State Institute of Rural Developement (SIRD)

OVERVIEW OF SIRD

With the need for an institute for rural development, the Composite Training Institute, then under the Agriculture Department, was converted into the State Institute of Rural Development and inaugurated on 14th November, 1991 by his Excellency the then Governor of Sikkim, Admiral R.H. Tahiliani.

The SIRD, which is situated at Karfectar, 2 Kilometers away from Jorethang, South Sikkim, is the apex training institute of the Rural Management and Development Department and entrusted with various training and research activities pertaining to local self governance and rural development. The facilities and infrastructure of the institute are also utilized by various other departments and organizations from time to time.

The State Institute of Rural Development, Sikkim, since its inception, has been conducting training on various activities. This organization is the premier institute of Sikkim in regard to Training and Capacity Building.  Its main thrust has been to facilitate rural empowerment through decentralization &participation of the people in local governance & to enhance the capacity & competence of the departmental officials for effective & efficient service delivery.

In view of the limited facilities in the SIRD and non-existence of Extension Training Centres (ETCs), extensive use of cascading method is adopted for achieving the training target and objectives.  Master Resource Persons / Field Based Trainers are drawn from various line Departments from the State, the District and the Block level, besides selected Panchayat Representatives, member of NGOs, retired Government Officials etc. & who are trained as Master Trainers & used doe trainings in the field. Their selection and deployment is made in such a way that they may conveniently cover all the Blocks so as to achieve training targets within the stipulated time. Towards this end, a comprehensive Directory of Master Trainers is prepared. As a component of our training strategy, Official Functionaries are trained jointly with elected representatives in various RD Programmes wherever possible, thereby enabling them to understand each other’s view point for sensitization & enhanced coordination. Further, massive IEC campaign under various RD Programmes for Community Mobilization & participation has been taken up. For this purpose, easy to read hand-outs in local languages have also been prepared.

Training Methodology Used

• Participatory Lectures
• Audio-Visual Presentations
• Group Discussion
• Panel Discussion
• Field Trips
• Lectures & Interaction with eminent Resource Persons
• Exercises & Field Demonstrations
• Role Play

Well equipped library Facilities Available:

• Ample and well-furnished residential hostel and guest house
• Well furnished residential quarters
• Well-equipped training halls and conference halls
• Latest audio-visual aids
• Video Conferencing facility
• Teaching-cum Demonstration farm
• Latest IT facility
• Well equipped Gym Hall

Apart from the normal trainings conducted every year a few notable Programmes conducted during 2015 – 2016 includes the following:

• GRAM SABHA THROUGH THE INTERVENTION OF STUDENTS

Children, specially the adolescents, have been found to be a surprisingly strong “Pressure Group” for bringing about desired modification/changes in the Behavioral Pattern of their parents and elders. SIRD has utilized this concept with great effectiveness in its “School Led Sanitation” programme under the Total Sanitation Campaign.

In this intervention, a massive sensitization and mobilization drive was undertaken for students studying in the Secondary and Senior Secondary levels. About 80% of all Government Secondary and Senior Secondary Schools including 100% in the North District has been covered. Certain Livelihood Schools under State Institute of Capacity Building, Technical Educational Institutes such as ITI & DIET Geyzing and some Public School such as St. Francis School, Jorethang, were also covered under this intervention. This Intervention was initiated in the year 2014 -15, which was carried forward in the year 2015 -16 as well

The students were sensitized about the relevance and importance of Gram Sabha in the overall development of the State and their support was mobilized to influence their parents so to enhance attendance and participation in Gram Sabhas. This endeavour of the Institute has been appreciated by the Schools and acclaimed by the concerned Ministries.

• GRAM SABHA MOBILIZATION IN VARIOUS GRAM PANCHAYATS

With an aim of enhancing participation, both qualitatively and quantitatively, in Gram Sabhas for its overall strengthening and empowerment, special sensitization and mobilization were undertaken in various Gram Panchayat Units. Apart from Panchayats, & their Functionaries, Members of Standing Committees and the Public, ASHA & Aganwadi workers also attended these programme The Field Facillitators even targeted  the MGNREGA workers in their work site  during lunch hours so that they would also be covered under this drive. The result, though not formally researched and quantified, has proved very promising.During the programme the participants were sensitised on the importance of Gram Sabha in the Panchayati Raj System and the role of the Sabha Members in facilitating sustainable and inclusive development in the rural areas through participatory local self-governance.

• MODEL GRAM SABHA

Gram Sabha is an institution, which enables people’s participation and provides a ground for democratic deliberations and decision making. Hence, Gram Sabha, as a vibrant institution of self governance, has an important role in social mobilization,strengthening developmental orientations, educating the rural people in administrative and political processes and enabling the weaker section to progressively assert their point of view. With an aim to strengthen democratic decentralisation & empower local self-governance, SIRD supported Poklok Kamrang Gram Panchayat Unit, under Poklok Kamrang Constituency, to organise a Model Gram Sabha. The Sabha was held at the Playground of the Senior Secondary School & was attended by Hon’ble Speaker, Sikkim Legislative Assembly, cum Area MLA, Shri K. N Rai as a Special Guest. Hon’ble Zilla Adhakshhya, Shri C. L Gurung, Ecclesiastical Affairs Chairman Shri Lakpa Ghising and SICUN president Shri Ganesh Rai were other notable invitees in the Sabha.

Addressing the Gram Sabha, Shri K. N Rai congratulated the Hon’ble Panchayats for conducting Gram Sabha in such a grand manner and also thanked SIRD for supporting them in this endeavour. He spoke about the emphasis accorded by the present State Government to Democratic Decentralisation and devolution of power for local self-governance& urged the Panchayats to work sincerely for the development of the people.  The Sabha saw active participation from all the stakeholders & apart from the usual issues, it also deliberated & unanimously passed the proposals to make the GPU Alcohol Free & ban the use of plastics and chemical fertilizers in their area. It was also agreed that a penalty would be imposed if anyone violated this ban.

• Refresher Course for Elected Panchayat Representatives:

SIRD has been conducting a three day refresher course every year for the elected Panchayat Representatives of the state with an objective of refreshing and updating their knowledge for meeting the challenges of their ever evolving duties and responsibilities as well as the new developments in the field of Panchayati Raj and Rural Development.The refresher course was designed keeping in view the feedbacks received from the participants during the earlier trainings & Training Need Analysis conducted for this specific purpose.

During 2015-2016, the Refresher course was conducted for 5 day and various topics such as Legal Services, role of PRIs inIndustrial Development, Social Audit, and Budget Preparation were also covered. A Field Visit to “Best Performing Panchayats” was also included in this training. This visit was plannedwith an objective of providing opportunity to the participants to interact and learn from the experiences and best practices of these beacon Panchayats Units.

• Double Entry Accounting for RD Programmes:

A Five day long training on “Double Entry Accounting for RD Programmes” was conducted from 6^th to 10^th July, 2015 for the Rural Development Functionaries. The programme was conducted by National Institute of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, North Eastern Regional Centre, Guwahati in collaboration with this Institute. The programme was attended by 35 participants which included 31 Panchayat Account Assistant, one from each block and 4 RD Functionaries of Tripura and Assam. The five day long programme included both practical and theoretical sessions on various aspects of Double Entry system of Accounts Keepingas well as hands on practice on Tally Accounting Software. The programme also included sessions on Human Resource Management and a field visit to study the Accounting Procedure followed by the PRIs of Sikkim.

• TRAINING ON APPLICATION OF GEO SPATIAL TECHNOLOGIES IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT

SIRD in collaboration with NIRD&PR, Guwahati, organised A 5 Day training programme on Geo-Spatial Technologies for Rural Infrastructure Facility Mapping from 25-29 May 2015. A total of 39 participants comprising of Panchayat Account Assistants (PAAs), Panchayat Development Assistants (PDAs) and members of NGO attended the programme. The team also visited the Department of Science & Technology & Climate Change, Government of Sikkim, to get an understanding of the various GIS based projects and research that the Department had undertaken.

• One Day Workshop On Content Development of Certificate Course for Panchayat Secretaries

One day workshop on content development for certified course for Panchayat Secretaries was organised by National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Hyderabad in collaboration with this Institute on 18^th of November, 2015, at the SIRD campus in Karfectar. The programme was attended by 167 participants representing the Panchayats, Panchayat Inspectors, Rural Development Assistants and Officials and Faculty members of SIRD.

The objective of the programme was to discuss & ponder upon the generic Certified Course designed by NIRD&PR in accordance with the basic objective of the course to be commonly offered to all the Gram Panchayat Secretaries in the country through distance learning mode. It was necessary to properly document and include the variations in the structure and functions of the PRIs and the state specificities in the course content for which reason such state workshops were being held. The participants were asked to deliberate in groups & present their suggestions keeping in view the importance of Local Self Governance for the overall development of the society and the need to build up the capability of the Local Self Government to shoulder the huge and pivotal Roles and Responsibilities vested upon them. It was informed that the suggestions & recommendations of all such State Workshops would be be reviewed by

the Ministry of Panchayati Raj & all relevant ones incorporated into the Course Content before the launch of the proposed Certificate Course.

• Exposure Visits of Project Directors of DRDA &BDOs of Assam to Sikkim.

An Exposure visitto Sikkim for the Project Directors of DRDA and BDOs of Assam was organised by this Institute in collaboration with SIRD, Assam from 29^th November to 3^rd December 2015 .The main objective of the visit was to see and learn new approaches adopted in Sikkim for planning & implementation of MG-NREGA, particularly convergence with other programmes, and also to give an exposure on Panchayati Raj system and Social Audit in Sikkim. Apart from the interaction and class room session at SIRD, the participants also visited some of the better performing Gram Panchayat Units like Melli dara Gram & Maniram Phalidara GPU in the South & Sangkhu RaduKhandu in the West.The participants had a very fruitful interaction with the concerned Panchayats & the general public in each of these GPUs. Visits to some of the places of tourist interest such as Namchi, Solophok, Samdruptse, Buddha Park , Gangtok and Nathula were also organised during the week long exposure tour.

• NIRD&PR - SIRD Conclave 2016:

A Conclave of the State Institutes of Rural Development (SIRDs) of the North Eastern Region & the National Institute of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (NIRD&PR) was organised  by this Institute, in collaboration with the NIRD&PR on the 14th & 15th of this month. The Conclave was inaugurated by Dr. R.M. Panth, Director, NIRD&PR, North East Regional Centre, Guwahati, on the 14^th at the SIRD campus in Karfectar, South Sikkim.

The SIRDs deliberated & shared experiences about the activities undertaken, Best Practices initiated & the issues & problems that each has been facing. There was also unanimity for the need to learn from each others experiences & that such Conclaves should be held regularly. On their part, Dr. Panth & DR. R.P. Achary, Head, Training & Research Division, NIRD&PR, Hyderabad, assured the SIRDs that all the issues raised during the discussion would be forwarded to the concerned Ministries in Delhi for their redressal. The participants also visited Melli Dara Gram Panchayat Unit & interacted with the Panchayats & officials as a part of the programme. Incidentally, this was the 2^nd such Conclave, the first being held at NIRD&PR during May, 2015.

 The Valedictory Programme which was held at Denzong Residency in Gangtok, was Chaired by Shri. S.B. Subedi, Hon’ble Minister, RM&DD, Government of Sikkim.  Shri D.R. Nepal, Secretary & other senior officers of RM&DD also attended this programme.

• Training Need Assessment:-

Understanding & analysing the Entry behavior & Training Needs of thevarious stakeholders & potential future trainees is imperative for conducting effective and result oriented trainings. With this objective & the additional need for streamlining the training plan, the Institute has been conducting workshop on Training Needs Analysis on a regular basis. Similarly, this year too the Institute conducted an elaborate Training Need Analysis during the month of February 2016. However, this year the approach was much more intensive and focused as we reached out to all the 176 Gram Panchayat units. The Faculty & Training Team were divided into groups who then proceeded to conduct the TNA in each of the 176 GPUs by interacting with the Gram Panchayats, Line Department functionaries and the various committee members of these GPUs. During the course of these TNA, a serious effort was made to seek ideas, views and suggestions on improving the nature and content of programmes/trainings provided by SIRD. The entire TNA process for 176 GPUs was covered in a month.

Communication and Capacity Development Unit (CCDU) was established in 2005 at State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD), Jorethang, South Sikkim, with a broad objective to develop state specific IEC tools and to build the capacity of human resource for management of rural water supply. Further, it has also been entrusted with the responsibility to create expertise on water quality issues as well as conduct water quality analysis of all source, rural water supply schemes and household connections as envisaged under National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) of Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation (MDWS), Government of India. With this responsibility to create mass awareness, training of stakeholders and water quality analysis, CCDU-Sikkim has always been on the forefront to excel the yearly targets on time.

Since safe drinking water and sanitation needs to go hand in hand, therefore, apart from the targets set under National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) for safe drinking water in rural areas, CCDU-Sikkim also undertakes activities to promote proper hygiene and sanitation.

Human Resource Development (HRD): -

The CCDU is entrusted to impart the training of Village Water and Sanitation Committee members, engineers and other stakeholders of Rural Water Supply Scheme (RWSS) under National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) of Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Government of India. The training programme of stakeholders includes three days trainings on Planning, Monitoring and Managing of RWSS for VWSC members, preparation of DPR and WQM&S for Assistant Engineers and Junior Engineer, training on water quality analysis by Field Water Testing Kit for barefoot engineers/plumbersand training on water and sanitation for PRIs, NGOs, SHGs, BNVs etc. More thana thousandstakeholders of National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) were trained in different aspects of planning, management, operation and maintenance of Rural Water Supply Schemes in 2015-16.

Notable Programmes conducted by CCDU-SIRD

Apart from the regular training of the local stakeholders, CCDU-SIRD also conducted the following notable programmes during 2015 – 2016

1. EXPOSURE VISIT OF RD FUNCTIONARIES OF RAJASTHAN

An Exposure Visit of 23 Rural Development & Panchayati Raj functionaries of Government of Rajasthan was hosted by CCDU from 6^th – 12^th September 2015. The focus of their visit was to Study the Best Practices in Community Based Rural Water Management in Sikkim.The study team comprised of Shri. Surendra Goyal, Hon’ble Minister, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Government ofRajasthan, Zilla Pramukhs (Adhyaksha), Block and Gram Pradhans (Presidents) and Senior Officers from the Department of Rural Development& Panchayati Raj, Government of Rajasthan including Shri. Rajeshwar Singh, Director General, Indira Gandhi Panchayati Raj & Gramin Vikas Sansthan (SIRD, Rajasthan).

As part of this exposure tour, the Rajasthan team visited Melli Dara GPU and Gerethang GPU in South and West Sikkim, respectively, apart from having an interactive session at SIRD. Though the primary objective of the visit was to study the best practices in the field of rural water management, the delegates were also sensitized to the functioning of the Gram Panchayats & the implementation of various rural development schemes in Sikkim.

The valedictory programme of the visit was held at Denzong Regency, Gangtok,  on the 12^th of Septemcer, 2015 which was chaired by Shri. S.B. Subedi, Hon’ble Minister, RM&DD, Government of Sikkim.  The programme was also attended by the Hon’ble Adhyaksha East & Hon’ble Upadhyaksha West, President SICUN, Secretary & othe senior officers of RM&DD, Director & other officials of SIRD Sikkim & the visiting team.

2. CONSULTATIVE WORKSHOP WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS TO IMPLEMENT ZERO WASTE PROTOCOL IN BARSEY WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
SIRD being a Zero Waste Institute;we extensively promotes the Zero Waste concept among the masses. Sensitization programme and training of volunteers from different NGOs, SHGs and BNVs on wastemanagement is also an integral part of the HRDcomponent of CCDU. One of the prominent programme of 2015-16 was the Consultative Workshop with the stakeholders of Barsey Wildlife Sanctuary inorder to explore the possibilities of implementation of zero waste protocol in Barsey Wildlife Sanctuary held on 10th March 2016 in Okhrey Sherpa Bhawan, West

Information Education and Communication (IEC)

A holistic IEC plan was prepared for 2015-16 with a broad objective to create awareness on National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) and Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) as well as to instil a sense of ownershipand responsibility among the masses for proper drinking water and waste management.

In accordance with the plan, numerous IEC activities werecarried out during 2015-16 ranging from sensitization programme in schools, zero waste exhibitions andobservance of World Water Day 2016. Prominent among the activities conductedweretheparticipation in the Jorethang Maghey Sankranti Mela 2016, observance of World Water Day 2016 in Poklok Denchung GPU and Zero Waste Exhibitionsin Dentam Rhododendron Festival, Diamond Jubilee Celebration of Darap Sr. Sec. School and Daramdin Losar-cum-Tourism Festival.

JORETHANG MAGHEY SAKRANTI MELA 2016

Since 2015 CCDU-SIRD has been playing an active role in making Jorethang Maghey Sakranti Mela a zero waste event. It was due to the strong initiative taken by the institute in collaboration with other Zero Waste Himalaya Group-Sikkim and the Mela Committee that implementation of zero waste protocols such as ban of disposable food containers and cutleryin temporary food stalls, ban of packaged drinking water, use of waste bins and segregation of waste was successful in 2015. Further, it also set an example of a zero waste mela for all local melas, fairs and festivals to adopt. It was after the Jorethang Maghey Sakranti Mela 2015 that witnessed almost all forthcoming melas, fairs and festivals in the State adopting zero waste protocol.

In continuation of the initiative undertaken in 2015, CCDU-SIRD once again worked in collaboration with the Jorethang Maghey Mela Committee in 2016. Apart from enforcing the zero waste protocols, a strong focus was also given to sensitizing the public and recycling of tetra pak cartons. A team of 40 volunteers including 21 students and 19 officers and staff of SIRD was trained for this purpose. A week before the event the officers and staff of SIRD did a “shop-to-shop” sensitization including restaurants, hotels, etc while the students did a“door-to-door” sensitization at the household level. Further, the students also volunteered in taking forward the sensitization during the mela as well as collecting discarded tetra pak cartons for recycling along with the SIRD officers and staff. At the end of 2.5days the team collected about 800 tetra pak cartons which was later delivered to the tetra pak carton compacting unit of Indian Army, Black Cat Division, located in Tadong, East Sikkim.

 

Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance (WQM&S):

Communication and Capacity Development Unit has been also been entrusted with the Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance (WQM&S) component of National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP). Under this component, regular water analysis of sources, reservoirs and household connections are done in 2 laboratories located at Tadong, East Sikkimfor East & North District and SIRD, South Sikkim for South & West District. Water analyses are also carried out by the Barefoot Engineers at the Gram Panchayat level.

Chemists and Barefoot Engineers tested more than two thousand sources, reservoirs and household connections in the year 2015-16. Besides, a team of Chemist and field staff also visited all water sources under Poklok Denchung Gram Panchayat Unit to ascertain the actual status of source and its catchment areas.