National Study Tour from 18-28 March 2007 captured the essence of the Masters Program in Government and that of the participants who are here to be a part of the nation building process.

The ten-day long comprehensive study tour to the seat of power- Delhi was all about looking at democracy personified in the varied faces of politicians, bureaucrats, the houses of the Parliament, the Supreme Court, the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the political party offices and media houses. An eye-opening experience on all counts, Delhi unleashed a whole new world of realities and perspectives. With The Hague University students as part of the tour, the learning was doubled.

International Study Tour from May 22- June 15, 2007 was organized to provide the participants a holistic outlook relating to the socio-economic and political functioning at the global plane.

As MIT School of Government aspires to prepare a new generation of leadership based upon knowledge and professionalism, it endeavors to inculcate sustainable leadership qualities through experiential learning from grass roots to the international level. In order to adhere to this objective the institute organized an international exposure tour for the participants, which included United Kingdom, France, The Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland. 

Participants visited the American Information Center on November 8, 2006.
In light of the 2006 mid-term election in America, MIT-SOG staff and students were invited by the American Information Center on November 8, 2006. The Consul General, Michael Owen inaugurated a series of events. Mr. Gerson D’Cunha, convener of AGNI and an eminent social activist delivered a lecture on election reforms in India.  Among others present during the event were political leaders, media representatives and students of political science from colleges in Mumbai. This one-day educational tour drew insight about the electoral process and reforms in the democracy in general and the issues related to the electoral procedures. Students and faculty of MITSOG witnessed a live coverage of the American mid-term elections and analysis as broadcasted on CNN.
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Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on 21st May, 2007
The Participants were able to see the proceedings of the General Body Meeting of the PMC and also were able to interact with the current Mayor Smt. Rajlakshmi Bhosale.

Wadki, GramPanchayat on May 11,2007
The participants got to learn the practical aspects of the actual functioning of the rural Local Self Government units. The interaction with the Lady Sarpanch and other members was very informative and stimulating. The participants could see the impact and relate to what they learnt in the classroom about the 73rd and 74th amendments especially in the area of women empowerment.

Bharatiya Agro Industries Foundation (BAIF) - June 23, 2007
The mission and the set-up of this NGO enchanted the participants. The experts from these centres informed the MITSOG participants about the activities/projects being carried out and the mission with which a staunch Gandhian, Shri Manibhai Desai, started BAIF.

Manavya, an NGO and home for the orphaned and destitute children afflicted by HIV/AIDS on 30th June 2007.  It was indeed an intriguing experience to meet the 54 children and the challenges faced by this NGO. The participants not only understood how the HIV/AIDS research and funding helps such local NGOs, but also got to know the societal attitude and other challenges.

In July as the part of the NGO specialization the participants visited Sarhad, an NGO that works for the orphans from war torn area especially Jammu and Kashmir.

Projects

• The participants undertook a 5-day field study at the Katewadi village in Baramati taluka. A comprehensive house-to-house survey was undertaken for the Health, Education and Sanitation and the participants prepared a project report too with some practical recommendations. A special survey for Women's Groups - a vulnerable group in the Indian Society - was also conducted.

• 15 day field study of farmers’ suicide in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, December 2006.

The high rate of Farmers' suicide in the Vidarbha region needed to be studied at close quarters.  Thus during the study leave in December, 2007, 10 participants aspiring for the social change decided to take the call of Shri Bhairav Singh Shekhawat, former Vice President of India, to look into the core issue relating to the farmers suicide in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra.