To strengthen the panchayati raj institutions, a training programme was organised for the elected representatives at the behest of the State Government. However, most of those for whom the programme was hosted chose to give it a miss. For instance, the Panchayati Raj Department had organised a three-day workshop for the block pramukhs.  But, just 35 out of 95 cared to attend the camp. Things were equally grim for a similar programme involving zila panchayat presidents and vice- presidents as just 11 out of 26 presidents and vice- presidents chose to attend.

Unfazed by the dismal attendance scenario, the Panchayati Raj Department is all set to organise a special camp for the persons who were earlier left out due to unknown reasons.  It is not certain if this workshop would prove better.

Talking to The Pioneer, Additional Secretary for Panchayati Raj Harbans Singh Chugh said the panchayat representatives giving a short shrift to the training programmes is a sad spectacle for the State as a whole.

“As a precedent it is bad too. We hope things would change for the better and they would desist from showing such apathy to the great institution that was envisioned to developmentally transform the rural belts with the leadership and participation of the rural people,” he said.

“Though we do not know why they abstained from the workshops we have decided to provide them another chance for training. The workshops were envisaged to make them more competent to perform their day-to-day duties as they said they were encountering problems in discharging duties for dearth of training and the like,” he said.   

Giving details, he said they had organised State level training for the block pramukhs at Uttarakhand Gramya Vikas Prashikshan Sansthan, Udham Singh Nagar, in February last. “However, 35 out of 95 block pramukhs only participated. This is despite the fact that we had made elaborate travelling and staying arrangements for them.  Similar nonchalance manifested during the workshop meant for the zila panchayat presidents and vice- presidents. The turnout was bad.  Just 11 out of 26 of them participated in the three-day long workshop held between April 27 and 29. We arranged for food and accommodation for them. Now, we are set to organise a special camp for them,” Chugh said.

He further said to train 80/90 thousand gram pradhans and members, the Panchayat Raj Department has invited tenders.

“We invited tenders from NGOs too. One of them has been shortlisted.  Due to the number, it would not be feasible to train them at the State level. Hence our decision to organise training at the district levels,” he said.

“Initially, we would train the NGOs.  Then, the master trainer will train the gram pradhans and others at the district levels. Aside from training, we would provide them with pertinent literature and other materials to improve their knowledge of what panchayati raj as an important tool of participatory, inclusive democracy stands for,” Additional Secretary said.