IIM Bodh Gaya Inaugurates Leadership Training for Panchayati Raj Representatives

Patna: In a significant step towards empowering grassroots governance, the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bodh Gaya inaugurated a five-day residential Management Development Programme (MDP) on Monday. The initiative, held in collaboration with the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, was designed for 35 elected representatives and functionaries of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) from seven Indian states: Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal.

The programme aims to equip these local leaders with essential skills needed for effective governance, contributing to the broader goal of nation-building. The inaugural event was marked by a traditional lamp-lighting ceremony, attended by Dr. Vinita S. Sahay, Director of IIM Bodh Gaya, and Vipul Ujwal, Director of Capacity Building at the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. Ujwal, an IAS officer from the 2009 Punjab cadre, previously served as the Director of Social Security, Women, and Child Development for the Punjab government.

In her opening remarks, Dr. Sahay underscored the importance of equipping the younger generation with the necessary skills for the future. She emphasized that the onus lies on educators to ensure that the potential of the youth is fully realized. “If we fall short, the blame lies with us,” she stated, calling for a focus on both skill enhancement and capacity building.

Ujwal echoed these sentiments, highlighting that effective administration is crucial for the advancement of the nation. His participation underscored the vital collaboration between academic institutions and the government in promoting rural development through PRIs.

PRIs, established under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment in 1992, are the cornerstone of rural self-governance in India. They play a pivotal role in decentralizing power, allowing local communities to address their specific development needs and ensuring that rural development programs are tailored to the challenges these communities face.

The MDP covered key topics including Principle-Centered Leadership, Mission, Vision, and Goal Alignment, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in relation to Gram Panchayats, and Rural Innovation. With this training, PRI members will be better equipped to lead their communities in addressing emerging challenges, ensuring that development initiatives are sustainable and focused on long-term success.

IIM Bodh Gaya has been actively supporting the Ministry of Panchayati Raj in building leadership and management capacity. The institution is also involved in providing leadership and management training to various departments of the Bihar government, including the Water Resource Department, State Health Society, Bihar Police Academy, Bihar Institute of Public Administration and Rural Development (BIPARD), and the Department of Industries, among others.