MoRD signs MoU with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to strengthen grassroots institutions

The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana, National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM). 

Aim:

The MoU aims to strengthen grassroots institutions of the rural poor.

Signed by: 

The MoU was signed by Smt. AlkaUpadhyaya, Additional Secretary and Mission Director NRLM on behalf of MoRD and by Shri AlkeshWadhwanion behalf of BMGF in presence of Secretary, Shri Rajesh Bhushan who appreciated the initiative and collaboration between the two parties.

MoU provisions:

♦ The MoU reiterates DAY-NRLM and the Foundation's shared focus on improving the lives of India's poor and the marginalized with the aim of reducing poverty through institutions of marginalized rural women for promotion of diversified and gainful self-employment while creating skilled wage employment opportunities.

♦ The MoU will remove barriers such as gender inequality and lack of opportunities for women's entrepreneurship and poor health.

♦ It will provide access to financial institutions and markets. 

♦ As per the MoU, the Ministry will make use of the foundation’s expertise, and leverage its network, to provide technical assistance and support to the DAY-NRLM.