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Session 02: : Inaugural address

Title: Inaugural address: Empowering rural communities through evidence: Learnings from National Rural Livelihoods Mission

On 9 September 2025, 3ie brought together policymakers, researchers, implementers, donors, and self-help group members for a shared dialogue on lessons from the Ministry of Rural Development’s Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission. Joint Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, India, Ms Smriti Sharan gave the inaugural remarks where she spoke about the National Rural Economic Transformation Project (NRETP), launched in 13 states. In this scaling of NRLM, she said, the objective was to accelerate economic development of rural communities by enhancing livelihoods, promoting entrepreneurship livelihoods and promoting entrepreneurship.