Gambia Civil Servants Commence Training at National Centre for Good Governance in Mussoorie

Mussoorie: Today marks the beginning of the 4th Mid-Career Training Programme for mid-level civil servants from Gambia, held at the National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG). Running from May 27 to June 7, the program hosts 30 senior officers from Gambia, including Deputy Permanent Secretaries, Deputy Director Generals, and National Coordinators. These participants represent a diverse range of ministries such as Lands, Regional Government and Religious Affairs, Transport, Finance, Economic Affairs, Gender, Children and Social Welfare, Higher Education, Justice, and Livestock Services.

The NCGG, an autonomous institution under India’s Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, focuses on action research, studies, and capacity building at both national and international levels. This program is part of NCGG’s mission to strengthen bilateral ties and foster international cooperation. The training offers a platform for policy dialogue and sharing best practices in project management and risk management across various sectors, aiming to enhance the participants’ skills in project planning, execution, institutional transformation, and public engagement.

V. Srinivas, Director General of NCGG and Secretary of the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, welcomed the Gambian officers in his inaugural address. He emphasized the transformative journey of Indian governance from 2014 to 2024, highlighting the shift towards transparency, efficiency, and effectiveness, largely driven by technological advancements. Quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Srinivas spoke about India’s strides in bridging the digital divide and improving rural governance as part of its vision for ‘Amrit Kaal.’ He detailed India’s adoption of the e-office system and the principle of “maximum governance, minimum government,” which has significantly enhanced public administration efficiency. Srinivas underscored the importance of digital literacy for both officials and citizens to streamline governance processes and outlined plans for empowering citizens in healthcare and regional development by 2047.

Dr. A.P. Singh, Associate Professor and Course Coordinator, provided an overview of NCGG’s framework and achievements. He detailed the specially designed program for the Gambian participants, which includes topics such as the structure of All India Services, digital public infrastructure, Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, land acquisition, Government e-Marketplace (GeM), poverty alleviation, and Aadhaar as a governance tool. Dr. Singh also mentioned the exposure visits planned for the participants, including trips to ITDA Dehradun, Forest Research Institute, Zero Energy Project, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya, Bureau of Police Research and Development, and the iconic Taj Mahal. These visits aim to provide practical insights and firsthand experience of innovative projects and India’s rich history and culture.

NCGG has previously trained nearly 150 senior civil servants from Gambia. In collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs, NCGG has imparted training to civil servants from 17 countries, including Bangladesh, Kenya, Tanzania, Tunisia, Seychelles, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Laos, Vietnam, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Cambodia. The current capacity-building program is supervised by Dr. A.P. Singh, Dr. M.K. Bhandari, Sanjay Dutt Pant, and Monisha Bahuguna.