How NIRDPR aims to build ‘change agents’ of tomorrow with its new courses in rural development

National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj is committed to bringing a rural change with its Post Graduate Diploma Programme in Rural Development Management (PGDRDM) and Postgraduate Diploma in Management, Rural Management (PGDM-RM) programmes. The curriculum is specially designed to develop a committed and competent cadre of Rural Development Management professionals in the country. 

The two-year programme, spread over six trimesters, consists of classroom teaching and interactive learning, field visits; and organisational internships. This will equip students with skills to efficiently implement projects and provide them with core development and management insights and impart analytical skills for planning and managing rural development programmes. The one year programme (PGDRDM) is spread over three trimesters.

The first year of the programme consists of 18 credit courses and 2 non-credit courses adding up to 72 credits. The second year of the programme consists of 54 credits. The last date to apply for the programme is April 10, 2020.

The graduates of the programme secure jobs Corporate sector on CSR initiatives, State Livelihood Rural Missions (SLRMs) and NIRDPR (across thematic projects). Some of the top recruiters for this course over the years include ICICI Foundation, IKYA – Global, Tata Trust, HCL Foundation, NRLM (National Mission Monitoring Unit), RUrban Mission - Ministry of Rural Development, National Fisheries Development Board, Rural Livelihood Mission in various states, among others. Some of the students of previous batches are also working in UN organizations like UNDP, UNICEF, UN-Women etc.  Some of them are also working in reputed international consulting firms like PWC – INDIA and Ernst and young, among others.

On completion of the programme, the students will have developed expertise in the planning and management of rural development programmes with a focus on participatory development and innovation, they will be competent in reorienting the development delivery systems for improved delivery of services, have sensitivity to the issues of equity and gender, appreciate the rights and entitlements of the rural poor and the socially disadvantaged groups,  have the right attitudes and values necessary for rural development professionals. They will also have positive thinking and leadership qualities along with an understanding of the processes of skill-building, productivity, quality and value addition, an ability to build rural organisations and develop human resources amongst the rural poor, a heightened interest in inter-sectoral coordination and collaboration, and forge public-public and public-private partnerships and networks. They will also have the skill sets to better implement Rural Development Programmes of Government, NGOs and the CSR initiatives of the corporate sector.

Dr WR Reddy, Director General, NIRDPR, said, “We are proud of the batches of graduating students from the PGDRDM programme who are a living testimony of the mandate we strive to fulfil – to develop a cadre of committed, competent and passionate rural development professionals. The placement and feedback from employers are heartening. The recruiters are particularly appreciative of our students’ ability to work at the grass-roots level, with empathy and commitment, their readiness to live with the community and understand their problems.”

The aim of the interactive sessions is to drive exposure to attitudes, skills and knowledge relevant to rural society and rural development. Field visits are intended to help students develop an understanding of the rural society, its people and dynamics of interaction, and more by way of intensive field work. Students also get to visit grassroots organisations during their various assignments. Further, the organisational internships will help students gain skills in managing organisations and enterprises and 'hands-on’ experience and learning.