Chennai: The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) celebrated its 44th Foundation Day in Chennai with a slew of initiatives aimed at strengthening rural livelihoods and digital transformation across India.

Graced by key dignitaries including M. Nagaraju, Secretary, Department of Financial Services, Government of India; Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary N. Muruganandam; NABARD Chairman Shaji K.V.; and senior bankers and officials, the event showcased NABARD's enduring commitment to rural development.

A new sub-office in Leh, Ladakh, was inaugurated, underlining the institution's push to expand its frontier presence. Other key launches included a WhatsApp Channel for real-time communication with farmers, a radio jingle on financial inclusion, and a grievance redressal system “NIVARAN” for rural cooperative banks.

Among the major programmes unveiled were the Graduated Rural Income Generation Programme (GRIP) for ultra-poor households and the RuralTech CoLab, a digital innovation platform for rural-focused technologies.

In his address, Chairman Shaji K.V. emphasized NABARD's role in driving inclusive growth through finance, technology, and sustainability. “We aim to scale impact-driven solutions and foster entrepreneurship at the grassroots,” he said.

The event also featured a documentary on NABARD's climate resilience work and the release of three key publications, including RIDF@30 and Beyond Numbers 2025.

DFS Secretary M. Nagaraju hailed NABARD's relevance in tackling climate and digital challenges, while Chief Secretary Muruganandam praised its contributions to Tamil Nadu's rural development.

The celebration marked a renewed commitment to innovation, inclusion, and rural empowerment.