- A total of 29 officials from 10 states and Union Territory of Ladakh register for the programme
The eighth batch of the Leadership Excellence Programme for “ANVESHAN” (Centre of Excellence) at the Indian Institute of Management Indore (IIM Indore) concluded successfully on Thursday, January 09, 2025. The four-day programme, designed to build capacity among senior municipal officials, witnessed the participation of officials from ten states, namely, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra, along with the Union Territory, Ladakh. These officials covered critical aspects of sustainable urban governance and waste management.
In his inaugural address, Prof. Himanshu Rai, Director of IIM Indore, warmly welcomed the participants to the institute and the city of Indore, the cleanest city in India. He emphasized IIM Indore’s commitment to nation-building through transformative education, aligning with the nation’s priorities like the Swachh Bharat Mission. Prof. Rai highlighted ANVESHAN’s role in bridging academic research and practical waste management solutions. He encouraged participants to embrace their leadership roles in reshaping urban India, stressing the importance of combining knowledge with action, strategy with compassion, and innovation with sustainability. “Leadership is not just about managing change, but about inspiring it. Through knowledge, innovation, and collaboration, we have the power to transform our cities and build a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future for all”, he said. He concluded by wishing participants an enriching journey ahead.
Dean-Programmes, Prof. Prashant Salwan, spoke on the transformative potential of digital technologies in public sector governance, emphasizing how they reshape the way public organizations serve citizens and interact with them. He highlighted that while digital technologies play a key role in service delivery, the shift in focus also requires organizational and institutional changes. “Public value theory is pivotal in guiding this transformation,” he said, “by ensuring that public administration goes beyond just administrative efficiency and instead focuses on fulfilling public expectations and societal goals”.
Reflecting on the evolution of the programme, Programme Coordinator Prof. Shruti Tewari highlighted its focus on peer learning and its role in strengthening the Clean India initiative. She noted that every city brings unique challenges and opportunities, and with a collaborative environment, ANVESHAN helps municipal leaders identify tailored solutions that align with their local contexts.
The four-day programme featured a diverse mix of classroom sessions, field visits, and interactive discussions aimed at equipping participants with practical insights and strategies for sustainable urban development. The programme also incorporated daily Yoga sessions, starting each day with physical and mental well-being practices
During their stay at IIM Indore, participants visited the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC), widely recognized as a national leader in waste management and cleanliness. The exposure visit allowed participants to witness first-hand the innovative practices and community-driven initiatives that have earned Indore the title of India’s cleanest city for several years. They also got a chance to interact with IMC Commissioner Mr. Shivam Verma, who shared Indore’s journey toward building a sustainable waste management ecosystem.
The programme offered a comprehensive curriculum designed to equip municipal leaders with the skills to drive sustainable urban governance and waste management. Prof. Amit Kumar Vatsa, IIM Indore, led the session on Integrated Solid Waste Management, followed by Prof. Shruti Tewari, IIM Indore, who conducted the “My City Perspective: Strength Analysis Activity.” The programme also featured sessions on public procurement and contract management by Prof. Bhavin Shah, IIM Indore, and Dr. Himanshu Chaturvedi, Technical Director, KPMG. Shri J.B. Ravinder, Joint Advisor (Retd.), MoHUA, and Ms. Divya Sinha, CPCB, focused on optimizing dry waste management, while Prof. Gangagni Rao, Chief Scientist, CSIR IICT, Hyderabad, addressed recent trends in renewable energy and biogas models. Shri Harendra Narayan, IAS, Municipal Commissioner, Bhopal, discussed SLF and legacy waste remediation, and Prof. Hasmukh Gajjar, IIM Indore, delivered a session on Project Management. City perspectives were shared by Shri Dr. Kailash Shinde, IAS, Municipal Commissioner, Navi Mumbai, and Shri Inderjit Singh, IAS, Municipal Commissioner, Lucknow. Mr. Jai Kumar, Senior Advisor (Climate Change and Circular Economy), GIZ, spoke about climate change and circular economy practices. Shri Akshay Kumar Rout, Former Director General of SBM & Senior Advisor, SUWASI, shared insights on behavioral change and waste reduction.
The programme concluded with a panel discussion on the roadmap to SBM 2.0, moderated by Prof. Shruti Tewari, IIM Indore. In her closing remarks, Prof. Tewari emphasized the need for a unified vision to scale up the efforts of Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0. She encouraged participants to leverage what they had learned from the programme to create actionable plans for their cities.
The Leadership Excellence Programme under ANVESHAN continues to serve as a vital platform for capacity building, empowering municipal leaders to create a cleaner, greener, and more inclusive urban future for India.