The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : CII forum plans to conduct simulation of Parliament

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CII forum plans to conduct simulation of Parliament

Sruthi Krishnan

Students can apply for participation at Yi website www.yionline.org

— Photo: R. Shivaji Rao

CREATING AWARENESS: (From left) Mala Patodia, national chair, Student Nets, and Rahul Mirchandani, national chairman – Young Indians, CII, discussing details of the Parliament simulation for students, in Chennai on Saturday.

CHENNAI: In an attempt to help students engage with politics at a deeper level, the Confederation of Indian Industry’s Young Indians (Yi) forum plans to conduct a simulation of Parliament between August 15 and 17 in Chennai.

The student’s parliament will be organised by the Student Nets platform under the Young Indians (Yi), Rahul Mirchandani, national chairman – Young Indians, CII, told The Hindu on Saturday.

The Yi forum, conceived by CII in December 2002, had around 10,000 members from all over the country who are below 40. Of this 3,000 were students drawn from 51 educational institutions across the nation. They were part of Student Nets, a platform for students to engage with each other and members of the CII. The simulation would be conducted through Student Nets.

During the elections, there was increased interest among students in politics, which had to be taken to the next level, said Mala Patodia, national chair, Student Nets, explaining how the idea for a simulation came about.

Students could apply at the Yi website ( www.yionline.org) by filling the registration form. It was open to all students. Selection would be merit-based. Students who were 16-years-old and above could apply. Those undergoing post-graduate courses could also participate. The last date for sending the applications is July 20.

Ms. Patodia said that 25 students would be selected to form a core group. They would play key roles, including that of Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition and Speaker. A week before August 15, they would undergo training conducted by a private firm. After five days of training, they would be given two days for research and preparation. At the end of the week, the students would also know which issues would be debated and what kind of situations could come up.

Apart from these 25 students, 350 more would be chosen who would play the roles of Members of Parliament. The idea was to have representation from all parts of the country and students would be assigned constituencies from the States they came from. However, as the selection would be based on merit, the representation could be altered.

A fee of Rs.1,250 would be charged, she said, adding that for students who could not afford the fees, the local Yi chapters would help if they were part of the Student Nets.

Mock sessions

On August 15, three mock sessions would be conducted, which would not be open for public viewing, she said. On the other two days, there would be three sessions conducted. There would be up to 3,000 viewers across the country. The venue would be SRM University.

The sessions would be tabled and the notes would be sent not only to Yi members but to all CII companies. A division of CII that liaisons with younger politicians would present them with details of the sessions.

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