The rural-urban transition in Madhya Pradesh and its impact on villages, which demand more focused human development, were the key points of discussion in the third edition of the India Rural Colloquy, organized by Transform Rural India (TRI), was launched by hearing voices on the ground - at the sharp end of change - with two regional events in Ranchi and Bhopal. The Bhopal edition was held at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Good Governance and Policy Analysis (AIGGPA) in Bhopal on July 18, coinciding with the auspicious International Mandela Day.

Manoj Kumar Shrivastava, Retd IAS officer, Former ACS-DoPRD, GoMP was the keynote speaker during the inaugural session for this event. He said, "A rural renaissance is not possible without a self-governing and self-reliant village-society and it is possible only through a strong Panchayati Raj Institutions towards ending rural poverty and socio-economic inequality." This state-level convening focused on directional vision and public narrative towards a hopeful and actionable renaissance agenda of quality education for all, universal access to healthcare, economic growth, jobs, and a resilient environment.

The Colloquy titled "The New Village" began with a meaningful opening session during which, Margaret Gwada, Chief, UNICEF (MP) said, "Documentation and amplification of best practices is crucial for the development of rural areas as in most cases solutions are available at the grassroots. She also pointed-out that Childerns engagement is equally important for holistic development of rural areas. They are facing problems like unavailability of clean drinking water, sanitation, hygiene, protection, and education."