Training Programmes

•	During the month, 12 training programmes were conducted with a participation of 257 (Average 21.4), which included a customized programme on Micro Finance and Micro Enterprises for volunteers of Gujarat Ambuja Foundation and a training programme cum exposure visit to Israel on hi-tech agriculture, agro processing, cooperative farming and innovative irrigation solutions. With this, the total number of In-campus programmes conducted during the period 01 April 2007 to 30 November 2007 stood at 117 with a participation of 2668 (Average 22.80) as against participation of 2934 in 120 programmes (Average 24.45) during April – November 2006.
New Programme
•	A new programme on Management and Troubleshooting of Computer Resources for IT officials of Banks was conducted during the month. This programme was introduced on the basis of TNA study of two RRBs conducted earlier during the year.
On-location Programmes
•	During the month, 3 on-location programmes were conducted namely Programme on Rural Tourism at Kewzing, Sikkim, Programme on Cluster Development at Ranchi and Refresher course on MDP for the officials of Balasore Bhadrak DCCB. The Refresher course on MDP was conducted at the bank’s request as a follow-up of the customized MDP conducted in December 2006.
Consultancy Assignments
•	MoRD, GOI has given a consultancy assignment to us to study the ‘Coverage of SC/ST under SGSY’. This study originally planned to be conducted only in four states viz., UP, Bihar, Orissa and Chattisgarh, has since been extended to three more states in the South viz., Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Our teams have completed the field work for the study in the all the states during November 2007. The report is under preparation.

Conferences/ Meetings

•	The 67th Annual Conference of the Indian Society of Agriculture Economics was successfully organized at BIRD during 5 to 7 November 2007. The Conference was presided over by the eminent economist Dr Isher Ahluwalia. The conference brought together many prominent agricultural economists, policy makers and bankers for interactive deliberations and discussions on three themes, namely Trends in Rural Finance, Trading in livestock and livestock products and Risk Management in agriculture / rural sector. It was well attended by 136 participants from different states.
•	Director, BIRD inaugurated the Trial run of a two day programme designed by the Faculty Members of BIRD/ NBSC/ RTCs for Auditors, Inspectors and Supervisors of Cooperative Department under the Revival Package. The programme was conducted at RICEM, Jaipur and Director, BIRD guided the Faculty Members for making improvements in the module based on the feedback received.
•	Dr Gyanendra Mani, Faculty Member attended a 2-day workshop at Hyderabad conducted by Micro credit campaign summit on ‘Poverty Measurement and Credible methodology to measure progress above US $ 1 per day (20 – 21 Nov)’. The programme was based on Score card developed by a German Professor for measuring improvement in the economic status of the poor who have been supported by various schemes of the Government.

Renewal of ISO 9001:2000 certification

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External Auditors from BSI Management Systems, an affiliate of BSI (erstwhile British Standards Institute), UK, audited the Institute on 27 November 2007. They appreciated the operations and functioning of the institute and expressed complete satisfaction over maintenance of quality standards by the institute under ISO 9001:2000. They also gave valuable suggestions for further improvements in some of the systems and procedures being followed by the institute. They have recommended for renewal of the certification upto November 2008.

Faculty development

•	Shri A K Padhi, FM attended a Trainers’ Training Programme conducted by APRACA CENTRAB in collaboration with Bank Pertanian, Malaysia at Bangi, Malaysia.

Capacity Building of RRBs

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Director, BIRD has been appointed as the Member Secretary of the Working Group constituted by NABARD to assess the capacity building requirements of RRBs. A team of faculty members has been identified to assist the committee at BIRD. The work relating to designing of questionnaires for assessment of training needs of RRBs has already commenced.

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