Hyderabad, Apr 11 (UNI) The National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR) and the Indian Institute of Public Health, Hyderabad (IIPH-H) entered into a formal partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at advancing research, capacity building, and policy initiatives in the area of rural health and development.

The MoU was signed by Dr. Anil Kaul, Director of IIPH Hyderabad, and Manoj Kumar, Registrar of NIRDPR, in the presence of Dr. G Narendra Kumar Director General, NIRDPR, the Institute said in a release here on Friday.

This partnership will focus on joint research in areas such as non-communicable diseases, cervical cancer, One Health, and the use of digital health technologies in rural India.

It also aims to strengthen capacity building for Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), document best practices, promote academic and student exchanges, and support health-focused interventions in Aspirational Blocks.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Narendra Kumar emphasised the urgent need to address persistent challenges in the implementation of the 'Healthy Village' initiatives, through an effective and coordinated approach.

He stressed the importance of leveraging institutional strengths to improve nutrition outcomes at the community level and called for enhanced synergy between rural development and public health stakeholders.

He also highlighted the critical role of disaster preparedness and health resilience in rural settings, underscoring the need for community-led strategies that can mitigate vulnerabilities and strengthen local health systems.

The partnership is expected to contribute significantly to evidence-based planning, training, and service delivery in the intersecting fields of rural development and public health.

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