A decade on, DCIP continues to link youth with governance in Kozhikode

The District Collector’s Internship Programme (DCIP), which gives young people an opportunity to engage in development and social welfare initiatives in Kozhikode, has completed a decade of its service.

The programme, according to Revenue officials, is regarded as the first national-level internship initiative offering structured exposure to public administration.

It was in June 2015 that DCIP was formally launched by then Collector N. Prasanth as part of the Compassionate Kozhikode project in association with the Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode (IIM-K). Azim Premji University and the National Service Scheme were among the partners.

“The programme seeks to enable interns to have a deep understanding of public administration and ensure their active participation in the development of the district and social welfare schemes from the planning stage itself. It aims to foster practical interventions, particularly in addressing the concerns of the marginalised sections,” said a senior Revenue official associated with the programme. He added that the programme had helped several youths develop problem-solving skills and adopt a constructive approach to governance.

According to officials, the project primarily focusses on vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, members of Scheduled Tribe communities, widows and the homeless, and residents of government welfare homes. The programme had already received two awards from the Chief Minister for its role in Nipah containment, they said.

Over the past 10 years, DCIP has been instrumental in major district-level initiatives such as Operation Sulaimani, rehabilitation of mental health patients, Compassionate Kozhikode project, Zero Waste Kozhikode project, Campuses of Kozhikode programme, and initiatives like Kayyethum Doorathu, Udayam, and Puthulahari. Over 400 students from premier national and international educational institutions like the London School of Economics, Indian Institutes of Management, and National Institutes of Technology were part of the project.

A communication from the district administration says applications are open for the 32^nd batch, and those interested can apply online through www.dcip.co.in by February 20. The selection process will be conducted in two stages. The selected candidates will not be eligible to claim any payment or stipend. For details, contact: 98477-64000 or 0495-2370200.