Answers:

The crucial issue of capacity building in urban and rural local bodies remains a largely neglected area in decentralised self-governance. Beyond short term ‘training’ of personnel and elected elements of these bodies, little has so far been contemplated, and even in this sphere there has been limited initiative and fitful progress. As a result, there is capacity deficit within the Panchayat and Municipal Institutions.

Capacity building is much more than training, and has other major components, namely:

1. Individual development

2. Organisational development

3. Development of institutional and legal framework

4. Adequate staffing

5. Capacity building of women

Individual development involves the development of human resources including enhancement of an individual’s knowledge, skills and access to information which enables them to improve their performance and that of their organisation.

Organisational development on the other hand is about enabling an organisation to respond to two major challenges that it has to confront:

♤ External adaptation and survival

♤ Internal integration.

o External adaptation and survival has to do with how the organisation copes with its constantly changing external environment.

o Internal integration is about establishing harmonious and effective working relationships in the organisation.

Development of institutional and legal framework enables the organisations to enhance their capacity to pursue their objective and goals by making the necessary legal and regulatory changes.

Adequate staffing of local bodies is a matter that requires considerable attention of the State Finance Commissions in active association with the State Governments in order to endow these bodies with greater capacities.

There is also a need to give special attention to capacity building of women panchayat leaders and members so that they are truly equipped to carry out their envisaged role in the third tier of government.

With the responsibilities of rural and urban local government institutions expanding and with their role and reach poised for further enlargement in the foreseeable future, there is a clear need to bring about a ‘networking’ of the existing training institutions in various subjects like financial management, rural development, disaster management and general management to formulate compendia of training methodology and training modules to build institutional and individual capacities.