TRAINERS' TRAINING FOR GOVERNMENT OFFICERS
The implementation of Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojna (SGSY), a national scheme of poverty alleviation, relied on large scale formation and working of Self Help Groups among people living below poverty line. The programme at Manavodaya was designed for capacity building of government officers associated with the SGSY scheme. Its principal challenge lay in developing new knowledge, attitudes and skills among the participants in accordance with the new paradigm of development which centered around self help.
The capacity building programme at Manavodaya was divided into three parts. The first comprised sensitisation of senior officers of a district through a three-day residential programme. The second part followed with training of trainers of selected officers dealing with the programme directly at grassroot level, i.e. the Assistant Development Officers and Village Development Officers in administrative blocks of different districts. In the third part, these trained officers organised programmes for other persons in the block like village heads, NGOs, other government staff and group leaders. Later, review meetings were organised at district level for understanding problems and suggesting alternatives.
Seven districts were included in the programme: Allahabad, Agra, Banda, Deoria, Sitapur, Unnao and Rae Bareilly. Each district had one sensitisation programme and two trainers training programme of three and six days duration respectively. Each programme had an average of 25 participants, selected by the District Rural Development Agency, who were relieved from their regular duty and sent to Manavodaya for the mentioned duration.
Some Observations by the Officers
It is a complete training in character building and knowledge about the art of living. Such a training should be compulsory for all government employees and officers before they join service.
Siyaram Rawat, Assistant Development Officer
The training methods at Manavodaya were beyond imagination. Sir and Didi jee enabled the participants to find solutions to problems themselves, and all decisions were based on collective agreement. Such a method was never seen by me before. The art of training was really commendable.
Puttan Lal, Village Development Officer
This programme has created an interest in knowing the feelings of the poor. Upto now, my approach was to complete the target somehow, as I believed that no group would work anyway. A fundamental change in my perspective is to do reflection every morning and have a feel for my faults.
Lav Kush Kumar, Village Development Officer
The best thing that I liked about the programme is the value of listening to others, help them to manifest whatever is good in them, remove their weakness and encourage them to do something themselves
Rajiv Shanker Mishra, Village Development Officer
