Shillong: The Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Centre for Policy Research & Analysis at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Shillong today inaugurated two five-day Management Development Programmes (MDPs) on Grassroot Governance for the Department of Rural Development, Government of Mizoram, and Public Policy & Process Re-engineering for State Government Officials of Nagaland.
The inaugural session was graced by Som Kamei, Planning Adviser, North Eastern Council (NEC), as the Chief Guest. In his address, Kamei underscored the catalytic role of the North Eastern Council in promoting planned, coordinated, and sustainable development in the region, particularly through capacity building, institutional strengthening, and knowledge partnerships. Emphasising the evolving nature of public administration, he highlighted the need for outcome-oriented governance, data-driven and evidence-based decision-making, and citizen-centric service delivery as essential pillars for building public trust in government systems. He encouraged the participants to act as change leaders capable of translating policy into measurable developmental outcomes.
The programme was attended by Kupeusing Meru, ARC, Nagaland House, Shillong, and John Lalnunsanga, State Programme Manager, RGSA, Department of Local Administration, Rural Development & Administration, Government of Mizoram, as Guests of Honour. Both dignitaries appreciated the initiative of IIM Shillong in designing contextually relevant training programmes that strengthen administrative efficiency, participatory governance, and grassroots development.
In her inaugural address, Prof. Nalini Prava Tripathy, Director (I/c), IIM Shillong, highlighted the importance of continuous capacity building and a deeper understanding of policy, governance, and leadership for enhancing the effectiveness of public institutions and ensuring that development initiatives translate into tangible benefits for citizens. She reaffirmed the Institute’s commitment to supporting the developmental priorities of the North Eastern Region through such collaborative programmes.
Earlier, Sanjeev Ningombam set the tone for the programme by outlining the objectives and thematic focus of the two MDPs. He emphasised that the initiatives are designed to strengthen competencies in grassroot planning, public policy design and implementation, process re-engineering, digital governance, and data-driven decision-making, with a clear focus on outcome-oriented administration, transparency, accountability, and citizen-centric governance.
The programmes bring together elected representatives, senior officials, and field-level functionaries from Mizoram and Nagaland, providing a unique platform for cross-learning, experience sharing, and collaborative engagement aimed at strengthening governance systems across the North Eastern Region.
