MDP for Tripura's elected panchayat members
REGIONAL: A five-day Management Development Programme (MDP) for elected members and officials of the Rural Development (Panchayat) Department, Tripura, commenced at IIM Shillong with the aim of bolstering grassroots governance and improving administrative efficiency in rural local bodies. Organised by the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Centre for Policy Research and Analysis at IIM Shillong, the initiative focuses on empowering the representatives and officials of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) to effectively fulfill their responsibilities in rural development, planning and service delivery.
During the inauguration, Prof Rohit Dwivedi of IIM Shillong emphasised the crucial role of Panchayats in attaining inclusive and sustainable rural development. He underscored the need for transparency, accountability, participatory planning, and the effective execution of government schemes at the grassroots level, urging elected officials to apply the knowledge and skills acquired throughout the programme towards the comprehensive development of their respective constituencies.
The curriculum of the MDP encompasses various key thematic areas including planning and financial management of PRIs, social inclusion, gender equity, community participation, e-governance, conflict management, design thinking, engagement with local panchayat heads and communities, leadership and community resource management, among others. The programme will feature interactive sessions, case studies, and group discussions, facilitated by senior officials, subject-matter experts and resource persons.
Thirty-eight elected Panchayat members and officials from across Tripura are participating in this MDP, highlighting the Tripura’s government's commitment to strengthening grassroots democracy and enhancing rural governance.