IIM Bodh Gaya Concludes Leadership Training for Jharkhand Panchayat Representatives

Bodh Gaya: IIM Bodh Gaya has concluded a five-day Management Development Programme (MDP) aimed at strengthening leadership and governance skills among 47 elected representatives from Jharkhand’s Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). Organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, the initiative sought to empower local leaders for effective and sustainable rural development.

Conducted in two sessions in February, the programme trained a total of 113 representatives, focusing on key areas such as financial management, resource allocation, digital governance, artificial intelligence and machine learning applications in Panchayati Raj, and sustainable development.

The training opened with an introductory session attended by 66 elected representatives from various Gram Panchayats. Chhavi Rajawat, India’s first sarpanch with an MBA, addressed participants on social transformation and good governance. Dr Vinita S. Sahay, director of IIM Bodh Gaya, highlighted the institute’s commitment to strengthening leadership and public governance.

A session on personal effectiveness, led by Dr Sahay, underscored the crucial role of women and youth in rural development. She emphasised the importance of skill development workshops for women, which foster financial independence, social engagement and economic inclusion.

The programme was coordinated by Prof Jitendra Yadav and Prof Tina Bharti, whose leadership ensured a practical curriculum addressing contemporary governance challenges with technology-driven solutions.

IIM Bodh Gaya has previously conducted training programmes for government bodies such as the Water Resources Department, State Health Society, Bihar Police Academy and the Department of Industries. The institute’s rising influence in management education is reflected in its 33rd-place ranking in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2024, a jump of 40 places since 2022.