National Conclave on Rural Transformation Kicks Off in Udaipur

UDAIPUR, February 26: The grand inauguration of a three-day national conclave titled “Collaborative Actions for Innovation Exchange and Sustainable rural transformation” was held today at the RCA auditorium of Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology (MPUAT). The event, organized by the Arpan Seva Sansthan, will run from February 26 to 28 and features over 250 participants, including 50 farmers, researchers, and experts in CSR and rural development.

The chief guest, Dr. Mannalal Rawat, MP from Udaipur, highlighted the immense potential of geographical indication (GI) products from Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. He emphasized the importance of connecting rural communities to the value chain to enhance their income and livelihoods. Dr. Rawat praised the operational methodology of Arpan, stating that the organization acts as a true ally for rural India.

Dr. Pratap Singh, Vice-Chancellor of MPUAT, discussed the possibilities of research and innovation for farmers. He mentioned that collaboration between universities and regional institutions can directly benefit agricultural research outcomes for farmers. Dr. Singh acknowledged the challenges of developing innovation-based models in Udaipur’s unique geographical and economic context but noted that these challenges also present new opportunities for sustainable rural transformation. He stated, “Only ideas sell, not products,” and referenced Bhubaneswar’s farm pond model, stressing the need for technically viable agricultural ponds in the region. He assured the development of an ideal agricultural pond model at Rajasthan Agricultural College, which could be implemented across the state in the future. He also highlighted the significance of products like Jamun, Mahua, and Sitaphal in tribal areas and their potential as income sources through carbon credits. Emphasizing the importance of GI, Dr. Singh noted that it establishes a unique identity for a region and aids in value addition, encapsulating it in a phrase: “First the name, then the work, then the price.”

Dr. Arvind Verma, Director of Research at MPUAT, and Dr. Manoj Mahla, Dean of RCA, shared their insights on potential collaboration between the university and Arpan.

Dr. Subhkaran Singh, President of Arpan Seva Sansthan, presented a detailed account of the organization’s 29-year journey. He reported that Arpan has contributed to improving the living standards of over 1.2 million families across 14,000 villages in six states. He highlighted the organization’s achievements in water economic zones, water conservation, livelihood enhancement, education, and health, and noted its receipt of the National Water Award 2022.

UNICEF’s SBC expert, Ms. Manjari Pant, delivered a significant presentation on the Zero Dose project. She explained that Arpan has made remarkable efforts in vaccinating zero-dose children among DNT (Denotified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic) communities and Anganwadis. She emphasized Arpan’s achievements in this area as exemplary for the country.

CSR consultant Mr. Neeraj Prasad (former CSR Manager, L&T) provided guidance on project design and management for mid-level and rural workers. Mr. Pratyush Panda, CEO of One Stage, New Delhi, conducted a special session on enhancing the visibility of the organization’s work and effective social media presence. Mr. N.L.V. Pantaloo, PMC team leader of RSWLIP, and board member Mr. Varun Sharma also attended the event.

During the program, 24 project stakeholders shared their success stories, deeply impacting the representatives present in the auditorium. All stakeholders were honored by the organization. Detailed presentations were also made on projects like the Water Economic Zone (WEZ), CBIDP-Bhim, LTIM, HCL Foundation, Nand Ghar, Educate Girls, and more. Director-Program Mr. Priyavrat Sajjan provided extensive information on the Delhi-Yamuna Water Recharge Project.

The next two days of the conclave will feature special sessions on FPO sustainability, entrepreneurship development, carbon footprint, nature-based solutions, and sustainable development. The event is being successfully conducted with the dedicated support of Arpan Seva Sansthan’s staff and project managers.

The responsibility of honoring distinguished guests with mementos was handled by the organization’s treasurer, Mr. Rajesh Jain, and general secretary, Mr. Yashankar Shivhare. At the conclusion of the program, board member Ms. Monisha Sajjan delivered a heartfelt vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to all guests, funding partners, community representatives, and the entire Arpan family.

The program concluded with a networking dinner, where representatives from various organizations discussed future collaborations. This three-day conclave will continue until February 28, addressing critical topics such as FPO, governance, climate change, nature-based solutions, and Sustainable Development.

Author Profile

Ganpat Singh Chouhan: My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 7 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.