SBI launches fellowship programme

MUMBAI: State Bank of India (SBI) has launched a one-year rural fellowship programme for young professionals and graduates.

"The programme, ' SBI Youth for India', is aimed at bridging the country's growing urban-rural divide," the premier public sector lender said in a release here today.

The fellowship is a corporate social responsibility initiative which is designed, funded and managed by the bank in partnership with reputed NGOs, it said.

The bank's Chairman, O P Bhatt, said "being India's most trusted bank, SBI is ideally positioned to undertake such a national initiative."

"The programme has been designed keeping in mind the need for India's youth, who will be future leaders, and to appreciate development challenges facing the country in a hands-on manner, as well as to participate in nation-building activities not only during the fellowship, but also throughout their careers," he said.

It has received an overwhelming response with over 3,900 applications received till now. The first batch of 35 fellows, which includes nine women, comprises youth from diverse backgrounds, including IITs/IIMs/BITS Pilani/NIFT and foreign universities as well as leading corporations.

Corporates such as Tata Group and Mindtree have supported the initiative by providing sabbatical to their employees selected for the fellowship, the release said.

To help fellows re-integrate into the mainstream after the fellowship, SBI has tied-up with placement consultants like ABC Consultants and Gilbert Tweed to provide placement support and counselling, it said.