With the aim of strengthening the operational efficiency and effectiveness of key government departments, a capacity building workshop was recently held in Goa at the Regional Employment Exchange, Shrama Shakti Bhawan, Patto , Panjim.
The workshop also aimed at equipping officials with essential skills and knowledge necessary to address the needs of migrant workers in India.
The workshop, organised by the Disha Foundation, is an initiative of NITI Ayog and supported by WHO, and was inaugurated by Labour Commissioner, Prof (Dr) Nandkumar Sawant and the Disha team.
It aims to provide comprehensive training to key government departments, empowering them to tackle challenges and serve migrant workers more effectively.
The capacity building workshop was attended by high-ranking officials from various government departments, and facilitated an environment for knowledge sharing, collaboration, new policy formation, and planning strategies.
The participants represented a diverse range of sectors, including social protection, health and public services.
It also featured a series of interactive sessions, encompassing both theoretical knowledge and practical exercises.
Professor (Dr) Nandkumar Sawant, research scholar in population studies and migration, led the sessions, ensuring that participants received valuable insights and practical tips to enhance their performance.
During the workshop, various topics such as strategic planning, leadership development, policy implementation, change management and effective community level communication were covered.
The workshop discussed social protection and a health network for migrant workers, adopting modern technologies and digital tools to streamline processes and improve service delivery.
With the rapid advancement of technology, government departments need to adapt and integrate digital solutions to meet the evolving needs of migrant workers.
The workshop also provided a platform for participants to share their experiences and learn from each other’s best practices.
Collaborative exercises, case studies and group discussions enabled officials to understand the challenges faced by other departments and devise innovative solutions collectively.
Program Manager, Vinit Kundaikar, along with Disha Foundation team members Nidhi Vaingankar and Vaibhav Bhide, addressed a session on social protection and health sector schemes of various key government departments.
The Disha team stressed on the National Database of Unorganised Sector Workers, its importance considering the current post Covid-19 pandemic situation of migrant workers in India and their contribution to socio-economic development.
In his closing remarks, Kundaikar highlighted the significance of capacity building in driving positive change and promoting good governance.
He emphasised the importance of applying the knowledge gained at the workshop to address the pressing needs of migrant workers and to achieve sustainable development goals.