Bodh Gaya: IIM Bodh Gaya, in collaboration with the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, successfully concluded a five-day Management Development Programme (MDP) aimed at enhancing the leadership and governance skills of elected representatives and functionaries from Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). The programme, which ended on 6 September 2024, sought to empower local leaders with the tools necessary for effective governance at the grassroots level.
Participants received training on key management topics, including the Sustainable Development Goals, rural innovation, digital transformation, and ICT for village development, as well as budgetary control systems in Panchayats. These sessions were designed to equip local leaders with the knowledge and strategies required to tackle the unique challenges faced by their communities.
During the valedictory session, Dr. Vinita S. Sahay, Director of IIM Bodh Gaya, emphasised the importance of management training for local leaders and expressed pride in the institute’s role in facilitating this programme. She awarded certificates to the 34 elected representatives and functionaries from Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal who participated in the programme.
Neeru Yadav, a Sarpanch from Rajasthan, said that the sessions would help participants enhance their skills, expressing gratitude to the faculty and the Director for the enriching experience.
Panchayati Raj Institutions, established through the 73rd Constitutional Amendment in 1992, are essential to India’s rural governance system, decentralising power and enabling local communities to address their specific development needs. The collaboration between IIM Bodh Gaya and the Ministry of Panchayati Raj reflects the institute’s ongoing commitment to developing leadership capacity, with the institution also providing similar training to several departments of the Bihar government, including the Water Resource Department, State Health Society, and Bihar Police Academy.
