4. Norms for discharge of functions
Training
Training is a major
activity of the Institute. It has a wide range of expertise and excellent
infrastructure to train senior officers and executives in policy formulation, management
and implementation of rural development programmes. The training programmes
are intended to create knowledge base, develop skills and understanding of the various
dimensions of rural transformation. Over 200 programmes are offered every
year and more than 5000 trainees pass through its portals annually. Besides, the
Institute conducts several international training programmes to share with the Afro-Asian
and Latin-American countries the rich Indian experience in managing rural development.
Details of number of programmes and participants available in the Annual Report of 2011-12.
Research and Action Research
The Institute undertakes empirical studies on identified themes viz., Rural Change,
Socio-Economic and Human Development, Decentralisation, Rural Technology and Environmental
Concerns, to assess the impact of rural development schemes, identify new areas
for policy interventions and determine training needs.
Another important activity is Action Research which is location – specific in nature
and scope where an assumed model/theme is given a fair trial. The Institute
is currently implementing an Action Research Project on (i) ‘Restoration of Land
to the Allottees of Ceiling Surplus and Government land and their Development’ (ii)
‘Synergizing Institutional Services for Enhancing People’s Participation’ and (iii)
‘Capacity Building and Networking of Institutions for Social transformation’.
Consultancyy
Consultancy assignments
are taken up by the Institute on behalf of the national organisations such as state
governments, public sector undertakings and premier International organisations,
namely UNDP, FAO, UNICEF, UNESCO, WHO, ILO, World Bank, ESCAP, CIRDAP and AARDO.
Information Dissemination
The Institute disseminates
the results of the research studies and recommendations of its various seminars
and workshops through a number of publications. It brings out a quarterly
Journal of Rural Development and a bi-monthly NIRD Newsletter in English and
Hindi. The Institute also publishes a bi-monthly publication ‘Grameen
Utsaah ‘ (Rural Initiatives) highlighting the good management practices in rural
development. With over 300 publications to date, NIRD is a leading publisher
of Rural Development literature in India. It’s “India Rural Development Report”
and “Panchayati Raj Report” have attracted a great deal of attention of academics
and policy planners.
Documentation
TThe Centre on Media
and Rural Documentation (CMRD) of the Institute acts as a referral and servicing
agency for the rural development sector as a whole. It has a well organised
and rich library with a collection of about 1,15,302 volumes and subscribes to over
200 journals. The total database consisting of over two lakh items is computerized
for expeditious retrieval. It has operationalised a project on Computerised
Library and Information Clearing House (CLIC) to systematically collect, document,
repackage and disseminate information on-line for easy access.
Computer Centre
The Institute has
a well equipped Computer Centre with Mini Computer system for in-house Management
Information System (MIS), Computerised Library documentation and data processing
of the research data. It has a computer lab with 25 state of the art systems
for DOS/Windows applications with a provision for Computer Based Instruction Tutors
(CBIT), a UNIX lab with mini computer system connected with 20 terminals for multi-user
application to NICNET and INTERNET for E-mail, World Wide Web browsing and file
transfers. It has also installed Local Area Network (LAN) connecting 240 nodes
spread across the Institute under structured cabling. The website of NIRD is http://www.nird.org.in.
Rural Technology
Park
Rural Technology
Park (RTP) has been set-up to spread awareness on current rural technologies and
promote sustainable rural development spread over 65 acres of land gifted by the
Andhra Pradesh Government.
RTP has established some production cum training units
of affordable and cost effective technologies for rural areas and offers training.
The solar power unit is managed by illiterate women who have become barefoot solar
engineers and execute turn key solar electrification project. The National
Rural Building Centre at RTP is another important component.
Geomatic Cell
Geomatic Cell was
established in the year 2003 to cater to the GIS, GPS and Satellite Remote Sensing
Applications at local level in rural areas. This cell offers custom designed
solutions on Natural Resource Management and Planning.
Link Institutes
The Government of
India with technical guidance of NIRD is assisting the State Governments to strengthen/establish
State Institutes of Rural Development (SIRDs) for research and training. These
institutions are to act as link institutes of NIRD at state level.
The Institute offers Trainer’s Training programmes for the faculty members, instructors
and coordinators of SIRDs and Extension Training Centres (ETCs). Several off-campus
programmes are conducted each year at various SIRDs by senior faculty from NIRD
to provide guidance in training and research activities specific to each state.
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