28th April 2026 | JGU International Academy, Taj Mahal, New Delhi
From Evidence to Action: Leveraging District Human Development Reports for Inclusive Development
The Delhi presentation of Sonipat Human Development Report 2026 and panel discussion, hosted by JIHS, brought together policymakers, academics, and development practitioners to engage with the report’s findings and discuss pathways for advancing inclusive, district-level development.
Mr. Vijai Vardhan, Former Chief Secretary, Government of Haryana, and Mr. Vikas Gupta, Commissioner, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, graced the occasion, along with distinguished experts including Dr. Dalal Moosa, Ph.D, Ms. Kanta SIngh, Prof Alakh Sharma, Mr. Jagan Shah, and Ms. Amrah Ashraf. The event was also attended by the leadership of O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU).
The programme featured presentations by chapter authors, highlighting key findings across sectors such as health (Prof Indranil & Mr. Mushruff ), education (Prof Manini Ojha & Prof Narbadeshwar Mishra), environment (Prof Bramha Gupta & Prof Jannet John), labour and livelihoods (Prof Rahul Menon, Prof Mrinalini Jha, & Mr. Aniket Raykar), governance (Prof Ramaswamy Sudarshan & Prof Suraj Kumar), spatial transformation, and basic service delivery (Prof Bhuvaneswari Raman, Mr. Shubham Shekhar, Mr. Rithish GP, Mr. Bharath).
Key insights from the discussion:
Social protection as a core pillar: Dr. Dalal Moosa, Ph.D. highlighted its role as part of the social contract, especially for vulnerable populations, and stressed the need to include migrant data and simplify reports through infographics.
Gender and participation gaps: Ms. Kanta Singh reflected on the decline in girls’ participation in education and sports like volleyball in Sonipat over time, emphasising the role of cultural factors, better indicators, and gender-disaggregated data.
Vulnerable employment & data: Prof. Alakh Sharma underscored the importance of identifying vulnerable employment and strengthening primary data at the district level.
Spatial transformation & governance: Mr. Jagan Shah called for district-level spatial planning infrastructure, stronger roles for local governments, and deeper examination of the financialisation of spatial assets.
Global relevance of HDRs: Ms. Amrah Ashraf noted that with over 800 Human Development Reports globally, India leads in sub-national HDRs, reinforcing their continued importance.
The discussion reinforced a clear message: district-level evidence, when effectively communicated and institutionalised, can play a transformative role in shaping inclusive and responsive policy. Read Sonipat Human Development Report here: Click Here
Read Executive Summary of Sonipat Human Development Report in English Language here: Click Here
Read Executive Summary of Sonipat Human Development Report in Hindi Language here: Click Here
Access all reports here on our website: Click Here
Comments and feedback is welcomed on the report from policymakers and stakeholders on our official JIHS email address jihs@jgu.edu.in
