Mumbai: A two-day workshop on "Skills and Tools Required for Participatory Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) by Elected Representatives" was conducted on May 19 and 20 by PRAYOG, the Centre for Technology Alternatives for Rural Areas (CTARA) at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay.
Led by Professor Bakul Rao and the PRAYOG team, the workshop focused on enhancing the planning capabilities of grassroots leaders through hands-on training. Elected representatives from three villages in Kolhapur district—Devthane, Pimpale Tarf Thane, and Majgaon—took part in the initiative. The delegation included three sarpanches and members of the respective gram panchayats.
The primary objective was to raise awareness among local leaders about the importance of participatory planning in the Gram Panchayat Development Plan process. Participants engaged in interactive sessions covering a range of practical skills, including local resource assessment, the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), data management and visualisation, effective proposal writing and tendering.
The workshop also included an orientation on the constitutional framework—particularly Schedule 11 and Article 243G—defining the powers and responsibilities of gram panchayats.
The participants responded positively to the training, recognising the significance of the tools and approaches introduced. Many noted how these skills could better align village development initiatives with community-specific needs and priorities.
This initiative represents a vital step in strengthening local governance and fostering a more participatory and effective planning culture at the grassroots level.
