He r E x c e l l e n c y t h e President of India, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil delivered the Golden Jubilee Lecture on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the National Institute of Rural Development on December 30, 2008. Her Excellency in her address observed that the National Institute of Rural Development has over the last fifty years carved for itself a prominent place amongst the premier institutions of the country and has emerged as a well-known training organisation for rural development managers and built for itself a reputation as a Centre of Excellence. While lauding the important role played by the Institute in the evolution of rd the 73 Constitution Amendment which paved the way for the creation of the Panchayati Raj System and restructuring of rural development programmes, Her Excellency stated that NIRD will augment its training infrastructure for extending capacity building support in various aspects of integrated rural development to the representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions, especially women. Her Excellency underscored the importance of food security and optimum utilisation of land resources and advisedthat NIRD should encourage the development of farmer-friendly machines. Her Excellency observed that rural communities face many and opportunities and institutes should provide creative answers to these challenges and convert them into opportunities for the development of rural India. According to Her Excellency an important assignment will be to make technologies available for developing rural communities and in this context she mentioned the efforts made by the NIRD towards creating a Technology Bank (TeBank).

Dr. Raghuvansh Prasads Singh, Hon'ble Union Minister for Rural Development, underscored the important role played by the NIRD as a Think Tank of the Ministry and in training and capacity building support to the rural development functionaries for successful implementation of the rural development programmes. He stated that stated that the Government is planning to eradicate rural poverty by 2015 and highlighted the implementation of the NREGA programme and other efforts for women empowerment, health insurance, Right to Information, Self-Help Group movement, etc. made by the Ministry of Rural Development.

Shri Chandra Sekhar Sahu, Hon'ble Union Minister of State for Rural Development, while speaking on this occasion observed that the NIRD is undoubtedly the institution of excellence in the field of training and research in rural development. He advised that the Institute must endeavour not only to sustain past performance but to strive every day to improve upon it further into an organisation of international excellence. He mentioned that overall development of rural India is the primary concern of the present UPA Government and special thrust is laid on the sustainable all-round development of the rural sector. Training and capacity building are crucial to the Ministry's efforts and NIRD has fulfilled its mandate in providing the required support to the Ministry.

Dr. Rita Sharma, Secretary, Rural Development, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, presented the welcome address. Shri Narayan Datt Tiwari, Governor of Andhra Pradesh, and Shri Chinna Reddy, Minister for Rural Development, Government of Andhra Pradesh graced the occasion. Shri B. K. Sinha, Director General, NIRD proposed a vote of thanks.

During the visit, Her Excellency the President of India has unveiled the statue of Mahatma Gandhi and planted a sapling on the NIRD campus. Her Excellency also laid the foundation stone for the PG College and Hostel.

A p h o t o e x h i b i t i o n depicting the history and activities of NIRD was organised on this occasion. A Rural Crafts Mela and Book exhibition was also organised in connection with the Golden Jubilee celebrations of NIRD during January 2-5, 2009.