Child Labour

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Presentation on the Status of ETCs
By National Institute of Rural Development
27th November 2008
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• The Genesis
• The Extension Training Centres (ETCs) were
  established during the community development era
  during 50s and 60s, whose basic function was to
  train Extension Officers (EOs) and Village Level
  Workers (VLWs)
• As against 90 ETCs presently covered under
  central scheme, half of them (around 45 to 50)
  are of 4 to 5 decades old.
• Right from 7th Plan, MoRD extending funding
  support to the ETCs both Recurring and
  Non-Recurring - under the scheme of
  Strengthening and establishment of ETCs and is
  trying to help their function for effective
  conduct of the training programmes.
• With the increasing emphasis on rural
  development, as an instrument for social
  transformation in rural areas and also
  considerable rise in the budgetary support, there
  is a dire need for capacity building of
  Functionaries (both officials and non-officials)
  at village and block levels and ETCs are ought to
  take care of these training requirements.

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The Spatial Spread
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• Why is this Study Needed?
• The ETCs are sub-State level training
  institutions - meant for training of RD PR
  functionaries, including elected representatives
  of PRIs. However, it is perceived by the
  authorities that the ETCs are either non-exist or
  not functioning properly, especially in the
  context of imparting training to RD PR
  functionaries.
• In the above backdrop, at the instance of the
  MoRD, NIRD taken up the study of evaluation of
  functioning of ETCs and to get feedback in right
  earnest on the present structure and functioning
  of ETCs.

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• Objectives of the Study
• Study the organisational structure and
  relationship between SIRDs and ETCs
• Evaluate ETCs performance in terms of their
  training and other related activities
• Assess the existing status of faculty and
  training infrastructure of ETCs
• Study the adequacy or the gap in training
  infrastructure needed vis-à-vis the training
  load and
• Suggest the mechanisms for developing effective
  networking and partnership between SIRDs and ETCs.

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• Methodology of the Study
• After reviewing the available data at desk level,
  a comprehensive Data Capture Format (DCF) was
  worked out. This was pre-tested by administering
  in two nearby ETCs.
• Canvassed the questionnaire using conventional
  (by post) as well as modern methods such as
  e-mail etc.,
• Organise regional workshops to interact with the
  training managers (qualitative information) of
  these institutions regarding the status and
  reflections on the functioning of these ETCs.

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• No Common Structure and nomenclature
• At the outset it is interesting to note that in
  some States the ETCs are named as Panchyati Raj
  Training Centres (PRTCs), Regional Institutes of
  Rural Development (RIRDs), District Training
  Institutes (DTIs), Regional Rural Development
  Training Centers (RRDTC) and Gram Sevak Training
  Centers (GTCs) etc.
• There is no common structure and functioning
  style among these ETCs.

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• Major Findings of the Study
• There is no common line of control among the ETCs
  -across the States. While in some States, the
  ETCs are having academic control with SIRDs, in
  some cases the ETCs are functioning under the
  administrative control of SIRDs. In some States,
  the ETCs are functioning under the control of the
  State Government without having any linkage with
  SIRDs. Hence, performance problems.
• It is heartening to note that ETCs which are
  having clear cut line of control and academic
  linkages with SIRDs are performing better. Ex-
  AP, Chattigarh, MP, UP and few NE states to
  mention few.

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Conti

• Majority of the ETCs are not well equipped in
  terms of faculty strength and modern Teaching
  Aids, which are crucial and facilitate for
  effective training delivery. Hence, it was
  observed that ETCs are not able to attract its
  clientele groups and organize the training
  optimally.
• Some of the ETCs have got large campus area with
  huge open land but the infrastructure is old with
  dilapidated buildings, training halls and hostel
  facilities. These require immediate repairs / new
  constructions as good infrastructure is essential
  for imparting training to RD PR functionaries
  effectively.

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• Conti.
• The status and rank of the Principals of the ETCs
  in majority of the States are found to be low,
  apart from meager administrative powers for
  superintendence and financial control. This is
  found to be badly affecting the training function
  of the ETCs and at times, trainees too tend to
  take undue advantage.
• The data indicates that the ETCs are not
  concentrating on the MoRD flagship programmes
  rather bogged down with general programmes (such
  as foundation courses for Jr. Assts/Typists,
  on the job training for clerks and head clerks
  etc,).

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• State Governments Apathy Towards Training
• Funds are not released on time and also budgetary
  support is found to be very meager.
• Some ETCs are surviving on the central grant only
  i.e Rs. 10 lakhs.
• Senior officials from the State government
  including the Director, SIRDs seldom visit ETCs
  regularly. But there are exceptions.

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• A Case of ETC in MP Silver lining
• Contrary to what has been portrayed earlier
• The ETC at Rampur Naikin in the district of
  Sidhi,
• Is not covered under existing central scheme of
  ETCs,
• Is doing good work in terms of more number of
  training programmes and coverage of clientele
  groups,
• Sustain itself on its resource base without
  budgetary support from the State as well of MoRD,
• ETC mopped up a reserve fund of Rs.60 lakhs,
  after meeting the cost of training and other
  recurring expenditure including salaries of
  faculty/staff, etc.
• The reason behind this achievement is attributed
  to the efforts of the Principal and faculty, who
  canvass with user departments and grab their
  demand of training from the respective Dy.
  Commissioner in charge of different districts in
  the State, and
• With the result, this centre is performing
  exceedingly well and got full of training
  activities whole of the year.

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• Suggestions
• There is need to adopt a common nomenclature for
  all ETCs and adoption of standard training
  curriculum and design for conduct of the
  programmes.
• There is a need to give adequate funding support
  to ETCs, on the lines similar to that of SIRDs.
  In the absence of MoRDs support, the growth
  rate of SIRDs would not have been at the present
  level, especially with low or meager funding
  support from State Governments for infrastructure
  development.
• While considering the demands of the ETCs towards
  non-recurring items such as physical
  infrastructure, teaching aids and office
  equipment/furniture etc., the principle of
  prioritization need to be adopted.

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• Conti
• It was found that some of the Principals of ETCs
  were recruited either on contract basis or the
  Core Faculty of SIRDs employed on ad-hoc basis.
  They were entrusted the additional responsibility
  of looking after the ETCs, which is affecting the
  training function.
• One of the strong recommendations emerged from
  interface with the Heads of ETCs was that, not
  only the strength and level of faculty be
  increased but also steps be taken for capacity
  building of trainers by way of conduct of TOTs at
  frequent intervals. For this purpose, the ETCs
  put forth a demand for consideration of MoRD for
  providing funding support on 100 basis for
  placement of at least 3 faculty members, on the
  similar funding pattern adopted by MoRD in case
  of SIRDs.

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Conti

• Since the quality of training depends upon
  adoption of the right type of training modules,
  it was represented by ETCs that they too need to
  be involved in the process of development of
  training modules as relevant to the different
  clientele groups.
• It was suggested by the ETCs that the respective
  SIRDs should involve ETCs by which the faculty
  get exposed to the new methods and methodologies
  of the training, which in turn improve the
  training delivery and quality.

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Conti

• ETCs are usually organising foundation, refresher
  and orientation courses. But the ETCs are
  supposed to orgnise more number of flagship
  programmes of MoRD viz. SGSY, NREGP, IAY,
  Watershed, etc., since larger portion of funding
  support being received by ETCs from MoRD.
• Agencies such as DRADs, Banks, State Departments
  and other development agencies should be urged to
  support the ETCs through sponsorship of the
  training programmes.
• This arrangement would help them to build a
  corpus as also to engage resource persons to
  augment the faculty strength, which ultimately
  increase the reach and coverage of training.

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Thank You
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