NRIDA and IIM Kolkata have signed an MoU for a four-year longitudinal study to assess the long-term socio-economic impact of rural roads under PMGSY-IV and PM-JANMAN.
The National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (NRIDA) under the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Management Kolkata (IIM Kolkata) for a four-year longitudinal impact assessment study.
The study will assess the long-term impact of roads constructed under PMGSY-IV and PM-JANMAN on rural mobility, accessibility and socio-economic conditions.
The MoU was signed by Ms Aditi Singh, IAS, Director General, NRIDA, on behalf of NRIDA and Prof. Alok Kumar Rai, Director, IIM Kolkata. Secretary, Rural Development, Shri Rohit Kansal, and other officials from the Ministry of Rural Development and IIM Kolkata were also present.
NRIDA and IIM Kolkata Launch Four-Year Impact Study
The NRIDA-IIM Kolkata study will follow a longitudinal approach to assess changes in rural communities over time.
The study will cover 10 States/UTs, 50 districts, 150 blocks and 250 roads. The states and UTs covered will include Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Sikkim and Uttarakhand.
The assessment will involve a survey of approximately 5,000 households.
NRIDA Study to Track Rural Connectivity Outcomes
The study will assess the impact of rural roads on mobility, accessibility, socio-economic conditions and access to essential services.
It will use baseline and endline surveys to measure changes before and after road construction. The Baseline Survey, or pre-construction survey, will take 14 months.
This will be followed by a transition period of approximately 12 months. The Endline Survey, or post-construction survey, will take another 22 months.
This longitudinal approach will help assess how rural connectivity outcomes change over an extended period.
Study to Assess Socio-Economic Impact of Rural Roads
The study will examine how improved rural roads influence livelihoods, employment, income diversification, agriculture and non-farm activities.
It will also assess access to markets, household welfare and rural deprivation. Particular attention will be given to changes in travel time, transportation costs, mobility and access to livelihood opportunities.
The assessment will further examine migration patterns and variations in outcomes across different regions and vulnerable groups.
NRIDA-IIM Kolkata Study to Examine Education and Healthcare Access
The impact assessment will also cover access to education, healthcare, women’s empowerment, safety and essential public and financial services.
The study will examine whether improved rural connectivity produces sustained socio-economic benefits for rural households.
It will also assess changes in outcomes over time and identify differences across regions and vulnerable sections of the population.
Study to Support Rural Infrastructure Planning
The four-year assessment is expected to generate evidence on the long-term developmental impact of rural road connectivity under PMGSY-IV and PM-JANMAN.
The findings may help identify implementation gaps, emerging challenges and areas requiring policy intervention.
The collaboration between NRIDA, Ministry of Rural Development and IIM Kolkata is expected to provide inputs for programme review, outcome monitoring, evidence-based policy formulation and future planning in rural infrastructure development.
Source: PIB
