HYDERABAD, APRIL 05, 2025: Partnership between NIRDPR and KISS-DU is expected to have a significant impact on rural and tribal development, poverty alleviation and social security at the village level. The two institutions are committed to leveraging each other’s strengths to achieve their common goals and create a better future for tribal communities in rural areas.
The National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR), Hyderabad and the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences Deemed to be University (KISS-DU), Bhubaneswar, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen evidence-based research and capacity building on tribal regional/area development issues.
The MoU, signed on April 4th, 2025, aims to promote collaboration between the two premier institutions in areas such as courses on tribal development, experiential learning in rural entrepreneurship development, NTFP value chain development, sharing Indigenous best practices, scaling-up of identified rural skills, and tribal livelihoods.
Under the agreement, the two institutions will focus on different aspects of tribal development aiming to encourage tribal youth for rural entrepreneurship by integrating with institutions dealing with tribal welfare. Preparation of policy document for socio-economic empowerment of the tribal communities and promotion of indigenous knowledge.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr G Narendra Kumar, Director General, NIRDPR, emphasized that the collaboration between the two institutions is very important in the background of research leading to job opportunities and enabling exchange of knowledge, skill and best practices.
The field-based competency of KISS-DU on tribal research can be used for training on the preparation of PESA laws in 13 districts of Odisha. KISS-DU has more than 100 active gram panchayat member’s which can be linked with the Aspirational Block programme and the 250 Model Panchayat programme. An action core committee will be formed to monitor the activities of this collaboration with skilled professionals, said Narendra Kumar.
Mr Prashanta Kumar Routray, Registrar KISS-DU, expressed his desire for the two institutions to work together for tribal empowerment, learning through a hybrid mode and sharing of experiences.
Let us work together for the betterment of marginalised communities under the leadership of G Narendra Kumar, Director General, NIRDPR and Achyuta Samanta, founder of KISS-DU said Registrar KISS-DU.
The MoU signing ceremony was attended by prominent members from both institutions. Mr. Manoj Kumar, Registrar and Director Administration, NIRDPR and Prashanta Kumar Routray, Registrar KISS-DU, signed the MoU in the presence of Prof. R S Gavali, Prof. Jyothish Sathapalan, Digambar A Chimankar, Kesava Rao from NIRDPR and Saroj Das from KISS-DU and other faculty members.
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