RDC-Prayas flagship initiative brings together students and parents from six villages; announces new career program ‘Deeksha’
Hyderabad, November 24, 2025 – The Rural Development Centre (RDC) at Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH), in collaboration with its student-led outreach group Prayas, successfully organized Prerna 2025, a flagship program designed to inspire rural school students and their parents to pursue education with confidence, awareness, and long-term ambition.
Over 500 Participants Engage
As part of IITH’s commitment to rural empowerment, inclusive education, and community development, Prerna 2025 brought together over 500 participants—students, parents, and teachers—from villages including Kandi, Indrakaran, Cheriyal, ODF, Yeddumailaram, and Kalivemula.
The initiative showcased IITH’s ongoing efforts to build strong bridges with surrounding rural communities through mentorship, STEM learning, awareness programs, and parent engagement.
Director’s Vision for Rural Empowerment
Addressing the students, Prof. B S Murty, Director, IIT Hyderabad, said: “Through RDC and the dedicated efforts of our Prayas student team, IIT Hyderabad is deeply committed to empowering rural communities. By nurturing curiosity, confidence, and aspirations among young students and supporting their parents, we aim to inspire the next generation of innovators from our neighbouring villages.”
He quoted Mahatma Gandhi: “The soul of India lives in its villages and the villages are backbone of India as well as source of our rich culture, heritage, tradition and customs. The capacity building programs improve employment opportunities in villages and mitigate urban migration, ensuring uniform demography distribution.”
Police Chief Motivates Students
Shri Paritosh Pankaj, IPS, Superintendent of Police, Sangareddy, also addressed and motivated students to believe in the power of discipline, purpose, and self-confidence in shaping their future pathways.
Hands-On STEM Learning
A hands-on STEM workshop on building balloon-powered cars encouraged scientific curiosity and teamwork among participating students. This practical activity demonstrated scientific principles while fostering collaborative problem-solving skills.
Students also toured IITH’s academic blocks and laboratories, receiving firsthand exposure to the institute’s research-driven learning environment, giving them a glimpse of higher education possibilities.
Parent Engagement Session
Parents participated in an interactive session where Dr. Sri Rama Chandra Murthy Machiraju, founder of Akshardaan, spoke about lifelong learning and the crucial role parents play in nurturing children’s aspirations.
This engagement recognizes that transforming rural education requires not just inspiring students but also empowering parents to support their children’s educational journeys.
3E Framework: Education, Empowering, Employment
In his closing remarks, Dr. Satish Regonda, Department of Civil Engineering & Chairperson, RDC, IITH, highlighted IITH’s vision for rural transformation through its 3E framework — Education, Empowering, and Employment.
He also recalled the launch of the Next Bharat Skill Development Center on October 31, 2025, a major step in expanding IITH’s rural skilling ecosystem.
New Career Program ‘Deeksha’ Announced
Significantly, Prayas announced its upcoming career-focused program “Deeksha” designed to make rural students career-ready. This initiative will include career guidance sessions and school outreach visits during parent-teacher meetings, extending IITH’s impact beyond one-time events to sustained mentorship.
IITH’s Rural Development Commitment
Prerna 2025 stands as a testament to IITH’s belief that education, community partnership, and empowerment can transform rural futures and enable young learners to dream and achieve beyond limitations.
The event reflects IITH’s broader commitment to social responsibility and demonstrates how premier educational institutions can contribute meaningfully to rural development through sustained community engagement.
About IIT Hyderabad
IITH, established in 2008, has reached a respectable position in academics, research, and innovation in just 17 years. In NIRF-2025, IITH is ranked 7th among Engineering institutes and 6th in Innovation.
With 340 full-time faculty, 5,700+ students, and Rs.1,630+ crore in R&D projects, IITH has established itself as a research powerhouse. The institute has generated 2,37,000+ citations, 610+ patents, and supported 330+ startups that have created 1,100+ jobs with revenue of Rs.1,500+ crore.
IITH operates with the motto: “Inventing & Innovating in Technology for Humanity (IITH)” — a vision that extends beyond campus boundaries to neighboring rural communities.
