Mission

PMRD Fellowship is an initiative of the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) where in the focus is to reduce poverty and improve the lives of people in rural India. PMRD Fellowship is being implemented in collaboration with State Governments. During the two-year duration of the Fellowship, PMRD Fellows will work closely with District Magistrates of backward and remote districts in improving programme delivery and interface with marginalized sections, aiming to reduce the developmental and governance deficits.

Fellows will also participate in a post graduate degree programme through e-enabled distance learning and contact sessions leading to M.Sc/M.Phil in Development Practice, to be conducted by Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS). Immediately after successful completion of the two year fellowship, a PMRD Fellow is required to spend one year in public service as a paid full-time employee of the State Rural Livelihood Mission in the State she/he is assigned to. It is expected that by their work in the field as well as through their participation in the academic programme, PMRD Fellows will enhance their capacity in programme implementation, gain field experience, acquire professional knowledge in development practice and become capable development leaders and facilitators - a much needed resource for ensuring equitable growth in India.

Thus the PMRD Fellowship has the twin objective of providing short term catalytic support to the district administration in remote districts to improve programme delivery as well as to develop a cadre of committed and competent development leaders and facilitators, who are available as a resource for rural development over the long term.

PMRDF will function as development facilitators, and will engage in the following activities:

• Work with institutions of the poor to build their capacity and help them access their rights and entitlements.
• Facilitate capacity building in Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and in institutions of local democracy, like panchayats.
• Conduct socio-economic analysis of the local areas at Block level and contribute in ascertaining the felt needs of the people.
• Help the district administration in local area planning.
• Assist in better implementation of poverty alleviation programmes, particularly MGNREGA, NRLM, National Rural Drinking Water Programme, NBA, IWMP, NSAP, IAP, ICDS, NRHM SSA/RMSA etc.
• Undertake action-research to discover more appropriate ways of programme delivery by the district administration
• Design and implement innovative projects.
• Provide feedback on rural development initiatives.

The job requires PMRDF to have a strong commitment to the values of equity & social justice & a passion for making a difference in the lives of the people.

For more information, see:

• http://rural.nic.in/sites/programmes_PMRDFS.asp
• http://rural.nic.in/pmrdfs

• PMRDFS Inauguration Report, April 2012
• Message from the Minister of Rural Development