Print logo

Highlights 2021
New levels of local self-governance

In the new project phase, not only new levels are ventured, but also new partners and target groups are involved.

SIDART Training of Trainers Module released by Director General of National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRD)

SIDART Training of Trainers Module released by Director General of National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRD)

From Grassroots Level to State Level Consultations

After successfully concluding the project “Development of Model Panchayat” in Sambhariya Panchayat during the period 2018-20, our partner Society for Integrated Developmental Activities, Research and Training (SIDART) started the project “Strengthening the Local Self Governance” in 2021, for next three years. The goal of the project is to make the local self-government in Rajasthan more effective through the integration of best practices at the higher level i.e., district, state and national level.

In 2021, the close collaboration with the Government at block and district level helped to disseminate the knowledge about best practices, gathered in the Model Panchayat project. Activities like the Needs Assessment Survey, Training of Trainers, Capacity Building Seminar of the Elected Representatives, State Level Consultation, Visit to National Institute of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR) etc. were conducted. A total of 1056 participants including the Block Development Officers (BDO), Village Development Officers (VDO), staff at BDO offices, Sarpanches and Panchayat Representatives participated in these programs.

A module for the Training of Trainers was prepared with the cooperation of the Zila Parishad (District Council). It is based on best practices of the model panchayat (2018-2020) and needs assessment survey (2021). The module was presented at NIRDPR and the Hon’ble Director General of NIRDPR highly appreciated the compilation which led to a release of the module.

The intensive engagement with the Sarpanches has led to some good achievements, The Jahota Gram Panchayat has become the first “ODF plus” panchayat in Rajasthan. The ODF plus village is defined as “a village which sustains its Open Defecation Free (ODF) status, ensures solid and liquid waste management and is visually clean”. This includes ensuring that all households in a village, as well as the Primary School, Panchayat Ghar and Anganwadi Centre, have access to a toilet and that all public places and at least 80% of households effectively manage their solid and liquid waste and have minimal litter and minimal stagnant water.

The Panchayats have engaged actively with Rajeevika mission by the Rajasthan Grameen Aajeevika Vikas Parishad (Rajasthan Village Livelihood Development Council). The objective of the scheme is to enhance the economic opportunities and empowerment of rural poor with focus on women and marginalized groups in Rajasthan.

Getting Youth4Governance on board

The project “Youth-n-Democracy Fellowship Program” was started by the Society for Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA) in 2021 for a period of three years to promote understanding among youth in Karnataka on the values of federalism, principles and structures of decentralised governance in India. The program called Youth 4 Governance is a carefully crafted 9-months fellowship program for the students pursuing higher education from recognized colleges/universities in Mysuru.

In 2021, the initial preparatory activities were conducted and the modules & session designs for the delivery of training were developed. The training program shall start in 2022.

Inter-state and Center-state relations from an academic perspective

A workshop on Intergovernmental Relations in India was conducted by the Christ University of Bengaluru in which 224 participants including the students, officials, academicians and research scholars participated (in-person and online). The participants got new insights about the constitutional, historical and current affairs of the centre-state and interstate relations.

The students at Christ University interested and engaged in the Q&A

The students at Christ University interested and engaged in the Q&A