Diploma in Panchayat Management

Panchayatraj institution in India has the history of more than 2000 years. From Vedic period Sabha/Samithi systems to Cholas ‘Kudavolai’ system of village governance it has great significance in village administration and maintenance. It is Vijayanagar kingdom, which disturbed such local self-sufficient system by introducing ‘Maniyam system’ in village governance. This has led to centralization of power. Then, slowly our traditional knowledge in village governance started to deteriorate. IN the initial phase of English government, some initiations were taken on revitalizing the local self-governance system. But, it doesn’t allowed common people to participate. Only persons from creamy layer are involved in decision-making. From the pre independence period itself, Mr. M N. Roy and Gandhi insisted the importance of local self-government. But after independence, the concept of Panchayat Raj Institution (PRI) was given very less importance. After a long struggle in 1992, the local self-government was constitutionally approved by 73rd Amendment. It provided a concrete status at constructional level for local self-government Panchayat. But till now the grass toot democracy and participatory government system remains as a dream. Now 119399 people representatives are elected with comprises of women and SC/ST representations. Apart from that other people representatives like MLA’s and MP’s also representing the community. Panchayat have till now, failed to emerge as third stratum of government up to the expected level. The present Panchayat system has facing a series of problems, which keeps the grassroots governance in the vicious circle. The predominant issues are,

People representatives are lack of knowledge on their roles and responsibilities accordingly TamilNadu Panchayay act.
The managerial capacity is poor for elected representatives.
Other mediators are extracting the local resources from poor knowledge headed panchayats.
Poor participation in gram sabha and other people’s forum
Shortage of funds at village panchayat level.
Lack on time guidance for better performance of panchayat with self reliance.
Qualified leaders are not in the mainstream institutions.

Existence of above said, issues and limitation in the Panchayat system, seeks external intervention to create model and ensuring direct democracy. Being DHAN has strong belief that better governance will influence effective poverty reduction; it has initiated Diploma programme on Panchayat raj namely Diploma in Panchayat management (DPM) in the mode of distance education programme for one year. This course started from 2004

Objectives of the course

Give basic understanding about panchayat raj institutions.
Make aware the people & people representatives on basic panchayat acts which was used their day to day life.
Different development schemes through panchayat raj institutions.
Roles and responsibilities of elected representative in local administration.
Promote volunteer to assist for well performing of panchayats in grassroots level.