The first consultative meeting on VLF capacity building was held at ATI Kohima, focusing on improving the dissemination and implementation of government schemes and services at the village level.
DIMAPUR — The first consultative meeting on capacity building of Village Level Functionaries (VLFs) was held on August 28 at the Administrative Training Institute (ATI), Kohima, with participants discussing ways to improve the dissemination and implementation of government schemes and services at the village level.
The programme brought together nearly 50 representatives, including village council chairmen, Village Development Board (VDB) secretaries and representatives of other village-level authorities from seven districts—Tuensang, Peren, Phek, Wokha, Tseminyu, Chümoukedima and Kohima, the ATI stated in a press release.
Addressing the inaugural programme, V Shashank Shekhar, Additional Chief Secretary and Director General, ATI, said government schemes and programmes are introduced for the benefit and welfare of the people.
He highlighted the important role of VLFs in ensuring that such schemes and programmes reach their intended beneficiaries, particularly as a significant proportion of Nagaland’s population resides in villages.
Shekhar also emphasised the role of village-level functionaries in disseminating information and facilitating coordination between the government and villagers.
He noted that villages also play an important role in sustaining and strengthening the State’s traditions and culture.
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The Director General encouraged participants to actively contribute suggestions and make effective use of the feedback and discussion sessions to identify practical challenges and improve the delivery of government programmes at the village level.
Representatives from various government departments made presentations on schemes and programmes implemented by their respective departments.
Participants raised queries and shared feedback during panel discussions, particularly on issues concerning the dissemination and implementation of government schemes and services at the village level.
Officials from several departments participated as resource persons, including Home, Commissioner’s Office, Personnel & Administrative Reforms, Census, Election, Police, Social Welfare, Women Resource Development, Finance, Treasuries, Education, Health & Family Welfare, Power, PHED, PWD, Water Resources, Planning & Transformation, Soil & Water Conservation, Rural Development, Agriculture, Horticulture, Fisheries, Land Resources, and Environment, Forests & Climate Change.
The inaugural session was chaired by Asalie Lese, Deputy Secretary, P&AR Department. Bendanglila, Additional Director, ATI, presented an overview of the VLF capacity-building training programme, while Dr. Hovithal Sothu, Deputy Director, ATI, conducted sessions, including one on transparency and ethics.
The release stated that the discussions and interactions were found useful by all stakeholders.