Date:27/07/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/07/27/stories/2005072705260500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Centres likely to train panchayat members

Staff Reporter

Pact with Kuvempu University on introducing certificate course in panchayat raj institutions

Training centres planned at Bangalore, Mangalore, Gulbarga and Belgaum or Hubli
World Bank to assist these centres which will come up at taluk headquarters

Programme planned for newly-elected gram panchayat members

BANGALORE: The Government will consider the suggestion to open four training centres at Bangalore, Mangalore, Gulbarga and Belgaum or Hubli for imparting training to members of zilla, taluk and gram panchayats, the Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, H.C. Mahadevappa, told the Legislative Council on Tuesday.

He was responding to the Chairman, V.R. Sudarshan, who intervened during question hour to emphasise the need for training on all the vital aspects of the functioning of the panchayat raj institutions.

Replying to K.B. Munivenkata Reddy (Congress), Dr. Mahadevappa said that in an effort to instil academic discipline in the training, the Government has entered into an agreement with the Kuvempu University for introducing certificate courses on panchayat raj institutions. It will also take up the construction of training centres at the taluk-level with the assistance of the World Bank, he added.

A four-round training programme of 11 days' duration each has been planned for all the 92,400 newly-elected gram panchayat members at the Abdul Nazir Sab Panchayat Raj Institute in Mysore over the next three years. A two-day introductory training programme covering subjects such as history of the panchayat raj, important aspects of the 73rd amendment to the Constitution, conceptual and functional aspects of decentralisation and the guiding and governing norms of the panchayat raj institutions has been held in all the districts, he said.