NHRC Special Monitor Visits ICAR–CIWA, Bhubaneswar, Emphasizes Integration of Human Rights in Agricultural Research

21 March 2026, Bhubaneswar

Prof. Kanhaiya Tripathi, Special Monitor for Human Rights Advocacy (Human Rights Education & Gender Equality), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India, visited ICAR–Central Institute for Women in Agriculture, Bhubaneswar, to review the Institute’s contributions towards women empowerment and integration of human rights perspectives in agricultural development.

Welcoming the dignitary, Dr Mridula Devi, Director, ICAR–CIWA, highlighted the Institute’s significant initiatives and achievements in advancing gender-responsive research and empowering women in agri-food systems. The visit, coinciding with the International Year of Women Farmer 2026, marked a historic first-of-its-kind engagement of an NHRC Special Monitor with the Institute, reflecting a progressive step towards embedding human rights frameworks within agricultural research. Dr Mridula Devi highlighted that such initiatives would significantly advance gender equity and reinforce efforts towards inclusive and sustainable agricultural development.

During the interaction with scientists and staff, Prof. Tripathi appreciated ICAR–CIWA’s pioneering efforts in strengthening the role of women in agriculture and enhancing livelihood opportunities through gender mainstreaming in research and extension systems. He emphasized the need for collaborative research initiatives integrating human rights dimensions and encouraged the publication of high-impact studies on women empowerment in agriculture. He also highlighted the importance of showcasing the Institute’s achievements at global platforms for wider recognition and replication.

Underscoring the significance of aligning institutional efforts with global human rights frameworks, Prof. Tripathi suggested strategic collaboration with international agencies such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to enhance outreach and impact. He further proposed the establishment of a dedicated ‘Human Rights Cell’ at ICAR–CIWA to institutionalize human rights perspectives in research, capacity building, and policy advocacy, and recommended the development of a comprehensive publication on “Human Rights of Women in Agriculture.”

In his address, Prof. Tripathi reiterated that women in agriculture are primary stakeholders with fundamental rights and called for strengthening research that reflects these dimensions.

The visit concluded with a shared commitment to strengthen human rights-based approaches in agricultural research and to further empower women farmers across the agri-food system.

(Source: ICAR-Central Institute for Women in Agriculture, Bhubaneswar, Odisha)