HT Correspondent
ITANAGAR, July 1: In a major push to strengthen rural development and employment-oriented capacity building in Arunachal Pradesh, the Arunachal State Rural Livelihoods Mission (ArSRLM) under the Department of Rural Development has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Pahle India Foundation (PIF), a New Delhi-based public policy think tank.
The MoU, signed for a period of three years, outlines a strategic collaboration aimed at promoting sustainable rural livelihoods, building institutional capacity, and implementing evidence-based policy interventions across the state.
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According to an official statement, the partnership will focus on identifying skill gaps, conducting comprehensive skill-mapping, and developing knowledge-driven solutions for rural communities.
The collaboration will also involve training modules tailored for Self Help Group (SHG) cadres, Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs), and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) Training Centres.
The aim is to create grassroots-level implementation support systems through strengthened training and outreach mechanisms.
As part of the agreement, the two organisations will jointly conduct assessments to understand existing livelihood capacities and gaps, with the goal of creating scalable and replicable livelihood models.
In addition, the collaboration will produce knowledge-based outputs, including technical reports, policy briefs, and academic research that will inform government programmes and policies.
The partnership will further include exposure visits and learning exchanges to enhance field-level implementation across districts in the state.
Pahle India Foundation will provide pro bono technical support to the mission, while ArSRLM will facilitate the operational aspects of the partnership, including providing office space, logistical support, and infrastructure for the foundation’s team in Arunachal Pradesh.
Commenting on the MoU, Sangeeta Yirang, APCS (AG), Chief Executive Officer-cum-State Mission Director of ArSRLM, said the collaboration marks an important step in strengthening rural resilience and economic empowerment.
She noted that the tie-up with PIF will help bridge institutional and capacity gaps and offer new pathways for sustainable livelihood creation.
Ravi Pokharna, Executive Director of Pahle India Foundation, said the organisation is excited to support the state in applying policy research to real-world rural development challenges.
He stated that Arunachal Pradesh presents a unique opportunity to develop inclusive, community-led growth models that can be documented and scaled.
The agreement represents a forward-looking partnership that combines on-ground action with knowledge generation, aiming to enhance the quality and reach of rural development initiatives in one of India’s most remote and ecologically diverse states.
