ABOUT THE MILLENNIUM FELLOWSHIP - CLASS OF 2022
United Nations Academic Impact and MCN are proud to partner on the Millennium Fellowship. Over 31,000 young leaders on 2,400+ campuses across 140+ nations applied to join the Class of 2022. 200+ campuses worldwide (just 8%) were selected to host the 3,000+ Millennium Fellows.
UNITED NATIONS ACADEMIC IMPACT AND MCN PROUDLY PRESENT RAJ SHEKHAR, A MILLENNIUM FELLOW FOR THE CLASS OF 2022.
National University of Study and Research in Law | Ranchi, India | Advancing SDG 3 & UNAI 6
" I am very passionate about promoting the idea of sexual and reproductive health and rights which are largely considered as a taboo in Indian society. I believe that being selected as a Millennium Fellow is a big stride towards achieveing my goal. The platform will provide me with the much needed visibility and a global stage where I can plant the sapling of the change I want to see in future. However, I am still guided by the lines of Robert Frost - The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep! "
Millennium Fellowship Project: Project Samman: Our Body Our Right
The major objective of Project Samman is to focus on the sexual and reproductive health rights of tribal women in my state of Jharkhand. Globally, from a standpoint of population, India is a country home to almost 47% percent of the world’s population. My homestate of Jharkhand is considered an underdeveloped and backward state situated in the eastern region and has a distinct significance owing to its tribal population which is more than that of anyother state. At present, the tribals residing are deprived of the basic facilities required by them to sustain a good as well as healthy life. To narrow it down, the major problems are that of poverty and exploitation, economically and technologically backwardness, socio cultural handicaps, illiteracy and many more. With this present understanding, the aim of the project would be to spread awareness about sexual and reproductive health right among tribal women of Jharkhand. Owing to the lack of SRHR awareness, the social vulnerabilities have led to development of gender stereotypes, early stoppage, early marriage and teenage pregnancy. The tribal people are not able to achieve the standard of sexual and reproductive health. They are not able to decide freely about the number, spacing and timing of their children. They are not physically, mentally and socially balanced and lacks access to medical, mental and social facilities. There are cases of sexually transmitted diseases because of improper hygiene. Yeast infection, pelvic infections caused by bacteria naturally live in the vagina. There is no proper consultant or care taker to talk about these matters in these tribal areas even the women are not comfortable in sharing their problems related to their own body. There is no proper sex education imparted which is worry some. They are not aware about the contraceptive uses and hence they lack proper family planning and since they are already poor it makes the family more deprived and malnourished. The life of tribal women is so pathetic and poignant that I seriously want to work and come out with results for this cause.
About the Millennium Fellow
Raj Shekhar is a penultimate year law student at National University of Study and Research in Law, Ranchi, India. Being born and brought up in the tribal state of Jharkhand, ever since his early days, he has been passionate about bringing a positive change in the lives of the tribal communities. He took up law as his career because he believes that law empowers a community and he wishes to play an active role in promoting constituional inclusitivity for all irrespective of their caste, creed, religion, race, etc. He is very passionate about promoting the idea of sexual and reproductive health and rights and has been actively working with organisations to contribute to this noble cause. He is also an avid writer and his articles have featured time and again on platforms of national and international repute. Raj plans to work for spreading awareness regarding menstruation and other related topics which are largely considered a taboo in the society.
