IIM Bodh Gaya, in collaboration with the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, concluded the five days Management Development Programme (MDP) for Elected Representatives and Functionaries of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). The valedictory session of the MDP, held on September 6, 2024, aimed at equipping local leaders with the skills for enhanced leadership and effective governance at the grassroots level.

The participants received training on various management aspects including Sustainable Development Goals, Rural Innovation, Digital Transformation and ICT for Village development, Budgetary Control systems in Panchayat. These sessions were designed to empower the participants with knowledge and tools to address the unique challenges faced by their communities. 

Dr. Vinita S. Sahay, Director of IIM Bodh Gaya, highlighted the importance of management training for local leaders and expressed the institute's pride in providing this opportunity to the participants. During the valedictory session, she awarded certificates to the 34 Elected Representatives and Functionaries of Panchayati Raj Institutions who participated from seven states namely Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal. One of the participants, Neeru Yadav, a Sarpanch from Rajasthan stated that the sessions would help participants in upskilling themselves and expressed gratitude to the faculty and the Director for the learning experience.

Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), established by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment in 1992, are key to India's rural governance. They decentralize power, enabling local communities to govern themselves and address their specific development needs. 

The collaboration between IIM Bodh Gaya and the Ministry of Panchayati Raj aligns with the institute's commitment to developing leadership and management capacity. The institute also provides leadership and management training to various departments of the Bihar government, such as the Water Resource Department, State Health Society, Bihar Police Academy, BIPARD, and the Department of Industries, among others.