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 attended during 2004-06 up to Feb 2006 are placed at Table : 1 & 2.

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’.  The details of list of Research Studies during 2005-06 are placed at Table : 3.

Consultancy

                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

                The 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 1,02,661 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.

            TABLE : 1    Training Programmes  of NIRD
 

                TABLE : 2   Profile of the Participants attended at NIRD 

                 TABLE : 3       List of Research Studies taken up during2005-06

Training Programmes (2006-2007)

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