The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi to formalise their partnership in applications of geospatial technology and artificial intelligence (AI), marking a significant stride towards technological advancement in rural development.
The MoU centres around the project “BhuPRAHARI”, an ambitious initiative aimed at leveraging ground and space-based geospatial technologies along with AI to monitor and manage assets under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
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The project is to be executed by HydroSense Lab led by Prof Manabendra Saharia.
“The collaboration is a commitment to harnessing the power of technology for the betterment of rural development processes,” the MoRD said in a statement.
According to officials, the integration of cutting-edge technologies is expected to modernise the way rural development projects are planned, monitored, and executed, ensuring accountability, and optimising resource allocation.
In addition, the MoU marks the beginning of a collaborative effort to explore and apply technological solutions to the challenges faced by rural communities.
Through this partnership, IIT Delhi and the MoRD are setting a precedent for how academic institutions and government bodies can work together to foster innovation and drive socio-economic progress, the statement noted.
The BhuPRAHARI project is set to commence with immediate effect, with both parties eager to translate this vision into reality.
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