The State Bank of India has announced the registrations for the 13th Batch of its flagship programme and is inviting applications from young, dynamic individuals to contribute to rural development. The 13-month-long programme aims to offer an opportunity for educated urban youth – graduates and young professionals – between the ages of 21 and 32 years to collaborate with rural communities and 13 partner NGOs.

Aspirants can apply through apply.youthforindia.org. Applicants for the SBI YFI Fellowship programme must be Indian citizens, Overseas Citizens of India (OCI), or citizens of Bhutan or Nepal who are passionate about advancing sustainable development objectives in rural areas, stated the release.

The SBI YFI Fellowship focuses on 12 thematic areas:

–Health

–Rural Livelihood

–Food Security

–Environmental Protection

–Education

–Water

–Technology

–Women’s Empowerment

–Self Governance

–Social Entrepreneurship

–Traditional Craft

–Alternate Energy

The SBI YFI Fellowship will offer hands-on experience in grassroots development, equipping the youth with leadership, problem-solving, and project management skills.

Over the past 12 years, 640 Fellows have significantly contributed to community development across these key areas. The programme has impacted more than 1,50,000 lives through various grassroots interventions and community engagement in 20 states, as mentioned in the press release.