JIHS releases Sonipat Human Development Report 2026
The Jindal Institute of Haryana Studies (JIHS) presented the Sonipat Human Development Report (HDR) 2026 at a ceremony in JGU International Academy in New Delhi. The event convened policymakers, academics, development practitioners, and top leadership of JGU to deliberate on the report's findings and discuss pathways for advancing inclusive district-level development.
The programme, held on April 28, was attended by Mr. Vijai Vardhan, Former Chief Secretary, Government of Haryana, and Mr. Vikas Gupta, Commissioner, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, along with experts including Dr. Dalal Moosa, Ms. Kanta Singh, Prof. Alakh Sharma, Mr. Jagan Shah, and Ms. Amrah Ashraf.
The event began with the release of the Sonipat HDR 2026, followed by presentations by chapter authors highlighting key findings across health, education, environment, labour and livelihoods, governance, spatial transformation, and basic service delivery. The discussion underscored the importance of district-level evidence in shaping equitable and sustainable development strategies. The Sonipat HDR 2026 is designed as a step to strengthen inclusive governance and evidence-based policymaking in India.
'Documentation of Historic Bazaars of Sonipat' Exhibition
On World Heritage Day, JIHS, in collaboration with JSDA, presented 'Documentation of Historic Bazaars of Sonipat', an immersive exhibition on April 17 and 18 exploring the layered histories, architecture, and lived experiences embedded within Sonipat's historic marketplaces.
The exhibition offered 360掳 immersive virtual tours, enabling visitors to digitally walk through the historic lanes of Sonipat; detailed architectural mapping showcasing the intricate beauty and spatial character of historic facades; oral histories documenting narratives and memories of multi-generational shopkeepers; and hand-drawn sketches capturing transformations of the cityscape over time.
The exhibition was led by Prof. Suukanya S., Fellow at JIHS, and directed by Prof. Mrinalini Jha, Director, JIHS.
Study on central government welfare frameworks
An ongoing collaborative research initiative between Welfare Rights and the Law Clinic-II (under the aegis of the Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer Clinic for Legal Aid) and JIHS examines the implementation of central government welfare frameworks on maternal and infant health in Haryana, with specific focus on the districts of Sonipat and Kurukshetra.
The Government of India adopted the Reproductive, Maternal, New-born, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCH+A) framework in 2013 with the aim of addressing the persistently high rates of maternal and infant mortality and morbidity in India. The framework was conceptualised to understand and reduce delays in accessing and utilising healthcare services. Over the past decade, the government has introduced a range of welfare schemes and programmes under this framework to ensure assured, dignified, respectful, and quality healthcare at no cost, while strengthening anti-discriminatory safeguards to prevent denial of services at public health facilities.
