One of the first activities that DSC started was training of NGO members, Government functionaries and villagers. So farDSC has conducted numerous training programmes, workshops and exposure visits mainly in the field of participatory irrigation management, watershed development and agricultural productivity enhancement. The training programmes on agricultural productivity enhancement were conducted under the auspices of Sajjata Sangh, a network of voluntary organizations promoted by DSC.

The experience of DSC's training activity has been instrumental in influencing the training polices at the state and the national level. The general objectives of DSC's training programmes are:

		To increase efficacy of managers, implementers and trainers for implementation of watershed development, Participatory Irrigation Management and Agricultural Productivity Enhancement (watershed plus) programmes in terms of knowledge, skill, and attitude.
		To replicate successful experiences of natural resource management on wider scale.

DSC conducts long duration training programs such as Basic Training Course (BTC), 30 days residential training programme for the functionaries of watershed implementing agencies as well as short duration specialized training programs such as one on Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) for Irrigation Department Engineers. DSC also conducts short duration specialized workshops for NGO leaders and Government officers and organize exposure trips to successful models of watershed development and PIM, within and outside the state. Workshop for experience sharing and policy influencing on various issues are also conducted on regular basis.

Features of DSC's Training Activities   Need based training On-field, on the job training Correlates improvements Integrated with other activities of the organization

Recognition as Training Institute (Institute for Natural Resource Management)

		DSC is recognized by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India as training institute for natural resource management in the year 1995
		DSC is one among three state level training institutes recognized by the state government for training in watershed development programme since 1999.
		In the year 1997, Council for Advancement of People’s Action and Rural Technology (CAPART), Government of India undertaking, introduced a scheme of ‘Training and Support Voluntary Organisation’ (TSVO) for watershed development. DSC is one amongst seven TSVOs in the country and responsible for the state of Gujarat.
		DSC is recognized as one of the four training institutes for Participatory Irrigation Management by the State Irrigation Department of Gujarat.

DSC's Training Activities at Glance Number of Training Programmes conducted by DSC : 351 On PIM : 151 On Watershed management and Watershed Plus : 200 To replicate successful experiences of natural resource management on wider scale.

Watershed Management - The Basic Training Course

DSC has been recognized by the Commissioner, Rural Development, Government of Gujarat as a nodal training institute for conducting the Basic Training Course BTC) for watershed development team members. The basic course covers topics such as orientation to the watershed guidelines, community organization and participation, watershed treatment measures and management and accounting practices. DSC organize two to three such BTCs  every year which are attended by almost 100 participants

Evaluation of Basic Training Course (BTC)
The Development Support Centre (DSC), Ahmedabad is recognized by the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of India as one of the Watershed Development Training Institutes in 1994. Further, the Government of Gujarat had formally selected the DSC in 1999 as one among the three organizations in the State for conducting BTC to the multi-disciplinary Watershed Development Team (WDT) members for the successful implementation of watershed development programme in its true sense and spirit as envisaged by the MoRD, Government of India. Government of Gujarat has allotted eight districts, namely, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Kutch, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Junagadh, Porbandar and Gandhinagar to DSC for conducting the BTC. Since the year 1995, the DSC had conducted 22 BTCs  with the duration of four  weeks each and trained 560 members of WDTs, comprising 116 engineers, 243 community organisers and 201 agriculture and animal husbandry professionals. The content and mode of delivery of BTC by the DSC have undergone changes from time to time during the past ten years to meet the changing needs of the Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs) and WDT members, based on the revision of watershed development guidelines. At this stage, the DSC felt the need for assessing the impact of BTCs through an external agency by evaluating both the course content and delivery in order to strengthen the DSC before extending its training courses to other States which have sought the services of DSC. Accordingly, the DSC has selected DHAN Foundation, Madurai, a grassroots development organization for the impact assessment of BTC and entrusted the task with it on a specified ToR.

The objectives of the impact assessment of BTC

• To assess the extent to which the BTCs  offered during the period from January 2002 to December 2005 to WDT members on watershed development has directly contributed to improvements in implementation, community involvement and management of watershed development programmes in the state.
• To identify the areas requiring modifications in the design and conduct of the BTC offered by DSC.
• To orient participants on various concepts such as watershed development, livelihood enhancement and community participation.
• Create self-awareness about one’s own attitudes and behavior and its effect in participatory development projects
• Improve participant skills in facilitating the process of community participation and involvement in the implementation of the watershed development programme.
• Assess of the extent to which the Basic Training Course on watershed development has directly contributed to improvements in implementations, community involvements and management of watershed development  programmes in the state.
• Identify areas requiring modifications in the design and conduct of the BTC offered by DSC.

Findings and recommendations of DHAN Foundation Report:

• DSC’s recognition and reputation as a renowned Natural Resource Management (NRM) Training institute in the country by MoRD, CAPART and Govt.of Gujarat made it to run a  focused training modules for stake holders on PIM and WSD
• DSC’s highly competent pool of trainers and resource persons with adequate professional qualification help it to refine and update course content according to changing macro policy environment.
• The founder Chairman Shri. Anilbhai Shah’s visionary guidance and focusing DSC more as a resource centre for building capacity than intensive as well as extensive programme implementation in different contexts.
• Continued refinement of course content and training subjects by constant action research and policy review happens meticulously
• Access to Policy Forums to effect changes through constant policy advocacy drive through series of booklets, workshops/seminars conducted by DSC help it significantly.
• The evaluation teams’ discussion with policy making body at the Commissionerate of Rural Development revealed that the Government of Gujarat has evolved 15 years perspective plan on Watershed development programme for improving the soil and water conservation situation in the state. If this perspective plan is adopted as such by required fund allocation by the Central Government, there is vast scope for DSC to peep in to run training programmes of  short term and long term duration.
• DSC must pursue with state government to train PIAs and/or lead NGOs who have direct relevance as stakeholders of watershed development.

Perceptions of WDT/MDT/Lead NGOs:

• 75% of trained WDTs (33 out of 43) felt the overall usefulness of BTC in adoption in day to day work as “Very Good to Excellent”
• 95% of respondents felt the present training design and duration is sufficient
• 65% expressed their felt needs of follow-up / refresher training on specific subjects after 3 months to 1 year
• On Post training utility of training materials provided by DSC, 59% perceived as ‘Very useful’ and while 26% respondents perceived them as ‘Very Very useful’
• Resource Persons of BTC : Very Good to Excellent
• Out of 12 Lead NGOs, 6 of them felt BTC as ‘Excellent’ 5 of them felt as ‘Very Good’ and 1 felt as ‘Moderate’
• Lead NGOs satisfied with the WDT’s capabilities in conducting PRAs, Data collection and assistance in preparation of DPRs,(Detail Project Report) arranging the village functionaries training. Turn over of mainly the Engineers is the Key concern expressed.
• All the 5 government officials interviewed, expressed their strong faith and confidence on the quality of training provided under BTC to WDTs by DSC
• But the state bureaucracy is self critical on the present management systems’ weakness and invited valid suggestions for adoption

To assess the extent of positive changes on BTC participants   before & after Training

 ATTITUDE:

• Increased preparedness in visiting micro water shed villages
• Enhanced capability to build rapport with community and ability to communicate about the scheme as well as concept
• Positive frame of mind on Community Institutions within PRI (SHG, User Groups, Watershed Associations)
• Facilitating implementation of physical works from ridge to valley as identified and prioritized by the Watershed Association

SKILL :

• Organising the community with due processes
• Participatory Planning
• Confidence in communication with stake holders
• Organising trainings to Village Functionaries
• Arranging exposure visits and mobilising member contribution
• Documenting & Report writing

Knowledge :

• Understanding Watershed guidelines (Hariyali) and content
• Participation and Processes (Bottom-Up approach)
• Concepts on watershed, livelihoods, Institutions and functions, SHGs and women involvement, usage of survey instruments, technical aspects

Classification of respondents based on gender and discipline

Particulars	Male	Female	Total	Engineer	Agri.	Community Organiser
Population/ Number of WDT trained	259	108	367	84	140	143
Sample (Number of WDT interviewed)	28	15	43	10	17	16

 

 

 

Classification of  Respondents based on the  Year of BTC

Year of BTC	Number of BTC batches in the year	Total number of WDT members trained	Number of sample respondents
2002	2	55	4
2003	4	101	4
2004	2	53	9
2005	4	106	14
2006	2	52	12
Total	14	367	43

 

 

 

 

 

Over all Rating of BTC effectiveness as perceived by the respondents in their day- to- day work implementation

	Number of Respondents	Year wise breakup of respondents
Rating		2002	2003	2004	2005	2006
Excellent	15	-	3	4	6	2
Very Good	18	1	2	3	5	7
Good	6	-	-	1	2	3
Not Responded	4	2	-	1	1	-