Increasing Effectiveness of Government Trainings – A Case for Participatory Research

Research has significantly brought out that the trainers across the world resort to different training mechanisms, to achieve similar training outcomes. The reasons for difference in delivery modes are generally known only to the trainers and are rarely chronicled. In the same way, the state training institutes too are delegated the task of disseminating trainings regarding the key thrust areas concerning national policy. Since these trainings are meant for government functionaries, who work in a substantive position, it is very important to diligently monitor the achievement of deliverables and ensure programme effectiveness. Further, due to multiple constraints, it is not possible to take up the trainings of all functionaries of a particular level, at same time or even in same financial year. In this case, the lessons of the trainings can be circulated among the key functionaries with a little incremental effort if the trainings are treated as participatory research (PAR) processes. Basing on the pre–post testing of a Right to Information (RTI) training programme conducted by J&K Institute of Management, Public Administration and Rural Development, the present research aims to develop a model to trace the learning index of the trainees. The research reports that the negative learning has been invariably associated with low ‘Self-Disclosure’. Further, an attempt has been made to treat the RTI training as a PAR project. The discussed cases strongly support the possibility of utilising this approach for selected government trainings, so as to enable the building of a ready reckoner and disseminate useful information in a faster mode to the stakeholders.