Indian Institute of Management Ranchi (IIM Ranchi) has commenced a five-day residential training session on Friday, October 10, 2025, under the guidance of the Directorate of Panchayati Raj. The session includes 46 block heads and deputy heads from 11 districts of the state, who are being trained under the National Gram Swaraj Abhiyan. The training session was chaired by Director, IIM Ranchi Prof. Deepak Shrivastava. He briefed the participants on the role of Mukhiyas in rural areas and the principles of leadership, emphasizing the need for a global perspective among village leaders for rural development. He highlighted the importance of thinking and decision-making in the current context to determine the direction of development. He stated that tribal areas have the highest potential for self-employment, which can be elevated to a global platform through experience-based knowledge. Prof. Deepak also acquainted the village heads with the challenges and opportunities of the changing times, urging them to promote multifaceted and employment-oriented education, technology, and innovation in their respective areas.

Programme Director Prof. Shweta Jha warmly welcomed the Block Heads and outlined the key features of the five-day residential training programme. She highlighted that the training includes sessions on leadership development, digital technologies for governance, behavioural sciences, health and cleanliness, village development planning, teamwork, and budgeting for rural initiatives.

Prof. Jha emphasized that these sessions aim to build the participants’ capacity to lead effectively, plan efficiently, and implement sustainable development strategies at the grassroots level. She also stressed the importance of fostering harmony and cooperation through practical social examples, encouraging participants to learn from each other’s experiences.

The session was attended by Dean of Executive Education & Consulting (EEC) Prof. Amit Sachan, Chairperson-SDP (Short Duration Programme) Prof. Manish Bansal, along with Co-Programme Directors Prof. Satyam and Prof. Rajeev Ranjan Kumar.

During the five-day training session, block heads and deputy heads will be educated on key topics, including resolving local issues with limited resources, developing employment through collective efforts at the panchayat level, using digital technology as an information system and problem-solving tool, formulating village development plans and strategies, utilizing government buildings, schools, water sources, and other resources in a multidimensional manner, promoting health, nutrition, and sanitation in rural areas, disseminating government schemes to marginalized groups, providing technology-based solutions to rural problems, ensuring farmers' organizations have access to proper markets, effectively utilizing government budgets available at the village or panchayat level, implementing government projects efficiently, mastering effective communication techniques, and understanding the responsibilities of village heads as leaders. The valedictory session of the programme will conclude on October 14, 2025.