Norwegian Navarsete, Minister lead delegation in India

Norwegian Delegation in India

Norwegian Delegation in India to Study Functioning of Decentralized Governance A Norwegian delegation led by Ms Liv Signe Navarsete, Minister for Local Government and Regional Development, Royal Kingdom of Norway, is visiting India from 10th to 13th January 2012, to study the functioning of decentralised governance in India. The delegation has participated in a briefing session on the governance system in India on 10th January 2012 at New Delhi, besides this the Norwegian delegation will visit the State Institute of Rural Development, Hyderabad on 12th January 2012. The delegation will visit the State Election Commission, Andhra Pradesh, to understand the election process and the role of a constitutional authority in the process.

The first meeting of the Joint Working Group on Mutual Cooperation on Local Governance was held at Oslo on September 15, 2010. This was followed by signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Republic of India and the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Royal Kingdom of Norway. This MOU on Mutual Cooperation on Local Self Governance was signed by both the countries for a comprehensive dialogue and deliberation in the area of Local Governance in order to facilitate transference of competence between the two countries for strengthening local self-governance including capacity building of institutions, focussing areas relating to achievement of Millennium Development goals, e Governance, Solution sharing and mobilisation of resources.

Earlier, a delegation from India visited Norway led by the Additional Secretary Ministry of Panchayati Raj along with senior officials from State Governments, district administration and UN women programme Managers. This visit gave the Indian officials an insight into the structure and functioning of local governance – especially the Municipalities and the ombuds and the strategies to improve women’s political leadership.

With a view to give shape to the Indo-Norway research agenda on decentralised governance, the Government of India will sign an MOU with UN Women and bring out a grassroot’s orientation to the GOI- UN Women Programme on Promoting women’s Political Leadership. Under this programme a major thrust would be given to use the platform of the Gram Sabha in select districts in 5 States(Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Karnataka), so that the local governance can focus on issues like livelihood, security and entitlements from schemes which have an enduring impact on women’s empowerment and gender equality.

The Norwegian Minister will meet Shri V. Kishore Chandra Deo, Union Minister for Panchayati