Elected representatives on an exposure visit to Himachal Pradesh

GANGTOK, 23 Jan: In a bid to provide exposure to different parts of the country under capacity building initiatives to the elected members of the GPUs and ZPs, the Rural Management & Development Department, had organised a 10-day visit to Himachal Pradesh for the first group comprising of 16 Panchayat Presidents, Secretaries and Members from 08 to 18 January.
A press release informs that the objective was to provide an opportunity to the elected members to see how Gram Sabhas in various Panchayat units were organised and the PRI was functioning in other states.  The elected members reaped the benefits of such exposure-cum-study visit by learning new things and enhancing their knowledge, skills and attitude through interactions and experience sharing.
The group first visited Mandi District of Himachal Pradesh.  The District Planning Officer at Mandi gave an overview of his district and the system of PRI in vogue.  The group was also introduced to the Intermediary Panchayats or the so called Block Samities by the respective Block Development Officer, the release mentions. An opportunity was also given to the Sikkim group to attend one of its general body meetings at the Block level. The group was then introduced to a number of Self Help Groups and exposed to their activities.
The team visited various Gram Panchayat Units and saw its functioning especially in the implementation of MGNREGA, Water shed harvesting schemes etc.  The group also visited Kullu - Manali areas and interacted with the local panchayats and self help groups.  Such exposure visits would go a long way in improving and honing the capacities of the elected representatives and functionaries in the PRI for managing local self governance, the release further mentions.
Earlier, between 15 – 21 March in 2011 a group of Panchayat Presidents had also visited Manipur for participation in the “Inter-State Interactive Experience Sharing Programme for Beacon Panchayats” hosted by SIRD, Manipur.
Also, 17 staff members of SIRD were sent for an exposure-cum-study visit to NIRD and other Institutions of repute in Hyderabad, the release adds.