Hyderabad, Jan 3 (UNI) National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR) on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management (VAMNICOM), Pune.

The MoU was signed in presence of Dr G Narandra Kumar, Director General, NIRDPR and Dr Hema Yadav, Director VAMINICOM.

This MoU is to further the collaboration, in supporting and strengthening Panchayat Raj Institutions, Cooperative Organisations including multi state cooperatives societies, Self Help Groups and Management Training, Management Education, Research; Publication, Consultancy, and other related activities.

Both the institutions agreed for Organising capacity development training programs in areas related to cooperative management for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj functionaries, Organising Seminars and Workshops on Contemporary issues of Cooperative Management and Rural Development. Both the institutes mutually agreed to work together to take forward the schemes and programmes of the Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India.

The institutes will also jointly undertake collaborative evidence-based research studies on cooperative management related themes pertaining to Rural India.

Jointly develop training modules for training. Collaborative Research and Action Research programmes and Conduct Training of Trainers (ToT) in the area of cooperative management and rural development. The faculty exchange for PG Programmes is one of the key components of the MOU.

Speaking on this occasion, Narandra Kumar mentioned the constitution of the core committee to prepare an action plan to take the MOU forward in conducting evidence based research by the faculty members of both the institutes in the interest of cooperatives.

He emphasised on transformation of SHGs into Micro Enterprises through the credit support of Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) in the country.

Dr Hema Yadav appreciated initiatives of NIRDPR working at the grass root level and expressed that different technology applications used at NIRDPR will be useful for faculty of VAMINICOM in taking forward the cooperative research.

On this occasion, book titled “Inclusuive Growth in Indian Agriculture: Need for Commercially Viable and Financially Sustainable FPOs” written by Dr M Srikanth, Registrar and Director Administration, NIRDPR was released by Dr Hema Yadav.

The book is based on a research study sponsored by CICTAB, VAMINICOM Pune.
UNI VV SY RKM