Joseph P Overton Fellows - 2011

Centre for Civil Society’s School Choice Campaign launched the Joseph P Overton Fellowship for Education Policy this year. We received 53 applications from candidates across India. In our first round, we have shortlisted eight candidates for the fellowship from eight states across India.

Working independently at the state-level as part of the year-long fellowship, Overton Fellows will focus their research and analyses on the implementation of the Right to Education (RTE) Act. Track the upcoming work of the fellows on this website and watch this space for more winners!

  • Bharat Chandra Rout | New Delhi
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    Bharat is currently a research scholar based in National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA), New Delhi. Bharat is working in areas of equity and social justice issues in higher education, as a part of his doctoral thesis. Apart from this, he is interested in Higher Education, Public Policy and Philosophy. Bharat is also working as Co-Convener of Capability Approach and Education Network, of HDCA; a multi-disciplinary think-tank in areas of human development. He has authored research publications in the ‘Indian Journal of Human Development’ and participated in international conferences such as International Graduate Conference on ‘Colonial Legacies and Post-Colonial Contestation’ at Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany.

  • D. Neelima VL | Hyderabad
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    Neelima is working as a consultant with the Andhra Pradesh Mahila Samatha Society, a Central Government Project of Mahila Samakhya while she pursues her PhD in Sociology. She has worked as consultant at National Institute of Small Industry Extension Training (NISIET), Hyderabad. In addition to academics and her interest in activism she has also participated and received honours in Taekwondo, cricket and debate competitions. She was the Project coordinator on Girl Child Protection Scheme in 23 districts across Andhra Pradesh for International Labour Organisation. She is interested in working on tribal welfare and education.

  • Eshita Kundu | Kolkata
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    Eshita is working as a 'guest lecturer' at Jadavpur University and Tarakeshwar college, Hoogly, West Bengal. She has graduated in 2009 from Presidency College, Kolkata with Sociology (Hons.) and recently completed her master in Sociology with specialization in “education” from Jadavpur University. She enjoys writing and is working as a sub- editor at Santra Publication and Bichitra Publication, Kolkata. Eshita wants to be a researcher and also wishes to work for NGOs focusing on the social issues like child-education, AIDS and women empowerment.

     

  • Geetha G | Chennai
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    Geetha G is currently working with an International school in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. She holds an M.Phil degree in Guidance and Counseling, a Masters degree in Social work, and a Masters degree in Human Rights and Duties Education through the University of Madras. She also holds a certificate in Counselor Training for International School Counselors from Miami, Florida; and a certificate in teaching ESL students in mainstream classroom, conducted by the Department of Education and Children Services, Government of South Australia. She is passionate about working with and for children with special focus to elementary education. She was involved in various research projects with the University of Madras, Indian Institute of Technology – Madras, and National Lutheran Health and Medical Board.

    Ms. Geetha was associated with the Centre for Civil Society in the year 2007, working for the School Choice Campaign. By being a Joseph P Overton fellow, she resumes her thread with CCS to learn and explore on RTE and its implementation in Tamil Nadu.

  • Geromic George | Ajmer
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    Geromic is currently pursuing his Masters in Economics with specialisation in Environmental Economics from the Central University of Rajasthan. His schooling was from St. Columba’s School, Delhi, and he graduated from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University. An avid reader of fiction, particularly the genres of science fiction and fantasy, he loves the works of Issac Asimov, A. Clarke and Tolkien. Environmental economics, international relations and political economy are the areas of his academic interest. He believes in working for the cause of providing equal access to quality education for all. By being a Joseph P Overton Fellow he hopes to understand the various aspects of RTE implementation and explore how well a school choice system could possibly work in the state of Rajasthan.

  • Naba Kishor Pujari | Bhubaneswar
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    Naba has completed his Masters in Social Work and is working as a State Advocacy Officer at National Coalition for Education in Bhubaneswar. He has worked as a surveyor on child neglect and abuse for International Society for Protection against Child Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN), New Delhi. He is a member of the Advisory Committee for Udra Society for Secondary Education (USSA), Bhubaneswar and also member convener, steering committee members on Right to Education. He is the chairman of Orissa Jana Kalyana Seva Sangha, a youth based NGO and member of an online RTE forum called ‘Orissa Education Forum’. His interests include writing on developmental issues, writing poetry in Odia and teaching.

  • Nikhil Gupta | Delhi
  • Spriha Nupur | Lucknow
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    Spriha is a law student at RMLNLU Lucknow. She has interned with law firms like Desai and Diwanji and also with senior advocates Pravin H. Parekh and Gopal Subramanium, where she provided research inputs for the ongoing cases. She wants to use her legal skills to solve issues in the education sector. She has written several research papers and also has a publication in the Indian Bar Review. Spriha enjoys taking part in moot court competitions. Other than law and education she is also interested in learning about cultures and traditions in different parts of the world and is eager to learn new languages. Classical dance interests her equally.

  • Swapnil Shanu | Patna
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    Swapnil is a graduate in Industrial Engineering from IIT Kharagpur. Before jumping into the corporate bandwagon through placements, he decided to follow his passions. His interests lie in the field of social entrepreneurship especially in the field of education. He is interested in the field of public policy, and its ability to bring about greater change. Currently, he is working on a student run social educational initiative, Candid Connections, through which he can contribute to his home state, Bihar. Swapnil enjoys blogging and finds it irresistible to refrain from accepting challenges.