Venue: Hotel Shangri La, New Delhi / Virtual
Hosted by: Ministry of Rural Development, The World Bank, and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Knowledge Partner: GDi Partners
Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 and the Hon. Prime Minister’s vision of making India a developed nation by 2047, the Ministry of Rural Development rolled out a set of new measures, such as Mission Antyodaya, which kept evidence and data at the forefront during the preparation of Gram Panchayat Development Plans. Besides these newer initiatives, the Ministry continued to contribute to the rural development agenda of building safety nets, enhancing livelihood opportunities for the poor and vulnerable, and improving rural infrastructure.
The World Bank and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have been two long-term strategic partners of the Ministry of Rural Development, supporting the central and state governments in charting new directions through investments, partnership development, evidence gathering, and knowledge support. These institutions believed that the time was ripe to chalk out a medium-term plan for 2024-2030 and a long-term plan for 2024-2047 to chart the future of rural development in India.
The conference, hosted and curated by all three institutions – Ministry of Rural Development, The World Bank, and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation – convened thinkers, learned from relevant global experiences, and brainstormed with strategic partners to deliberate pathways leading to India’s rural development. The event focused on six key themes central to India’s rural development.
Key Themes Discussed: