Lok Sabha Question No. 635 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-06
Subject: Training for Panchayati Raj Representatives
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: Aparajita Sarangi, Rajesh Verma, Sanjay Sadashivrao Mandlik, Umesh G. Jadhav, Shrirang Appa Barne, Lallu Singh, Sambhajirao Mane Dhairyasheel, Sudheer Gupta, Prataprao  Jadhav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 635 ANSWERED ON 06/02/2024

## Training for Panchayati Raj Representatives

## 635. SHRIMATIAPARAJITASARANGI:

SHRI RAJESH VERMA:

SHRI SANJAYSADASHIVRAOMANDLIK:

DR. UMESHG. JADHAV:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPABARNE:

SHRI LALLU SINGH:

SHRI DHAIRYASHEELSAMBHAJIRAOMANE:

SHRI SUDHEERGUPTA:

SHRI PRATAPRAOJADHAV:

Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken any steps for training to Panchayati Raj representatives in management leadership and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the Ministry with Indian Institute of Management- Ahmedabad (IIM-A) to train Panchayati Raj representatives and its objectives;
- (c) whether IIM-A in a first of its kind initiative launched a pilot training programme under the management development programme for elected representatives and functionaries of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) recently and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the details of programmes organized by the Government during the said training programme;
- (e) whether the Government has set any criteria for participating in the said training programme and if so, the details thereof;
- (f) the total number of individuals in the country trained on various institutional, functional and thematic issues, including sustainable development goals under the said programme; and
- (g) the other steps taken by the Government to train the officials and officers at the grassroot level to infuse leadership and management skills?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PANCHAYATI RAJ

## (SHRI KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL)

- (a) & (g) Yes Sir. Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) of the Ministry aims at developing Leadership and Governance capabilities

at the grassroots through continuous capacity building activities of the Elected Representatives (ERs) and other Stakeholders of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). Towards this end, number of training programs are conducted by the National Institute for Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (NIRD&PR), State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD) of States and other Training Institutions throughout the year.

During last 10 years, including the current year, Ministry has implemented various schemes for Capacity Building & Training, including leadership training, for Elected Representatives and other stakeholders of Panchayati Raj Institutions through which total of 3,23,25,826 (3.23 cr.) participants were provided training to improve Panchayat Governance and leadership at the grassroots.

To further amplify the scope of the leadership training, the Ministry has recently formulated a Leadership/Management Development Program (MDP), a strategic initiative aimed at bolstering the leadership capabilities of Elected Representatives, officials and functionaries of Panchayati Raj Institutions.

(b) The Ministry has signed an MoU for collaboration with the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIMA) on 8 th January 2024. The MoU between Ministry of Panchayati Raj and IIMA, interalia, provided for conducting introductory Program under the Scheme of MDP, structure of the training, session plan and topics to be covered during the 5 days of training, indicative cost structure, logistic arrangements, etc.

(c), (d) &(f) Yes Sir. The pilot Leadership/Management Development Program for the Elected Representatives and Functionaries of Panchayati Raj Institutions was conducted at IIM Ahmedabad during January 15-19, 2024. The first-of-its-kind Leadership and Management training program was attended by 51 Elected Representatives and functionaries of Panchayati Raj Institutions, mainly Chairpersons / Presidents and Chief Executive Officers of District Panchayats from 21 States/UTs. Under the said training programme topics on Leadership & Team work for strategic Rural Transformation, Creativity and Innovations, Project Management & Monitoring, Collective action/ Convergence for Rural Transformation, Digital Transformation and e-Governance, etc. were covered.

(e) Keeping in mind the rigor and requirement of the programme and to address the need for sustained leadership development at the grassroots following eligibility criteria has been adopted.

- i. Age of the participant should be between 25-50 years. Preference to be given to those below 40 years.
- ii. Educational Qualification: Graduation or above. Basic knowledge of English would be desirable.
- iii. For Elected Representatives of PRIs, at least one year period is left in their current term.

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