Curriculum for Rural Development& Grassroots Governance

1. Curriculum for Rural Development& Grassroots Governance Ashwani Kumar(TISS, Mumbai)& Member, CEGC(MoRD)

2. Objectives of the Course • To create interdisciplinary approach in the study of processes of rural development and Panchyati Raj institutions for students and practitioners in RD. • To study rural development administration and governance • To empower rural masses through participatory learning and social mobilization. • To familiarize practitioners of RD with processes and outcomes of rural development programs. • To observe and experience actual rural development through field visits and participatory rural appraisal methods.

3. Pedagogy for the Course • Praxis and Organic Knowledge; Bridging the gap between theory and practice. • Learning through Reason, Reciprocity and Reflection(RRR) in a participatory mode. • Individual excellence, community empowerment and citizen centric knowledge. • Focus on social justice and voice of poor. • Oral, Visual, Folk, ICT based online mode of learning

4. Course Module: I Title:Meaning, Scope and Approaches to Rural Development Content: • Meaning, Scope and Approaches to Rural Development • Rural Social Structure & Political Economy • Natural Resource Management and Livelihood • Agrarian Relations, Agriculture and Rural Development • Rural Poverty, Unemployment& Livelihood Challenges • Disaster Management in Rural Development(Floods, droughts, epidemic, earthquakes etc)

5. Course Module: II Title: Administration of Rural Development& Panchyati Raj Institutions in Rural India Content: • Rural Development Administration in India • Design and evolution of Panchayati Raj Institutions • Gram Sabha & Empowerment of rural masses • Provision of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Area) Act • Rural Development through voluntary Action

6. Course Module: III Title; Rural Development Policies and Programs Content: • Rural Development Programmes&: Alleviation of rural poverty • Natural Resource Management Programs for rural development • Rural Development programs and Social Capital • Infrastructure Development programs in rural India • Technology & Innovation in Rural India:

7. Course Module: IV Title:Practicum for Program Management & Action Research Practices Objective: This module is a faculty(NIRD/SIRD) supervised activity for officials and practitioners from NGOs. The module exposes RD practitioners to complexities and challenges in the implementation of rural development programs. Content: A structured time-bound field-based intense engagement with rural reality/action in core areas of program management & action research practices in rural development.

8. Core Areas for Rural Practicum • Natural resources management & Agricultural practices • Planning, budgeting& procurement • Financial management operations & Office Management Practices; scheduling, monitoring,drafting, file management, record management etc. • Leadership development, management of conflict and communication • Learning in governance practices for RD programs( such as MGNREGA, NRLM etc.) • Management Information System(MIS) • Rural Marketing and Infrastructure

9. Management and Administration of Gram Panchayats. • Social mobilization of stakeholders , institutions of rural poor , dalit and gender empowerment. • Accountability& Transparency; Monitoring, RTI, Grievance Redressal, Social Audit, Citizen's Charter, Helplines etc. • Tools of impact assessment such as Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), Social Impact Assessment/Sustainability Impact Assessment(SIA)etc. • Innovations in technologies for Rural India.