1. The name of the Society will now be National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (NRIDA).

2. The Registered Office of the Society is 5th Floor, 15-NBCC Tower, Bhikaji Cama Place, New Delhi-110066.

3. Background

Government of India have embarked upon a programme of construction of Rural Roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). The programme envisaged the setting up of National Rural Roads Development Agency (NRRDA) to extend support to the programme through advice on technical specifications, project appraisal, appointment of part-time Quality Control Monitors, Management of Monitoring Systems and submission of Periodic Reports to the Ministry of Rural Development.

The Cabinet in its decision dated 23.03.2016 approved the proposal to provide technical support to Central and State Governments in developing housing designs, drawings, estimates, adoption of appropriate technologies, training modules and related activities in rural areas under Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G). Such technical support would be provided to Central Government and States by augmenting and strengthening National Rural Roads Development Agency (NRRDA). Thus, the augmented and strengthened NRRDA, which would focus on infrastructure development (roads, housing and other rural infrastructure) in rural areas, would now be known as National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (NRIDA). NRIDA shall also handle capacity development of technical professionals at the national, State and district levels in partnership with international and national level institutions of repute.

This Agency is envisaged as a compact, professional and multi-disciplinary body.

4. Objectives

The following objectives shall be for:

(I) Rural Roads

• a. To discuss with different Technical Agencies and arrive at appropriate Designs and Specifications of Rural Roads and, thereafter, to assist the Ministry of Rural Development in prescribing the Designs and Specifications of Rural Roads, including Bridges and Culverts.
• b. To determine the tasks to be performed by the Principal Technical Agencies and State Technical Agencies.
• c. To appoint reputed Technical Institutions as Principal Technical Agencies and State Technical Agencies to perform the tasks to be entrusted to them.
• d. To render assistance to States or Union Territories in preparing District Rural Roads Plans.
• e. To scrutinize or arrange to scrutinize the proposals received from States and Union Territories for consideration by the Ministry of Rural Development.
• f. To oversee and inspect or arrange to inspect through Independent Monitors, the execution of the road works cleared by the Ministry and being implemented by States or Union Territories through their Executing Agencies.
• g. To appoint serving or retired Engineers, Academicians, Administrators and other Agencies, with experience in Rural Roads, as Independent Monitors to ensure proper execution of road works by the State Agencies.
• h. To monitor the progress of the road works with particular reference to time frame for completion, Technical Specifications, Project Appraisal and Quality Control methods.
• i. To set up an “On-line Management Monitoring and Accounting System”, incorporating both intranet and internet-based system, for obtaining updated information to facilitate a ready viewing and screening of data.
• j. To send periodic reports to the Ministry of Rural Development on the progress of implementation of road works by the States or Union Territories.
• k. To Monitor the planning for and plantation of fruit bearing and other suitable trees on both sides of the rural roads undertaken by the States or Union Territories, under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana.
• l. To Monitor the expenditure incurred by the States or Union Territories in implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, with reference to the funds released by Ministry of Rural Development through expenditure reports obtained from the States or Union Territories and through On-line Management Monitoring and Accounting System.
• m. To take up research activities relating to Rural Roads, including execution of Pilot Projects.
• n. To study and evaluate different Technologies in respect of Rural Roads and to take up pilot projects involving different technologies.
• o. To enter into collaboration with Institutions, Agencies or Bodies of repute, both national and international, in respect of Rural Roads.
• p. To arrange suitable Training Programmes for officers of the Ministry as well as the State Governments or Union Territories concerned with the implementation of the Rural Roads Programme in reputed institutions.
• q. To advise on measures to improve the Quality and Cost norms of the Rural Roads.
• r. To publish books, literature, take up or arrange for production of publicity material, print, audio or audio-visual in respect of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana.
• s. To organize and sponsor workshops and seminars in respect of Rural Roads.
• t. To purchase, lease and hire equipment or machinery required in the construction of Rural Roads.
• u. To take up such activities as necessary to further the objective of the Programme and assist the Ministry of Rural Development in Planning and Implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana and such other related Programmes as may be taken up.

(II) Rural Housing

• a. To act as Special purpose Vehicle for receiving financial assistance from NABARD and distributing it to the states based on the fund gap vis-à-vis the target communicated by the Ministry.
• b. Assist States in development of Annual Action Plan and follow-up on the decisions taken during the meeting of Empowered Committee to finalize the Annual Action Plan.
• c. Working with agencies such as UNDP, IIT, etc. and also assist States for the development of state-wise housing design typologies including Plan, Elevation, and Estimates appropriate to different regions.
• d. Assist the Centre and States in implementing masons’ training programme.
• e. Support the States in identifying State Technical Support Agencies and conduct orientation and refresher training for state Technical Support Agencies and other state level technical personnel.
• f. Coordinate production and supply of quality building materials. Negotiate with industry associations to facilitate access to construction materials at lower cost than available in the market and facilitate setting up of district materials banks.
• g. To assist and advise the States in setting up project management units at State, District and Block level.
• h. To contribute to the design and development of IT management systems to improve performance and transparency and reduce leakages. Identify appropriate monitoring indicators to be incorporated into MIS and support the Ministry of Rural Development in analyzing the MIS data.
• i. To manage the content of Rural Housing Knowledge Network (RHKN) portal through involvement of stakeholders.
• j. To conduct training programs for the officers of the Ministry as well as State Governments and Union Territories concerned with implementation of the housing scheme.
• k. To publish books and literature and arrange for production of publicity material.
• l. Organize national and regional workshops as per requirement of Ministry of Rural Development.
• m. Hiring of professionals to undertake various activities essential to the execution, monitoring and improvement of Rural Housing programs.
• n. Facilitate national media coverage on initiatives carried out in Rural Housing.
• o. Undertake research, pilot studies, monitoring and evaluation studies on Government’s rural housing programme and to ascertain the status of rural housing in the country.
• p. Develop proposals for R&D in rural housing in partnership with research institutes.
• q. To take up such activities as necessary to further the objective of the Programme and assist the Ministry of Rural Development in Planning and Implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana and such other related Programmes as may be taken up.

5. Pursuant to the aforesaid objectives, the Agency

a. Shall be a compact, professional and multi-disciplinary body and the personnel will be appointed or engaged on deputation or hired on contract basis. There will be no permanent appointment in the NRIDA.

b. Will draw Monitors from different Disciplines, States, Union Territories and other Organizations (Public Sector or Private Sector), on Part-time basis for some days in a month, to serve as Independent Monitors.

c. May do all such other acts and things, either alone or in conjunction with other organizations or persons, as the National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency may consider necessary, incidental or conducive to the attainment of the objectives mentioned above.

6. The Agency may raise funds by way of the following

• a. Grants-in-aid by the Central Government.
• b. Loans from NABARD and/or any other financial institution.
• c. Contribution from multilateral agencies.
• d. Contribution from companies under CSR.
• e. Any other manner with the permission of the General Body.

7. The names, occupations and address of the first members of the General Body are as follows:

8. It is acknowledged and admitted by all concerned that the National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency is established by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India in public interest.

9. In case, if necessary, the Agency can be dissolved as per the provisions laid down under Section l3 and 14 of the Societies Registration Act, 1860.

10. We, the several members, whose names and addresses are given below, having associated ourselves for the purpose described in this Memorandum of Association, do hereby subscribe our names to this Memorandum of Association and set out several and respective hands hereunto and agree to the restructuring of the society and amendment in Memorandum of Association thereof pursuant to the resolution passed in General Body of the society as per the provisions of the Society under Societies Registration Act, l860 on this day, the (date) of (month) 2020.

Witnesses