IRMA to sign MoU with Panchayati Raj ministry

Anand-based Institute of Rural Management (IRMA) will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) soon with the Union Ministry for Panchayati Raj to work as an independent body to monitor the implementation of ministry's projects for strengthening grassroots organisation and for implementing self-governance.

Union Minister for Panchayati Raj Mani Shankar Aiyar was here to discuss the clauses of the memorandum.

A core group comprising of the ministry members and IRMA's senior officials had met here but the officials refused to divulge the details of the discussion.

According to sources, there will be a central monitoring committee at the ministry level comprising of six members "" the minister, secretary, additional secretary and joint secretary from the ministry and Y K Alagh and Vivek Bhandari from IRMA.

In November 2006, the ministry had prepared a report 'The State of Panchayats Reports: A Mid-term Appraisal' that was well received by the various-level governing bodies.

In future, the ministry hopes to prepare similar reports with the help of IRMA officials. The report will analyse the ways in which the ministry has implemented its policies at the national and regional level.

Speaking on the occasion, the minister said the government wants to take advantage of IRMA's specialised knowledge in grassroots projects.

"The government has earmarked funds of Rs 81,000 crore for the grassroots development and for strengthening agencies at the grassroots. Along with the Big industrial growth, we have to create the second Green Revolution to support our accelerated growth. In this cause, the expertise of this institute can surely help the governing bodies," he said.