ALIYA ABREU
PANAJI
Young Goan advocate Hasiba Amin is one of four Indian youth who will be representing the country at the 10 day “Future Leaders Connect” leadership programme to be held at the University of Cambridge, UK, from October 21 to November 1. The programme will see participants from each of the Commonwealth countries participate.
Amin, chosen for her policy proposal on mental healthcare in India, will join three other young women from other parts of the country Kajri Babbar (women and gender, LGBTQIA inclusivity through films), Shambhavi Singh (public health, specifically maternal and child care), and Shreya Juneja (inclusivity of women in the workplace), at Cambridge University. Incidentally, all young leaders chosen to represent India are women.
Speaking to The Goan, Amin explained that to be selected, she had to prepare a policy proposal that fit both the Indian context and global perspective. The various stages of selection ended in Chennai, in July, where ten shortlisted candidates presented their proposals to an audience of
1000 people, and a panel of judges. Candidates were cross questioned on their proposals and four were finally selected.
Amin’s policy is closely connected to Goa and mental health. “When I was State president of the NSUI Goa in 2012, we had a prolonged campaign across Goa to get the government to have counselors in schools and colleges in the State,” she said. Through the NSUI’s campaign, NSUI leaders had interactions with the Vice - Chancellor of Goa University, the Director of Education, and ran a signature campaign.
“Following our campaign, the then CM and Education Minister Manohar Parrikar announced a budget in the Assembly for counselors in schools. This has done well for Goa. So I thought why can’t it be done at the national level,” Amin said.
However, implementing the same at the national level will be easier said than done as Amin’s research taught her that the mental healthcare workforce is negligible in the country with one professional for every 5 lakh people. With this in mind, she says, “My proposal now is to train one teacher per school across the country to do a certificate course so that they can practice as a mental healthcare first aider to students in need. Later, the more serious cases can be referred to a working professional counselor.”
28 year old Amin, is currently working for the Congress party at the national level, after completing her law degree in Goa several years ago.
Those selected will learn from global policy experts and inspirational leaders, and have meetings at the British Parliament and with government institutions in the UK. Participants are fully sponsored by the British Council.
