By Omar Bah
A group of over 30 mid-level civil servants from The Gambia has recently commenced a two-week mid-career training program at the Indian National Centre for Good Governance in Mussoorie. This program, which runs from May 27th to June 7th, 2024, is being attended by senior officers holding positions such as Deputy Permanent Secretary, Deputy Director General, Deputy General, Deputy Youth Advisor to the President, Director, Executive Director, Principal, National Coordinator, and Acting Director, among others. These officers represent various ministries, including the Ministries of Lands, Regional Government and Religious Affairs, Office of the President, Ministries of Transport, Finance, Gender, Children and Social Welfare, Public Service, Justice, and Higher Education, as well as the Accountant General’s Department and the Department of Livestock Service, among others.
The National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG) is a distinguished autonomous institution operating under the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, which falls under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Government of India. The NCGG is widely recognized for its impactful action research, studies, and capacity-building efforts at both national and international levels. With a dedicated focus on strengthening bilateral relations and promoting collaboration with other nations, the NCGG’s capacity-building programs provide valuable cross-country experiences and serve as a platform for policy dialogue, facilitating the exchange of best practices in project and risk management across various sectors. This endeavor underscores the NCGG’s unwavering commitment to enhancing governance globally, including in The Gambia.
Shri V. Srinivas, Director General of the National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG) and Secretary of the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), warmly welcomed the participating officers in his inaugural address. He emphasized the significant evolution of the Indian governance model from 2014 to 2024, highlighting a new emphasis on transparency, efficiency, and effectiveness driven by technological advancements. Referring to “Amrit Kaal,” he cited Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of India moving towards new strengths and a brighter future. The vision includes improving public grievance mechanisms, implementing good governance models, and adopting advanced technologies. He provided examples of technological advancements in the e-secretariat that have led to positive changes, such as India’s adoption of the e-office system, which now offers 16,000 e-services for citizens. The government’s commitment to “maximum governance, minimum government” aims to enhance efficiency in public administration.
Shri Srinivas stressed the significance of digital literacy for government officials and citizens in streamlining governance processes. In anticipation of Vision 2047, he delineated plans to empower citizens in the healthcare and regional development sectors. Emphasizing India’s grievance redressal program, which resolves complaints within ten days, he presented it as a commendable model for good governance that could be replicated in the Gambia. In 2024, NCGG aims to conduct 60 capacity-building programs for various countries to foster global cooperation and shared progress. During the formal introduction session, Dr. AP Singh, Associate Professor and Course Coordinator, provided an insightful overview of the National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG)’s operational framework and notable achievements. He then elaborated on the specially designed program for participants, covering a comprehensive range of topics.
