Samaira Policy Research Institute inaugurated in Mussoorie
By Sunil Sonkar
Mussoorie, 10 May: The new campus of Samaira Policy Research Institute was inaugurated with great fanfare on Sunday at Cedar Bridge Villa in Dudhli, Mussoorie. Several important initiatives related to policy making, rural development, local governance, and cooperatives were announced at the event.
Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Bansal attended the event as the Chief Guest and emphasised the importance of strengthening rural development and grassroots democracy. The programme was inaugurated with the lighting of a lamp and ribbon cutting. Naresh Bansal said that villages, gram panchayats, and local bodies are the real force behind India’s development. He said that holistic development is not possible unless policies are tailored to ground needs. He added that, today, there is a need to involve youth in policy making, the panchayat system, and rural development. He praised the initiative of the Samaira Policy Research Institute, stating that such institutions would provide a new direction for democratic dialogue and research.
During the event, the institute shared information about its various plans and upcoming projects. The institute’s adoption of Shamlo Kala Gram Panchayat in Haryana’s Jind district, establishing an artificial intelligence-based rural innovation lab, and working on waste management and environmental conservation, were highlighted. It also highlighted its initiative to promote the construction of eco-friendly mud houses in Nainital district. The institute stated that promoting sustainable development models based on local resources in the Himalayan regions is the need of the hour. The programme also announced the launch of the “Loknayak Rural Fellowship” in memory of Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan. This initiative, being launched in collaboration with AVARD, aims to engage youth in rural governance, democracy, and community development. The institute also announced the establishment of the Shripad Subrao Talmaki Cooperative Research Department. This department has been established in the name of Shripad Subrao Talmaki, considered the father of India’s cooperative movement, and will work on research, policy making and institutional support related to the cooperative system.
At the event, Sunita Kudle, Nitya Nanda, former MLA Jot Singh Gunsola, ward members Jasbir Kaur, Alka Bhide, Rajveer Chatterjee, Kamalkant Pathak along with a large number of policy experts, academicians, public representatives, researchers, students and people associated with social organisations were also present.
