Itanagar, Jun 20: The Quality Council of India, in collaboration with the State Institute for Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, collaboratively organised a one-day program titled, ‘Gunvatta Gram Awards cum Training on Documentation of Best Practices of Gram Panchayats’ for Best Gram Panchayat Chairpersons (GPCs) of Arunachal Pradesh at Itanagar today. This collaborative effort was aimed at empowering and equiping local government leaders in instilling the necessary skills required by GPCs for documentation of the panchayat’s work as a prerequisite for improving public service delivery by the GP. 
The event witnessed participation of over 45 nominated GPCs from over 16 districts across the state. 
Secretary (RD&PR) Dr. Sonal Swaroop, in her inaugural address, congratulated the nominated GPCs on obtaining the Gunvatta Gram Awards, and emphasised the importance of the equipping the GPCs with knowledge on Public Relations and Digital Advancement. She further elucidated that effective Information and Communication for GPCs play a crucial role in ensuring accountability and transparency. She also expressed her delight in the participation of GPCs from over 50% of the state  and of many women GPCs at the program. 
Director (SIRD&PR), Habung Lampung welcomed the GPCs from across the state and also thanked the QCI and Dr. Likha Kiran, Deputy Director & Senior Faculty, SIRD&PR, for organising this award &training program for GPCs of the state.
The QCI team presented the Sarpanch Samvaad mobile application, a pioneering initiative aimed at building a community and network of 2.5 lakh sarpanchs to share best practices, obtain certificates through e-learning courses and also get their queries addressed through the mobile app and through its online program such as  Samvaad se Samadhaan. 
The Key Resource Person and Guest Speaker from Quality Council of India were Suresh Chhanga, former sarpanch of Kunariya Gram Panchyat, Bhuj District, Gujarat and Anil Rai, sarpanch of Barfung Jarrong Gram Panchayat, Namchi District, Sikkim.
Chhanga provided a detailed overview of strategic communication, media relations and maintaining digital presence on social media and through websites or blogs for GPs, including creating logos and signages to promote the values that a GP stands for. He also emphasised the role of women-led GPCs and how conducting Mahila Sabhas, Bal Sabhas promotes participatory rural governance. More importantly, he emphasised the role of documenting each and every activity of the GP, beginnning with an annual calendar for planning all mandatory, voluntary and low-cost no-cost activities within the panchayats. He demonstrated his booklet, provided examples of presentation of the GP’s work in issuance of job cards, improving the status of health, his activity on social media and maintenance of multiple registers. 
The role of egraamswaraj was discussed in ensuring transparency and accountability through planning, progress tracking, reporting and maintenance of records as a mandate of the governement. Additionally, the participants were taught how to use Google Meet, a platform where persons can interact in real time and conduct meetings or attend webinars. One of the webinars is that of QCI through the Sarpanch Samvaad initiative. 
Anil Rai shared the best practices adopted in his GP to encourage and inspire the GPCs and explain how having having open communication and samvaad with the public carries the true spirit of jan-pratinidhi. The annual calendar for the GP’s activities was presented along with a presentation of the GP booklet. In the presentation, several good practices were presented such as citizens posting images and videos their presence during gram sabha, OSR activities undertaken such as organic coffee, pickles, wine, avocado, footwear etc., promotion of girl child through annual monetary benefits and pre-womb care for pregnant women along with the awards received by the GP. 
He emphasised that GPCs must not only do good work but also showcase them on various platforms. The interactive and insightful session was concluded with the presentation of the Gunvatta Gram Awards provided to the GPCs nominated by their respective Districts.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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