Mr. Jitendra Kumar serves as the director of the rural connectivity division of the Ministry of Rural Development for the Government of India. This division hosts one of the government’s flagship programs, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (Prime Minister Village Road Scheme), which provides all-weather road connection in rural areas of the country. Mr. Kumar is responsible for approval for rural road projects, release of project funds, and monitoring of physical and financial progress of projects. Previously, he was deputy conservator of forests for the Indian Forest Service. He also has worked for the electricity department of Goa, India. Mr. Kumar holds a Master of Science degree in forestry from the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy and a bachelor’s degree in technology from the India Institute of Technology in Kanpur. During his fellowship year, Mr. Kumar will pursue a Master of Public Affairs degree.