British High Commission Delegation Engages with ADRI to Understand Bihar’s Socio-Political Landscape

Patna: A three-member delegation from the British High Commission in India embarked on a visit to the Asian Development Research Institute (ADRI) on Wednesday with the aim of gaining insights into Bihar’s current social, political, environmental, and economic dynamics. Led by Natalia Leigh, Head of Political and Bilateral Affairs at the British High Commission in New Delhi, the delegation sought to understand the key areas of research being undertaken by ADRI.

During the interaction, Dr. Ashmita Gupta, Member-Secretary of ADRI, highlighted the institute’s commitment to bridging grassroots activism with academic rigor, earning the trust of local political parties over the years. ADRI has recently expanded its research focus to include environmental and health issues, with Dr. Sanchita Mahapatra shedding light on the institute’s efforts to assist the state government in combating infectious diseases like Dengue through data-driven interventions.

Dr. Sunil Gupta emphasized ADRI’s ongoing research on the impact of air pollution on vulnerable communities, underscoring the institute’s role in providing recommendations to the government to improve ambient air quality. Professor Ajit Sinha, director of ADRI, stressed the significance of local-level politicians in ensuring equitable access to government schemes for marginalized populations.

Dr. Sunita Lall of ADRI highlighted the role of women in Bihar’s political landscape, noting their consideration of various government schemes while making electoral decisions. Natalia Leigh pledged to advocate for increased collaboration between the British High Commission and ADRI across multiple domains, including environment and education, to support Bihar’s progress in human development.

The discussion also saw participation from Bhavna Vij, Senior Political Economy Advisor at the British High Commission in New Delhi, and Arunabha Bhattacharya, Political Analyst at the British Deputy High Commission in Kolkata, reflecting the collaborative efforts towards fostering deeper engagement between the British High Commission and ADRI.