Convergence planning workshop underway

BOLENG, Nov 07: The State Institute of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (SIRD & PR) began a three-day block-level orientation training and workshop on comprehensive convergence planning (GPDP) in the adopted village of Rottung in Siang district, on Thursday.

The programme aims to empower local governance, strengthen rural development planning, and encourage participatory decision-making at the village level.

The inaugural session saw active participation from representatives of key departments, local officials, and development experts.

Zilla Parishad member Topi Jerang opened the training, emphasizing the importance of community-led development.

"For any development to be sustainable, it must reflect the needs and aspirations of the local people," she remarked.

PDO Jacob Tabing highlighted the significance of aligning government schemes through convergence to maximize their impact.

“To optimize resources and drive lasting change, different government programs must work collaboratively toward shared goals. Convergence is essential for realizing the potential of rural development initiatives,” he said.

Circle Officer Niyang Pertin spoke on the importance of villagers’ active participation in the planning process, stressing that community involvement ensures that development plans are relevant, inclusive, and effective.

SIRD & PR assistant director and course coordinator S W Bagang provided technical guidance on GPDP formulation, discussing the use of PRA tools, GIS-based planning, and data from various departments for comprehensive planning.

Sujit Kundu, a consultant from NIRD&PR, expanded on the Localization of Sustainable Development Goals (LSDG), detailing its role in the planning process.

Over the next two days, field visits to the village will enable participants to engage in participatory rural appraisal (PRA) activities with villagers to gather data and identify community priorities. These sessions will lead to data compilation, GIS mapping, and the creation of a comprehensive village perspective plan.

Supported by NIRD&PR, which provides technical expertise, this initiative by SIRD & PR aims to reinforce local institutions and ensure that rural development plans are data-informed and shaped by the needs and aspirations of the local population.

At Yingkiong: A similar workshop on universalization of Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) and Community-Based Organization (CBO) convergence was also held at the deputy commissioner’s conference hall here in Upper Siang district on Tuesday.

The event, organized by the District Mission Management Unit, Pangin Cluster of the Arunachal State Rural Livelihood Mission (ArSLM), was supported by the Kerala State Poverty Eradication Mission, Kudumbashree-National Resource Organization, and the Upper Siang district administration.

Upper Siang deputy commissioner Talo Jerang, in his keynote address, underscored the mission and objectives of ArSLM, noting its role as the nodal agency implementing the National Rural Livelihood Mission and Aajeevika schemes in the state. He highlighted the program’s focus on empowering women at the grassroots level, promoting their social, economic, and financial independence.

Jerang informed the gathering that 397 Self-Help Groups (SHGs) are currently registered in Upper Siang District, with certificates awarded to 13 "Lakhpati Didis" (women achievers).

He encouraged further efforts to increase these numbers through the PRI-CBO convergence initiative. The deputy commissioner urged heads of departments (HoDs) to extend support to ArSLM and emphasized that collaboration between line departments, PRIs, and CBOs would foster a comprehensive development approach.

A mentor from Kudumbashree-National Resource Organization shared her experiences with the PRI-CBO Convergence project in Arunachal Pradesh. Additionally, Onam Naya, DTC, SISD, ArSLM, provided a presentation introducing the PRI-CBO Convergence project. The workshop included discussions on the annual action plan of line departments and platforms to facilitate convergence at the block and district levels.

The workshop saw participation from HoDs of various line departments, administrative officers, district and block mission managers, business correspondents, and cluster coordinators of ArSLM Upper Siang.