The Ministry of Rural Development has signed five Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRD&PR), Hyderabad, and four National Resource Organisations (NROs)—the State Rural Livelihoods Missions (SRLMs) of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Telangana—to enhance initiatives under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM). Bihar was also recognised for its leadership in Food, Nutrition, Health, and WASH (FNHW) interventions.

The MoUs were signed on 19 September by Shri T.K. Anil Kumar, Additional Secretary (Rural Livelihoods), Ministry of Rural Development, alongside Dr Vanishree Joseph, Director, NRLM Resource Cell, NIRD≺ Shri Ananya Mittal, CEO, JSLPS (Jharkhand); and senior officials representing Smt Karuna Vakati, State Mission Director, Andhra Pradesh SRLM; Shri Himanshu Sharma, CEO, Bihar Jeevika; and Ms D. Divya, CEO, Telangana SERP, at the NRLM Conference Hall, New Delhi.

Under this partnership, NIRD&PR will focus on building the capacities of SRLM functionaries and community cadres, developing a multi-thematic pool of resource persons, conducting induction and leadership training, and documenting best practices. Technical and strategic support will also strengthen community institutions, enhance livelihood opportunities, promote digital innovations, and deepen social inclusion, reaffirming NIRD&PR’s role as a national hub for rural development knowledge, training, and innovation.

The Ministry acknowledged the contribution of NROs, whose technical support has been instrumental in advancing LokOS, a digital platform designed to improve governance and streamline operations in Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and their federations. The digitisation through LokOS is expected to boost accountability, financial integration, and the development of self-reliant rural communities through technology.