Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Monday praised the programmes of the Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini institution whose mission is to train young leaders of the country.

He said, "Politicians have to depend a lot on the bureaucracy and the job of the bureaucrat is to keep politician informed and also to advise, but the judgment is always taken by the politician. Such institutions will help future politicians."

The Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini institution, in Uttan, 40 kilometres from Mumbai, conducts a variety of training programmes to cater to the needs of professionals in voluntary, cooperative, corporate and in government offices.

Vajpayee, however, said those aspiring to become politicians lacked in honing skills on governance and were largely dependent on the bureaucracy.

Pointing out that bureaucracy's role is like that of an assistant giving information and suggestions, the prime minister said ultimately it is the responsibility of the politicians to take a decision after carefully evaluating the pros and cons of recommendations given by bureaucrats.

"The ministers are elected by people and the elected person has to be experienced in dealing public affairs otherwise the democracy will suffer," said Vajpayee.

"Listen to the Lok Sabha speeches in Parliament. The parliamentarians complain that they do not get the time to talk. But when they get the time to talk, they are not prepared because there is no training for them. And, I feel such institutions will equip them with a better understanding of issues and I feel Prabhodini will play an important role."

The concept for the training centre was propounded by late Deendayal Upadhyay, one of the architects of the Jan Sangh, and envisioned by late Bharatiya Janata party Member of Parliament Rambhau Mhalgi.

The centre aims at focussing the 'capacity building' of elected representatives at various levels as well as of social workers, directors of cooperative banks and heads of educational institutions.