New Delhi, Sep 2 (PTI) In a bid to develop and strengthen grass-root level leadership, the Panchayati Raj Ministry is conducting transformative Management Development Programmes (MDP) for elected representatives and functionaries of the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).
The ministry said the five-day residential programme for elected representatives and functionaries of the Panchayati Raj Institutions from eight states -- Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal -- is being held at the Indian Institute of Management, Bodh Gaya (IIM, BG).
Meanwhile, the training programme for representatives and functionaries from Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir (UT), Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand is being held at the Indian Institute of Management, Amritsar (IIM, Amritsar).
The programmes that started on Monday will conclude on August 6.
The programme is designed for the elected representatives and functionaries of the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), including the presidents and vice presidents of district panchayats, pramukhs of panchayat samitis, sarpanchs and various panchayat officials, the ministry said.
"This program aims to enhance the leadership, management and governance skills of the Elected Representatives and Functionaries of Panchayati Raj Institutions. The initiative emphasizes the commitment of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj to strengthening local governance and empowering Panchayats to deliver better services to the rural population," the Panchayati Raj Ministry said in a statement.
The five–day intensive programmes will cover various aspects of leadership, management and ethics, Rural Innovation, Own Source Revenue (OSR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) etc.
The program recognizes the crucial role of the panchayats in making the vision of "Viksit Bharat" (Developed India) a reality as grassroots level agencies responsible for providing basic amenities and governance to the rural population, the ministry added.
A key focus of the program is on augmenting Own Source Revenue (OSR), which is essential for attaining financial sustainability and transforming the panchayats into "Saksham" (capable) panchayats by strengthening their financial independence, the ministry said.
The program also introduces the participants to the latest management theories, tools, and skills. This approach aims to bring corporate-level professionalism to rural governance, ensuring effective and efficient utilization of resources.
Launched earlier this year, the initiative of Leadership/ Management Development Programme is a strategic effort of the Panchayati Raj Ministry to enhance the leadership and management skills of representatives and officials of the Panchayati Raj Institutions.