Itanagar, June 19, 2025: In a significant step towards strengthening grassroots governance and rural development, the State Institute of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (SIRD-PR) of Arunachal Pradesh has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the prestigious Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA), Gujarat.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu lauded the partnership, calling it a "strategic collaboration that promises to empower Panchayati Raj leaders and rural development officials." Sharing the news on social media, the Chief Minister emphasized the transformative potential of the initiative in the context of “Viksit Bharat, Viksit Arunachal.”
As part of the MoU, the partnership will focus on multiple key areas:
• Capacity building and training for local leaders and officials
• Research and policy engagement to drive evidence-based decision-making
• Evaluation and upgradation of training curricula to suit evolving rural governance needs
• Knowledge exchange between SIRD-PR and IRMA experts
One of the highlights of the collaboration is that IRMA faculty will conduct training programs in Itanagar, bringing their expertise directly to the state. In turn, Arunachal's rural development officials and panchayat leaders will also benefit from exposure visits and hands-on training at IRMA’s campus in Gujarat.
ALSO READ: APSSB Ushers In Transparent Recruitment Reform in Arunachal Pradesh
The MoU is seen as a major boost to Arunachal Pradesh’s vision of creating a robust, responsive, and well-informed rural governance system. With this collaboration, the state hopes to enhance not just the skill sets of its grassroots administrators but also to develop sustainable models of rural development aligned with national goals.
The partnership reflects a growing trend of state institutions forging links with national centers of excellence to localize best practices and accelerate developmental outcomes.
