HYDERABAD, JUNE 18, 2025: The Centre on Integrated Rural Development in Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP), the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR), and the Rural Economic and Educational Development Society (REEDS) released today the World Rural Development Day (WRDD) poster at the NIRDPR campus in Hyderabad, on Wednesday.
During the inaugural address, the Chief Guest, Prof. Anil K. Gupta, highlighted that income disparities and inequalities are on the rise within the current development framework. He proposed that an enterprise development model could help bridge this gap. He emphasised that, similar to the risk capital allocated for urban start-ups in the IT sector, equivalent support is necessary for rural start-ups to foster enterprise development, which is essential for achieving inclusive and integrated growth in the country. Prof. Gupta expressed his hope that the WRDD celebration would promote grassroots innovations that are created for, by, and of the grassroots, aligning with the grassroots to global (G2G) model.
Dr. G Narendra Kumar, Director General of NIRDPR, remarked that rural development on an international scale has been losing traction over the past few decades compared to the efforts made until the 1980s. He expressed that the observance of WRDD will facilitate learning and comprehension of innovative practices at the grassroots level, such as India’s Localisation of Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs) initiative.
Dr. P. Chandra Shekara, DG CIRDAP, elaborated that REEDS has launched a programme with the backing of the Government of Andhra Pradesh, where political leaders and State Government officials are engaging in face-to-face discussions with rural communities to share and list the rural development policies and programs of the Government of Andhra Pradesh on July 6, 2025, coinciding with World Rural Development Day. He urged all CIRDAP member countries to commemorate WRRD through impactful initiatives in their respective nations. He also emphasised that rural development should be a focal point in policy formulation and implementation to realise Integrated Rural Development.
Dr. Ravi Reddy, the Honorary Secretary of REEDS, emphasised the proposed activities taken up by them with the Government of Andhra Pradesh during the WRDD celebrations. The event was attended by the representatives from 11 CIRDAP member Countries (CMCs), namely Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Vietnam, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, Fiji, Philippines, Bangladesh and India.
