Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj Shri Vivek Bharadwaj will inaugurate a first-of-its-kind training programme under Leadership/ Management Development Programme of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) for Elected Representatives and Functionaries of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) on 15^th January 2024 at Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA). A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad will be exchanged on this occasion to operationalize this programme with an aim to enhance the leadership and management capacity at grassroot level.

This introductory programme will be conducted by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj from 15^th to 19^th January, 2024 at the campus of IIMA where elected representatives and functionaries of Panchayati Raj Institutions, including Chairpersons / Presidents and Chief Executive Officers of District Panchayats will be trained on various institutional and functional issues and thematic issues of Sustainable Development Goals. 

With a view to enhance the leadership capacity at the grassroots and to give an impetus to the strengthening and capacity building of Panchayati Raj Institutions across the country, Ministry of Panchayati Raj has conceptualized a programme for leadership development among the Panchayat Leader who are leading the change at the grassroots level. For infusing professional leadership skills Ministry has come up with the Scheme of Leadership / Management Development Programme for the Elected Representatives as well as Functionaries of Panchayati Raj Institutions. Under this initiative the States / UTs have to collaborate with the IIMs / IITs/ Institutes of Excellence in their State/ nearby areas by executing the MoU for training their PRI representatives and functionaries. This programme is initiated by the Ministry for developing leadership skills among the Panchayati Raj Institutions for better and informed decision making and governance.

In the first batch the Chairpersons and Senior Officers of District Panchayat / Zilla Parishad from various States / UTs will be participating. It is also expected that participating States will initiate similar process at their end for collaborating with the reputed Institutions in their area.

This 5–day residential programme is a pioneering initiative with an objective to enhance the skills and knowledge of panchayat leaders, enabling them to function effectively as the third tier of government. The methodology aims to equip the attendees with leadership and managerial skills for effective utilization of resources and functioning of Panchayati Raj Institutions. 

The first-of-its-kind training programme – Leadership/ Management Development Programme – encompasses various modules covering Leadership and Teamwork, Financial Management and Panchayat Finances, Effective Communication, Project Management and Monitoring, Digital Transformation, ICT, and more. Notably, this program marks the commencement of a series of similar initiatives, specially designed for Panchayati Raj Institutes in collaboration with Apex Institutes.

Ministry of Panchayati Raj is set to usher in a new era of grassroots governance by prioritizing the training, handholding and equipping of Panchayat representatives. Recognizing the pivotal role these grassroots leaders play in local governance, MoPR aims to elevate their capabilities to compete with the highest standards of public service delivery.  Panchayats are the bedrock of our democratic system, serving as the primary interface between citizens and the government. To bring about substantial transformative change at the grassroots level, it is imperative that Panchayat representatives and functionaries are not only well-intentioned but also equipped with the knowledge and skills required to address the multifaceted challenges of local self-governance. Through a series of comprehensive training programs, Ministry of Panchayati Raj is committed to enhancing the capacity of Panchayat leaders and functionaries in various aspects of governance. The training modules will cover a wide array of topics, including effective leadership, financial management, community engagement, digital literacy, sustainable development – instilling leadership qualities to inspire and guide communities towards achieving Localized Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs).

By investing in the development of panchayat representatives and functionaries, the MoPR envisions a ripple effect that will positively impact communities across the country. The ultimate goal is to create a cadre of grassroots leaders who not only meet but exceed the highest standards of public service, driving positive change at the grassroots level.

Background

Hitherto Ministry of Panchayati Raj in association with State and UT Departments of Panchayati Raj under its various capacity building schemes/ programmes, now, under Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA), Scheme has been imparting training to build governance capabilities of Elected Representatives (ERs), officials and functionaries of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) through the National Institute of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (NIRD&PR) and State Institutes of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (SIRD&PRs). As a great leap forward to this end of capacity building and training of Elected Representatives (ERs) of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), the Ministry of Panchayati Raj in collaboration with State Governments is engaging the Management Institutes of repute like Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad for imparting training to them to give a further boost to their management capabilities in different aspects in addition to their governance capabilities.

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