A multi-party delegation of Indian Parliamentarians is in New York to participate in a leadership programme, under which they will discuss pressing global issues, including climate change and sustainable development, with the American leaders and experts.

The group of 13 MPs, both from the ruling coalition and opposition, arrived at the Yale university on Sunday to attend the four-day long programme, which will be complemented by two-days of meetings, discussions and interactions with United States' politicians, policy analysts and senior government officials in Washington DC

The programme was launched last year by the Yale University, in collaboration with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and India-US Forum of Parliamentarians.

Yale President Richard C Levin said, "The India Yale Parliamentary Leadership Programme underscores Yale's longstanding commitment to educating our students for service and leadership. We have now gone a step further to include emerging and mid-career leaders. The programme will provide the parliamentarians with opportunities to critically think about the challenges of leadership and to explore freely, away from the legislative arena, the issues facing India."

Secretary General Amit Mitra said that the programme would encourage greater understanding of public leadership, accountability, transparency and parliamentary oversight.

"It is designed to provide the parliamentarians capacity building and skill development and greater engagement in public policy discussions. The programme is aimed at making an important contribution to their leadership capabilities to prevent and manage challenges through effective parliamentary governance," he added.

The India Yale Parliamentary Leadership Programme was developed in consultation with the parliamentarians and the India US Forum of Parliamentarians. The University says it reflects the belief that exposure to new fields and ideas can offer insight, perspective, and new ways of thinking for one's own work. Lectures, discussions, and private meetings with renowned practitioners in their areas will complement the curricular activities. Faculties for the programme are drawn from experts at Yale, as well as research institutes, government offices and the private sector.

The topics covered in the programme include Climate Change and Sustainable Development; Economic Risks in the Global Economy; Rule of Law and Governance in China; Poverty and Economic Development; Religion and Politics; Reform of Higher Education in India; 2008 US Presidential Election Predictions and Realities; India and Globalisation; Effective and Strategic Political Communications; Styles of Leadership; Innovation; and Leadership Challenges.

The participating Parliamentarians are Shobhana Bhartia (Rajya Sabha; Nominated Member), Vijay Jawaharlal Darda (Rajya Sabha; Congress, Maharashtra), Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi (Rajya Sabha; BJP, Uttar Pradesh) , Jayanthi Natarajan (Rajya Sabha; Congress, Tamil Nadu), Baijant Panda (Rajya Sabha; Biju Janata Dal, Orissa), Sebastian Paul (Lok Sabha; Independent Member, Ernakulam, Kerala [Images]), Suresh Prabhu (Lok Sabha; Shiv Sena, Rajapur, Maharashtra), Kiren Rijiju (Lok Sabha; BJP, Arunachal Pradesh), Jyotiraditya Scindia (Lok Sabha; Congress, Guna, Madhya Pradesh), Yashodhara Raje Scindia (Lok Sabha; BJP, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh), Saleem Iqbal Shervani (Lok Sabha; Samajwadi Party, Budaun, Uttar Pradesh), Uday Singh (Lok Sabha; BJP, Purnea, Bihar) and Abhishek M Singhvi (Rajya Sabha; Congress, Rajasthan).