Shamator Holds Governance Training for Village Leaders

Kohima: Shamator hosted a block-level training session this week at the Community Management Training Centre. The program, organized under the Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan, focused on sharpening the institutional capacity of village-level functionaries. Block Development Officer Penwang Konyak opened the event, detailing how the training works to solidify village-level institutions.

EAC Mekato J Aye told the attendees that rural communities face changing demands. He urged village councils to embrace proactive planning that accounts for long-term goals and local resources. "The aspirations and developmental needs of rural communities were evolving, requiring village-level institutions to adopt a more proactive approach towards identifying emerging needs and planning sustainable, community-driven and future-oriented initiatives," Aye said.

The sessions clarified the specific roles of Village Councils and Village Development Boards. Officials pushed for greater transparency and better coordination between these groups. Participants studied the Nagaland Village Council Act and the VDB Model Rules to understand their legal mandates. The curriculum also covered the People’s Plan Campaign, the Gram Panchayat Development Plan, and the Panchayat Advancement Index. Trainers walked the group through the Panchayat Nirnay App and strategies for increasing Own Source Revenue to keep villages functional and well-funded.