HYDERABAD, AUGUST 07, 2025: The National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR), Hyderabad, successfully conducted a landmark workshop and signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with representatives from ten states to enhance the project appraisal mechanism for rural development initiatives, particularly under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY).
The event, held at NIRDPR’s Rajendranagar campus, witnessed participation from senior officials representing Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Jammu & Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Nagaland, Assam, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh, along with representatives from the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of India. Some of the States could not join today due to their pre occupied schedules.
Dr. G. Narendra Kumar, IAS, Director General of NIRDPR, emphasised the significance of strengthening state-centre collaboration in rural development initiatives. During his address to the gathering, he stated, “These MoUs will streamline the project appraisal process and ensure more efficient implementation of rural skill development programs across participating states.” He also emphasised the importance of establishing a robust and transparent appraisal system to ensure the quality implementation of skill development projects. The Director General NIRDPR reiterated NIRDPR’s commitment to serving as the national-level Project Appraisal Agency for DDU-GKY 2.0.
Shri Satish Kumar, Director Project Appraisal at NIRDPR, who led the proceedings, provided a comprehensive overview of the project appraisal process and facilitated the signing ceremony. The workshop featured detailed presentations on appraisal workflows by the NIRDPR Project Appraisal Team.
Ms. Mary Thomas, Under Secretary (Skills) from MoRD, and Shri Shashi Kumar Yadav, Mission Manager from MoRD, represented the central government and outlined the ministry’s vision for enhanced state partnership in rural development projects.
The MoUs are expected to facilitate:
– Streamlined project appraisal processes for DDU-GKY and other rural development schemes
– Enhanced coordination between NIRDPR and state rural livelihood missions
– Standardised evaluation mechanisms for rural skill development projects
– Improved monitoring and implementation of rural development initiatives
Key state officials who participated included Chief Operating Officers, Chief Executive Officers Project Managers, and Senior Program Managers from various State Rural Livelihood Missions (SRLMs). The workshop concluded with an interactive session addressing queries and concerns from state representatives.
This collaborative initiative aligns with the Government of India’s commitment to strengthening rural development infrastructure and ensuring effective implementation of skill development programs in rural areas across the country. The MoUs will be instrumental in achieving the objectives of making rural youth employable and enhancing their livelihood opportunities.
NIRDPR, established as a premier institute for rural development, continues to play a pivotal role in capacity building, training, and policy support for rural development programs across the country.
