Leadership and Management Development Program for Officers of the Panchayat Raj & Rural Development Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh
Visakhapatnam, 1st December 2025: IIM Visakhapatnam inaugurated Leadership and Management Development Training Program for officers of the Department of Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, Government of Andhra Pradesh under the aegis of the Andhra Pradesh State Institute of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (APSIRDPR). The initiative marks the beginning of an extensive capacity building effort that will train five hundred officials across ten cohorts.
The current and first cohort comprises around fifty Gazetted Officers drawn from mandal level, division level and district level administrations. The program aims to strengthen leadership capabilities and supports the State action plan under the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan.
The inaugural event was graced by Shri Shashi Bhushan Garu, Principal Secretary, PR and RD, Shri Mutyalaraju Revu Garu, Commissioner of APSIRDPR, Shri V R Krishna Teja Mylavarapu Garu, Commissioner of Panchayat Raj, Shri M. Sudhakar Rao Garu, Additional Commissioner (PR) Government of Andhra Pradesh, and Prof M Chandrasekhar, Director of IIM Visakhapatnam.
Welcoming the participants, Prof Vijaya Marisetty, Program Director, stated that APSIRDPR serves as a vital bridge between policy and people, between schemes and outcomes and between departments and delivery systems. He explained that the initiative focuses on strengthening strategic thinking, especially in the areas of resource management, time management, digital processes, financial acumen and ethical decision making. He encouraged participants to translate the learning from the program into their local administrative contexts.
Prof M Chandrasekhar, Director of IIM Visakhapatnam, expressed gratitude to the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu Garu, and the Hon'ble Deputy Chief Minister, Shri Pawan Kalyan Garu, for entrusting the institute with this important responsibility. He noted that IIM Visakhapatnam continues to remain progressive, purposeful and promising in its approach to public sector leadership development. He reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to cultivating entrepreneurial thinking and highlighted that IIM Visakhapatnam, as a knowledge partner to the Government of Andhra Pradesh in policy and practice, maintains a strong local focus along with a whole of nation perspective.
In their remarks, Shri Mutyalaraju Revu Garu and Shri V R Krishna Teja Mylavarapu Garu observed that the diverse mix of participants provides valuable opportunities for collaborative learning and meaningful engagement across different administrative levels. They urged officers to make the best use of the program.
In his inaugural address, Shri Shashi Bhushan Garu described the program as an important opportunity to enter the gates of IIM Visakhapatnam. He spoke about the crucial role of local bodies as the face of democracy and their responsibility in service delivery, including MGNREGA, rural roads and water supply, all of which have a direct impact on the lives and livelihoods of rural communities. He explained that the training goes beyond scheme guidelines and implementation processes and covers essential aspects such as effective involvement, leadership and innovation. He commended IIMV’s commitment in taking such an initiative to train five hundred people by March 2026.
The vote of thanks was delivered by Program Director, Prof Kalyan Kolukuluri, who recalled the words of the Father of the Nation that the soul of India lives in its villages. He emphasized the importance of rural governance for national development and economic growth. He thanked all stakeholders for their contribution to the successful commencement of the program.
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