Dr. M V Rao, an Indian Administrative Officer, served as Director General, National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRD & PR) and Chief Executive, National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB). He also held assignments of District Magistrate of Malda and Midnapore districts of West Bengal in India. He was also Senior Consultant in UNICEF. He has been working for several years on innovative, practical and action-oriented ideas for participatory development of people at grass roots. His earlier publications include 'Goal: Clean and Healthy India (2015)' and 'Persistence and Change in Tribal India (2012)'.