SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, April 7: A week-long Rural Management Leadership Programme commenced today at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad. Organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, the training programme has brought together elected Panchayat representatives from five states — West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Bihar, and Jharkhand.
The programme was inaugurated by Prof. Prem Vrat, Chairman of the Board of Governors, IIT (ISM), who served as the chief guest. In his address, Prof. Vrat emphasized the importance of effective leadership, elaborating on the concepts of transformational and transactional leadership.
He underlined the critical role of trust and credibility in nurturing a strong organizational culture, stating, “Leadership is the art of influencing behavior to achieve organizational goals.”
Emphasis on Policy, Technology, and Research
In his keynote address, IIT (ISM) Director Prof. Sukumar Mishra highlighted the intricate relationship between policy and technology.
He called for greater synergy between technologists and policymakers and encouraged participants to approach the Management Development Programme (MDP) as a platform for mutual learning. Prof. Mishra also stressed the importance of research in realizing the national vision of a “Viksit Bharat.”
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Dialogue Between Academia and Grassroots Leaders
Prof. Dheeraj Kumar, Deputy Director, noted that the programme is envisioned not as a one-way pedagogical exchange but as a dialogic endeavor where academia can also learn from the lived experiences and wisdom of grassroots leaders.
Registrar Prabodh Pandey further highlighted the invaluable administrative insights that faculty members stand to gain through their engagement with participants during thematic sessions.
Focus on Panchayati Raj Institutions and Sustainable Goals
Prof. Rajni Singh, Dean of Corporate Communications and Programme Coordinator, presented the objectives of the MDP, aimed at nurturing enlightened, efficient, and technologically empowered grassroots leadership.
Prof. Niladri Das, while addressing the gathering, discussed key topics such as “Gram Panchayat and Work Management,” financial management, and the role of Gram Panchayats in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2030.
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Valedictory Address on April 11
The programme will conclude on April 11 with a valedictory address by Amitabh Ranjan, Registrar of the Indian Institute of Public Administration and an alumnus of IIT (ISM). He is scheduled to speak on topics including rural skilling, digital marketing, local livelihood enhancement, and revenue generation.
