On the occasion of the Golden Jubilee National Conference (NATCON 2023) of the Indian Society for Training and Development (ISTD), a National Convention was organized at the Rajasthan International Centre in the Pink City of Jaipur on December 15th and 16th.
“Navigating the Future” was the theme of the convention.
Over 500 participants from industrial, academic,spiritual and training organizations across the country, as well as ISTD dignitaries from various states, attended the conference. According to Ms. Anita Chauhan, National President of ISTD, the theme “Navigating theFuture” focussed on five sub-themes - Skill, Leadership, Technology, Markets & Economy and Human Resources.
The national conference was inaugurated by Mr. Ayush Gupta, Director of Human Resources, GAIL (Gas Authority of India Limited). Professor Pavan Kumar Singh, Director of the Indian Institute of Management, Tiruchirapalli, emphasized the importance of imparting human values in educational institutions. He also highlighted the need for imparting human values in education, as incorporated in the new education policy, for a sustainable life. Former Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, Dr. Kiran Bedi, through video conferencing, shared her experiences on leadership, good governance, teamwork and technological development, among other issues. She stressed the significance of respecting and motivating subordinates to achieve excellent results.
Ranjan Mahapatra, President of IFTDO (International Federation of Training and Development Organization), Switzerland, along with Ms. Anita Chauhan, National President of ISTD, released a poster of the upcoming “International Convention of IFTDO 2024” to be held in Cairo, Egypt, with the theme “Redesigning the Future”.
Amandeep Singh Kapoor, IPS, Director CDTI, discussed the necessity of dynamic leadership in departments like the police, emphasizing the need to inspire police personnel and create a positive environment for them to perform well.
Role of AI
Mr. Harshit Trivedi, Chief Executive Officer of Tech Mahindra, discussed the role of artificial intelligence and modern technology in development. He emphasised the need to use technology leadership to bring the benefits of technical expertise to as many people as possible.
Gig Economy
Hardeep Khanduja, Senior Vice-President of Reliance Jio, explained the future of the gig economy and its contribution to nation-building. He said that the gig economy was not limited to platforms such as Ola and Uber but extended to all businesses requiring skills and technical knowledge. The gig economy separated individuals from societal biases, promoting inclusivity.
Dr. Prerana Arora Singh, Managing Director, Asian Road Safety Academy, said that such events highlighted the importance of capacity-building and helped in identifying areas where more training was required.
Dr. Rahul Mishra, Director, State Office, Khadi & Village Industries Commission (KVIC), Jaipur, appreciated the efforts of ISTD in bringing various sections of society under one platform to explore opportunities to build capacity of human resources in nation-building.
The conference also featured a presentation on the National Education Policy.