Kochi: One of the challenges of the local panchayats has been to incorporate the sustainable development goals (SDGs) into their plan budgets.
The St Teresa’s College as part of its extension activities has developed a resource team which can work with the panchayats to promote a ‘result based framework’ which can help panchayats fulfil the 2030 UN agenda for 17 SDGs.
According to college officials, 18 students and three mentors have been trained and readied to work with panchayats under the Saansad adarsh gram yojana (SAGY).
“We have trained these 18 undergraduates to become resource persons on localising SDGs for panchayats. Two teachers from the economics department will serve as mentors,” said Nirmala Padmanabhan, emeritus professor.
She said they worked with Kumbalangi grama panchayat for SDG seven which is affordable and clean energy. They did the energy auditing of the public institutions in the panchayat which will help the local body in planning universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services.
“It has been a learning experience for the students who understood how budgets can be planned based on SDGs. It was helpful for the local bodies as they could incorporate SDGs into their development planning,” she said.
“Lack of data has been a major issue. So, it is important that local statistics be readied and ensure that a proper database system is in place for local governance; to keep track of the projects for sustainable development,” she said.
During the project, the students’ team sensitised the elected representatives and officials of Kumbalangi panchayat on the various indicators and nudged them towards achieving the goals through a result-based framework that sets targets for the years 2025 and 2030.
The St Teresa’s College as part of its extension activities has developed a resource team which can work with the panchayats to promote a ‘result based framework’ which can help panchayats fulfil the 2030 UN agenda for 17 SDGs.
According to college officials, 18 students and three mentors have been trained and readied to work with panchayats under the Saansad adarsh gram yojana (SAGY).
“We have trained these 18 undergraduates to become resource persons on localising SDGs for panchayats. Two teachers from the economics department will serve as mentors,” said Nirmala Padmanabhan, emeritus professor.
She said they worked with Kumbalangi grama panchayat for SDG seven which is affordable and clean energy. They did the energy auditing of the public institutions in the panchayat which will help the local body in planning universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services.
“It has been a learning experience for the students who understood how budgets can be planned based on SDGs. It was helpful for the local bodies as they could incorporate SDGs into their development planning,” she said.
“Lack of data has been a major issue. So, it is important that local statistics be readied and ensure that a proper database system is in place for local governance; to keep track of the projects for sustainable development,” she said.
During the project, the students’ team sensitised the elected representatives and officials of Kumbalangi panchayat on the various indicators and nudged them towards achieving the goals through a result-based framework that sets targets for the years 2025 and 2030.
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