KU holds conference on rural development

Srinagar, Nov 29: The Department of Social Work, University of Kashmir (KU), organised a two-day national conference on “Rural Development in India with Special Reference to Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA)” at the Main Campus.

The conference aimed to examine the functioning of local governance structures, assess the role of capacity-building initiatives under RGSA, and discussed pathways to strengthen community participation in rural development.

In her presidential address Vice-Chancellor KU, Prof. Nilofer Khan noted the importance of connecting academic work with on-ground realities, stating, “Strengthening grassroots institutions is essential for ensuring that development reaches people in a meaningful way. Universities must support this process through research that speaks of the realities of rural governance.”

Dean Academic Affairs KU, Prof. Shariefuddin Pirzada, said that discussions on RGSA help build clearer academic insights into the evolving needs of Panchayati Raj Institutions.

In his keynote address, Prof. Bipin Jojo, Dean, School of Social Work, TISS Mumbai, highlighted the importance of linking rural development programmes with community-led approaches, highlighting the need for sustained institutional support.