Mani Shankar to arrive at IRMA on July 20

Anand, July 19: Union Minister for Panchayati Raj Mani Shankar Aiyar, alongwith the secretary and other senior officers of the ministry, will arrive here on a day's visit.

He would be meeting with the core group working on Panchayati raj report, besides meeting the IRMA faculty and the students.

The report of the ministry of Panchayati Raj entitled, ''The state of the Panachayats reports: A midterm appraisal'', which generated considerabale interest reportedly, was well received by the Central, state and local governmental organisations, civil society groups and scholars. The report analyses the ways in which the ministry has implemented its policies at an all-India level.

The minister wishes to take advantage of IRMA's strengths in research, training and consulting in the field of rural management and development studies and in collaboration with the ministry evolve a list of ''best practices'' that will be able to guide the Panchayati Raj instiututions.

The minister and his entourage will exchange ideas with Dr Y K Alagh, chairman of IRMA, the faculty and the students to make the report a joint proprietary item of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and the IRMA in the form of a collaboration beginning from 2007-08.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) is also expected to be signed.

UNI