Extension Training Centre, Nongsder

The Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India institutionalized a three-tier process of training and capacity building for rural development on pyramidal basis, that is to say, the NIRD at the national level, the SIRDs at State level and the ETCs at the regional level. Presently, there is one ETC located at SIRD campus, Nongsder. The ETC caters to the training needs of all block level extension officials, beneficiaries of Rural Development programmes and projects, NGOs, CBOs, AEC and VEC members, members of local institutions and all other block and village level organizations and workers.

Our Vision: To be counted as the most progressive, creative and trusted ETC in the country.

Our Mission: To transform the ETC into a learning centre which is resilient, responsive and in tune with the changing situations
The community and rural development blocks served as nodal implementation agencies of all rural development programmes in the state and requires well-trained extension field staff particularly so since Government policies have been directed towards public private partnership in development process. The ETC by virtue of its being the Regional level training institution has to play a crucial role in the context of imparting training to RD functionaries and members of local institutions since execution of the various development programmes actually takes place at block and village levels.

The ETC became fully functional in 2005 with the appointment of the seniormost faculty member of SIRD as the Principal followed by the appointment of faculty and staff. The ETC being the lone extension training centre in the State covers all the 39 community development blocks located within the 7 districts of the State of Meghalaya. As per the directives of the Government the ETC conducted training on Flagship Programmes with emphasis on NREGS, Local Governance, Watershed and Gender issues. Besides these, the ETC progressively conducted demand driven programmes in tune with the requirements of the government departments and the changing environment triggered by reforms and globalization. The ETC, receives annual grants under recurring and non-recurring heads from the Central and State Government on yearly basis.

Infrastructure(Click here to view)

Proposal for the Establishment of ETC at Tura

Meghalaya comprising 7 (seven) districts. 3 (three) are located in Garo Hills. Tura,the Head Quarter of West Garo Hills is by far the most accessible to all these three districts. The long distance to Shillong, the Capital of Meghalaya, has been a bane rather than a boon for the people in the rural areas especially those living in the interior parts of Garo Hills who had to come to Shillong for trainings at SIRD or ETC located at Nongsder, near Shillong. The trainees would have to undergo on a 10 (ten) to 12 (twelve) hours of journey via Assam to participate in these trainings and this had proved to be a major impediment to successful implementation of training programmes since many trainees would rather forego the trainings due to the distance and cost involved.

The Government of Meghalaya recommended setting up the Extension Training Centre of the SIRD at Tura. A plot of land required for the purpose has been provided by the Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills in the office complex of the Commissioner of Division at Dakopgre, Tura. Since non-recurring grants for the purpose of construction has to be borne by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, the proposal for the construction of ETC has been submitted to the Ministry for approval and sanction.

With the establishment of ETC at Tura participants from the districts of Garo Hills will be highly benefited with immense saving not only time but also expenditure as regular and timely trainings can be conducted for the benefit of the Community members and Officials involved in Rural Development.

Staff Information:Academic Staff

Training Activities

1. Trainings conducted by etc from April ’09 – March ‘10
2. Trainings conducted by etc from April ’10 – March ‘11