YASHADA News April-May 2008 Page 3 Volume 1 Issue 1

YASHADA’s PG diploma in rural management

Participants from SIRD's training programmes discussing with stakeholders during a study visit to nearby villages.

The SIRD (State Institute of Rural Development) at YASHADA has launched the one-year Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Management recognized by Mumbai University. The syllabus and contents combine the expertise of expert academics and senior government officials and are suitable for working officers. One of the officer-students, Shri Tejpal Singh, Executive Engineer, Ropar, Punjab, had remarked about the course, “To get a chance to participate in any training programme of ‘YASHADA’ is a great opportunity for any officer…The knowledge will augment the skills of the officer. I feel lucky to be one of the participants of the first batch of the PGDRM of YASHADA.”
The course is also open to graduates from any discipline from recognised universities, working government officials, elected representatives from Panchayati Raj Institutions and NGO representatives. Admissions for the second batch are open.

Gramlekha Software developed

The SIRD and Centre for Information Technology at YASHADA have developed web enabled software called Gramlekha for computerizing the operations of the Gram Panchayats in the state to improve service delivery at Panchayat level. The software will help provide a host of services to users ranging from birth and death certificates to property tax assessments and will computerize the taxation and accounting system, record-keeping and increase revenue of the Gram Panchayats. The software is available at a one-time cost of Rs. 2000 per panchayat.

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Capacity building for poverty reduction

(From left) Dr. S. K. Sarkar, Joint Secretary (RTI), DoPT, GoI; Shri Ajay Sawhney, Joint Secretary (Training), DoPT, GoI, and Shri Ashwani Kumar, Additional Director General, YASHADA inaugurating the CBPR and RTI training initiatives of the Centre for Public Governance of YASHADA on 17 January 2008.
Video CDs of Direct Trainer Skills (DTS) developed with support from the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Government of India (GoI) were released by Shri Ajay Sawhney and Dr. S. K. Sarkar while reviewing the Academy’s CBPR and RTI training initiatives. The CAPACITY BUILDING FOR POVERTY REDUCTION training initiative addresses poverty alleviation for cutting edge-level functionaries.

YASHADA has been identified as one of the four institutes to implement the CBPR project by the DFID, UK and DoPT, GoI. The replicable training module achieves its objectives through developing knowledge and skills for poverty reduction. It helps modify governance attitudes towards service delivery.

The gramsevak and talathi cadres in Pune District have been identified as the project’s target participants by the Academy. The first phase of training for the talathi cadre has interacted with 1040 trainee-participants. The second phase is for gramsevaks of the three blocks of Purandhar, Junnar and Khed.

The Zilla Parishad trainers attended specific ToT programmes during January-February 2008. Seven training methods helped the trainers improve their skills in imparting capacity building training programmes for poverty reduction. Distance learning material also helped ensure continuity for the training processes. With the conclusion of assignments, the participants will be invited again for 3-day debriefing training programmes.