|
Karakulam grama panchayat showcasing success story |
|
|
|
Written by nidheesh
|
|
Wednesday, 18 January 2006 |
KARAKULAM : The Karakulam grama panchayat in the eastern suburbs of the
capital city is set to come into the global spotlight later this month
when it showcases its achievements before a visiting team of students
and teachers from the University of Manchester.
The visit is part of the academic programme for students doing their
Master's programme in International Development. During their stopover,
the team will witness the pioneering efforts of the panchayat in
participatory development, empowerment of rural masses and promotion of
Information Technology. The highlight will be on the activities of the
Grameena Pathana Kendram (GPK) established as a rural resource centre
by the panchayat in 1998 under the People's Plan campaign for the Ninth
Plan.
The Integrated Information Technology Centre (IITC) is one of the major
activities of the GPK. Set up as a rural IT hub in collaboration with
the National Institute of Design (NID) and the Centre for Development
of Imaging Technology (C-DIT), the IITC conducts job-oriented training
programmes designed for various operations.
"In 1998, when we hit upon the idea of training students for the
burgeoning IT job market, we did not anticipate such a runaway success.
Today, our students are preferred by Government and private agencies
for various computer application jobs," says V. Sreekantan,
coordinator, GPK.
The one-year animation course jointly conducted by the IITC and C-DIT
has won acclaim among the big names in the industry. The centre made it
to the headlines in 2004 when `Shadow of Light,' a short film made by
students undergoing the animation course, bagged the Portugese `Avanca'
award.
Another major activity of the Kendram is the Participatory Resource
Research and Training Centre (PARC). The mission is designed to support
local government institutions in resource management, developmental
planning and protection of the environment.
Kalagramam, a cultural forum to promote folk arts and indigenous
cultural forms and Suhruth Sangham, its extension wing, together
constitute the third major activity of the GPK. The sangham conducts
training courses for children. Monthly performances by noted artistes,
demonstration lectures and interactive sessions are held regularly.
Blood donation and free legal aid camps are also organised.
The fourth component under the GPK umbrella is the Grameena Vikasana
Samithi, which coordinates self-help groups in the panchayat and links
them to banking and financial institutions.
The Kendram has tied up with the State Land Use Board for a project to
prepare panchayat-level resource maps for various districts. "The
participatory programme enlists the support of the local people to map
the land use, water resources and soil capability in each panchayat.
The project is currently under way in Kozhikode and Kasaragode
districts and the Kilimanoor block in Thiruvananthapuram," Mr.
Sreekantan says.
The GPK has also taken up a project to streamline the functioning of
institutions transferred to local bodies from the Government as part of
the decentralised programme. Titled Responsive Administration - A
Management Development Mechanism (RAMDeM), it involves the development
of a supporting system to improve service delivery.
Another ongoing project named Basic Education-Academic, Administrative
and Management Aspects (BEAAM) focusses on improving the management and
academic standards of schools under local self- government
institutions.
http://www.hindu.com/2006/01/18/stories/2006011804070400.htm
|
Friday, 22 August 2008
