Centre allocates Rs 500 cr for NIRD under 12th plan

HYDERABAD: The central government has allocated Rs 500 crore to city-based National Institute for Rural Development ( NIRD).

The Union Ministry for Rural Development released the fund under the 12th plan for pursuing its four-pronged strategic action plan including training, research, consultation and evaluation.

NIRD is also spending another Rs 200 crore on establishment of Rural Technology Parks in five African countries including South Sudan, Zimbabwe and other countries for dissemination of technical know-how relating to housing, agriculture, solar power, capacity building and infrastructure development under the Indo-African Friendship Summit, M V Rao, Director General NIRD told reporters today.

The facility of NIRD is also engaged in the program of adoption of 100 villages for achieving an integrated development covering the entire gamut of comprehensive rural development. Five villages in Anantapur and Mahaboobnagar districts were identified for comprehensive development.

NIRD is organising its 11th Rural Technology Mela-2013' at Rural Technology Park, NIRD campus.

About 50 innovators will showcase their technology innovations in different fields, P Siva Ram, RTP Project Director said.

It is aimed at creating awareness on the transfer of rural technologies developed by different research and development organisations, non-profit organisations, self-help groups, individual entrepreneurs and skill development institutions with the purpose of boosting productivity and earnings of farmers and rural artisans.