About Us
Administrative Training Institute is the apex training institution of the Government of West Bengal. The campus located in lush green and pollution-free environs in Bidhan Nagar (Salt Lake), in the district of North 24 Parganas has spacious and aesthetically designed infrastructure. With eight air-conditioned classrooms, three computer labs with sixty networked computers, state-of-the-art training aids, a hundred room hostel, a library with a large and varied collection of books and facilities for recreation and games, ATI provides an ideal training environment.
Since its inception in 1981, the Institute has been providing quality training to officers of All India and State Civil Services, State Government departments and service cadres. Training programmes are conducted for elected representatives of panchayats and municipal bodies as well as for NGO functionaries. Well-designed and comprehensive training modules lay emphasis on interactive and participatory approach. In 2005-06 the number of trainees was 2063 in 96 programmes.
ATI also undertakes research projects and studies. Training Needs Analysis for selected government departments, the Institute’s own staff and an Evaluation of Women’s Dairy Cooperative Project in West Bengal are among the recent projects undertaken. Studies on “Women’s Role in Panchayati Raj Institutions” and on “Impact of Development Schemes on Tribal Population” have recently been completed. Training modules have been developed on Urban Management, Project Management, Values in Administration and a Distance Training module on Participatory Administration.
Centres
Disaster Management Unit
The Natural Disaster Management Unit of ATI funded by the Government of India conducts regular training programmes, seminars and workshops on natural disaster management, environment and ecology for officials and elected representatives of local government bodies. It has prepared case studies on the unprecedented floods of 2000.
Urban Management Centre
The Centre, set up in collaboration with HUDCO, undertakes training and capacity building in urban management, urban development and related areas. Programmes are conducted for elected representatives and administrative, financial and technical personnel of municipal bodies. Preparation of case studies and documentation of best practices are part of the Centre’s activities. In addition, the Centre is also running various training programmes under the Kolkata Urban Services for the Poor and the National Institute of Urban Affairs Financial Institution and Reforms Expansion (D) projects.
Regional Training Centres
In a significant step towards taking training closer to the work-place, the Institute is currently conducting training programmes through seven Regional Training Centres located at the district headquarters of Bardhaman, Paschim Medinipur, Jalpaiguri, Malda, Murshidabad, North 24 Parganas and Darjeeling. These programmes are co-ordinated by the respective District Magistrates to cater to the needs at the cutting edge of the administration.
The courses cover administrative and financial rules and procedures, sensitization on accountable and responsive administration and other aspects like community preparedness etc.
| RTC Bardhaman | Bardhaman, Bankura, Hoogly |
| RTC Jalpaiguri | Jalpaiguri, CoochBehar |
| RTC Paschim Medinipur | Paschim Medinipur, Purba Medinipur, Purulia |
| RTC Malda | Malda, Dakshin Dinajpur, Uttar Dinajpur |
| RTC Murshidabad | Murshidabad, Birbhum, Nadia |
| RTC Uttar 24 Parganas | Uttar 24 Parganas, Dakshin 24 Parganas, Howrah |
| RTC Darjeeling | Darjeeling |
The Programmes
Training programmes are offered in the following thrust areas.
Induction Programmes
Induction programmes are conducted for the new recruits to government service and officials promoted to higher cadres. The programmes give the participants an overview of the administrative environment, the policies and programmes with which they are concerned, the administrative and legal structures and processes relating to their work and a broad understanding of the strategies for effective public service and good governance. Exposure to computers and sensitisation to gender issues, human rights and values in administration form part of the modules.
In-service Programmes
These programmes are aimed at improving the functional competence of the participants from various departments and directorates of the Govt. The courses mainly cover the plans and programmes of the department as well as administrative and financial rules and procedures relevant to the tasks performed by the participants. Separate functional courses have been scheduled exclusively for WBCS (Executive) cadre officers at different levels of seniority. Separate functional courses for officers of other services like Engineers, Commercial Tax, Excise, Asstt. Registrar of Co-operative Societies, Audit & Accounts and Food & Supplies services have also been accommodated in this calendar.
Public Administration and Good Governance
Training courses and workshops are scheduled on Good Governance, Financial and Administrative procedures in Government, Ethical Issues in Administration, Departmental Proceedings and Court Procedure.
Financial Management
A series of programmes on financial management and principles and procedures of budgeting, accounting and auditing in government is included in the calendar.
Economic Development
The programmes cover the areas of decentralisation, sustainable and participatory development, participatory rural appraisal techniques and gender issues.
Management Development
These courses aim at developing managerial and interpersonal skills and project management capability. There are programmes on managing organizational change for improving organizational efficiency and the quality of services.
Trainer Development
The package of Direct Trainer Skills (DTS) and Design of Training (DOT) courses is intended to develop quality trainers in government departments and training institutions. Courses on Training Needs Analysis enable participants to develop expertise in systematically assessing individual and organizational training needs and performance issues. Courses on Evaluation of Training and Management of Training are also part of Trainer Development Programmes. There is one Master Trainer in Design of Training, three Recognised User in Direct Trainer Skills, four Recognised User in Training Needs Analysis, two trainers in Management of Training, one trainer on Evaluation of Training, two hundred no. of persons who have undergone Direct Trainer Skills and Design of Training.
Information Technology
Computer programmes have been scheduled at three levels: basic familiarisation for beginners, intensive training in the common applications at the next level and exposure to advanced features for those having sufficient computer skills. The programme on e-Governance addresses the scope of information technology in improving efficiency in government processes and delivery of services to the citizens.
Separate computer programmes have been scheduled for municipal personnel in designing and accounting software as well as on Geographical Information Systems (GIS).
At ATI, computer training is scheduled in three levels – Basic Familiarisation for beginners at Level I. Greater emphasis on advanced features of operating system, application of software and internet at Level II for officials who have undergone Level I. Exposure to database management system at Level III for officials who have successfully completed Level II. Total no of participants in three levels during financial year 2005-2006 was 398.
National e-Governance Plan (NeGP)
The Government of India has planned a national level initiative – National e-Governance Plan, NeGP for increased transparency, efficiency and effectiveness for delivery of citizen services. Under this NeGP, a State e-Governance Mission Team (SeMT) has been formed to support the Programme Steering Council and SeGP Apex Committee and function as the Secretariat and full time internal advisory body in undertaking e-Governance Projects.
Administrative Training Institute, West Bengal has been designated as the State Nodal Agency (SNO) which would be responsible for initiating and implementing capacity building by way of providing services like selections, contracting of external agencies/ person/ services and administrative support to SeMT.
Administrative Training Institute, West Bengal has been selected as the nodal organization for imparting training on e-Governance to the Government Officials in the selected department under MMPs.
Under NeGP, initiative has been taken up for implementing e-Governance in various Government activities right upto the grass root level. As a pilot project, Burdwan district has been selected. Administrative Training Institute, West Bengal will impart computer training to the Government Officials of Burdwan district.
Disaster Management
These programmes are intended to enhance disaster management capability among government agencies, panchayats and NGOs. They cover aspects of preparedness, response, rehabilitation and long term mitigation in respect of different natural disasters.
Urban Management
The courses are meant for elected representatives and officials of municipal bodies. They cover a wide range of topics including fiscal and financial management, infrastructure planning and development, tax administration, area appraisal, municipal services and computer applications.
Distance Training
ATI has initiated a distance-training programme for field-level government employees. A video conferencing network has been set up connecting the Institute with the Regional Training Centres for providing support for the training programmes at these centres and for distance training courses.
Women & Child Development
The earlier Community Preparedness Programme is discontinued from April 2006 and has been replaced by Women and Child Development Programme with the support from UNICEF.
The programme is aimed at developing knowledge and building up capacity for Women’s empowerment. This programme aims at continuous learning for administrators, officials and local representatives connected with social development as well as Women and Child Development.
For mainstreaming of ‘Gender’ in West Bengal and recognising the need for ensuring gender budgeting a Gender Resource Centre (GRC) is proposed to be established at the Administrative Training Institute, West Bengal. GRC will cover the Women and Child Development programmes in all sectors in West Bengal by sensitising, capacity building of policy makers and implementers of different levels and convergence of all issues related to Gender Budgeting areas of the State & District budgets. GRC will also conduct various studies, action research and impact assessment of ongoing programmes. Gender Resource Centre will network with Civil Society to strengthen the programmes for Women and Child Development.
Master in Public Administration with Netaji Subhas Open University
Enrolment of the WBCS(Exe) Probationers in the MA (Public Administration) Course under distance learning methodology by the Netaji Subhas Open University has been started from the 2003 batch.
UNDP Focused Programme
ATI, West Bengal has got rare opportunity to conduct UNDP sponsored focused training in the District of Burdwan. Under this UNDP assisted project on ‘Strengthening of State ATIs in India, all Employees from Group ‘A’ to ‘D’ about thirty thousand from all of the departments under Government of West Bengal will be covered through intensive training.
Systematic Approach to Training is being followed by ATI to implement the project through analysis of training needs, planning and designing of training courses, implementing the same and lastly by evaluation through competent trainers developed by the ATI.
District Magistrate, Burdwan the Nodal Officer of this project is executing the project under the supervision of ATI, Kolkata. The project has started its function in 2005.