the legislative institution by exploring leadership challenges and solutions for the policymakers. It facilitated Meghalaya legislators with insights into research-oriented policy formulation and implementation through case studies, group assignments and team-building activities.

Besides legislators, the workshop also saw the participation of the Meghalaya Institute of Governance officials, senior functionaries of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, and fellows of the Meghalaya Legislative Research Fellowship.

During the workshop, the MLAs shared and discussed their concerns and priorities related to the socioeconomic development of Meghalaya. As part of the workshop, small groups were formed to facilitate team building and cohesiveness among the legislators whilst they worked on activities such as policy analysis across different sectors of health, education, tourism, development, women empowerment, skill development & industries. The legislators learnt how one or multiple causes lead to an existing problem that requires resolution through an effective public policy.

"Meghalaya is the first north-eastern state to start with a legislative fellowship programme, with young and highly motivated fellows assisting legislators in research and data analysis on issues of state importance and urgency. The purpose of this Parliamentary and Legislative Support Programme is to aid and improve the deliberations of the Legislative Assembly," said Aiban Swer, Director, Meghalaya Institute of Governance and Project Lead, Meghalaya Legislative Research Fellowship programme.

The workshop had several key sessions on capacity building, leadership, working in cohesion, policy implementation and its challenges. Inaugurating the week-long workshop, Dr Aarushi Jain, Policy Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, presented Bharti Institute's journey over the last decade with focus on ongoing projects. The inaugural session with Dr. Aarushi Jain and Professor Anjal Prakash, Associate Professor and Research Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, began with ice-breaking and team-building activities. During this session, MLAs shared and discussed their concerns and priorities related to their constituencies. Shri Gudey Srinivas, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Government of India, held a session on 'Legislative Governance & Capacity Building.' He spoke about the introduction of the National E-Vidhan Application (NeVA) project in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly with the Parliamentary Affairs Department, Government of Meghalaya, identified as the nodal department for NeVA implementation in the state.

In his session on 'Climate Change and its Effects on India's Northeast', Professor Anjal Prakash shed light on the prominent environmental issues concerning the state of Meghalaya, encompassing the causes of deforestation, flooding problems and its solutions for Northeast India and the changing agricultural patterns. The legislators brought forth a plethora of climate change concerns and questions related to India and the Northeast India in particular.

Professor A K Shiva Kumar held a session on ‘Inclusive Economic Growth: Public Policy Perspective,’ focussing on India's growth story and the underlying development issues.

In his session, R Rajeshwar Upadhyay, Dean, Academy of Applied Emotional Intelligence (AAEI) and Director at Par Excellence Leadership Solutions Pvt Ltd covered multiple leadership topics, including 'Contemporary Context of Leadership', 'Motivation and Sustainable Leadership', 'IROP Impact and Case Studies on Leadership'.

The cohort of the Public Policy Workshop also had an opportunity to meet and interact with the Hon'ble Governor of Punjab, Shri Banwarilal Purohit.

The cohort of legislators also visited Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha in Shimla as part of the excursion in the last leg of the workshop. They interacted with the Speaker of Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha, Shri Kuldeep Singh Pathania and MLA from Gagret, Shri Chaitanya Sharma, along with several other key functionaries of the Government of Himachal Pradesh. During their stay at Shimla, the legislators visited historical places and monuments, such as the Indian Institute of Advance Studies, Vidhan Sabha, Mall Road, Gaiety Theatre etc.

This workshop was organised in furtherance of Bharti Institute's multi-point collaboration with the Government of Meghalaya.