Cover Story
Announcement: Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Rural Development with UW–Madison
(S M Sehgal Foundation team with the members of University of Wisconsin-Madison)
In partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Madison, S M Sehgal Foundation (SMSF) launched the Interdisciplinary Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Rural Development to strengthen academia and social sector collaboration and accelerate global development. Furthering this pursuit, the SMSF team is pleased to work with the Global Health Institute on a pilot nutrition project in select villages of Haryana and Rajasthan. The specific goal is to generate awareness among children and adults about the importance of vitamin A in their diet. We look forward to nurturing this valuable relationship and working together with the University of Wisconsin.
Stories of Change
Like many parts of Bihar, East Champaran faces significant challenges related to undernutrition among women and children, including stunted growth, wasting, low weight, and anemia. S M Sehgal Foundation presented a workshop under the Krishi Jyoti Project, supported by Mosaic India Private Limited, to raise nutrition awareness among frontline workers.
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Partnership Highlights
Empowering Women Farmers with Solar Drying in Prayagraj
Under the Bolstering Farmer Producer Organizations (FPO) Project, S M Sehgal Foundation, with funding from Walmart Foundation, installed four solar dryer units across four FPOs in Prayagraj, each with a 500 kg capacity. These solar-based dryers are primarily utilized by women farmers, benefiting more than 1,100 female FPO shareholders.
(Farmers at the solar drying unit)
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Two Mega Buyers and Sellers Meet
The annual ritual of Buyer-Seller Meets, organized by S M Sehgal Foundation as part of the Bolstering Farmer Producer Organizations project with support from the Walmart Foundation, was even bigger this year.
(Buyer and Sellers Meet in Kolar, Karnataka)
More than 1,600 farmers participated along with input and output market companies, including officials from government departments, filling the events with hope for a prosperous agriculture sector.
(Buyer and Sellers Meet in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh)
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Month At A Glance
Jalagam 2.0 Wraps Up in Bikaner!
(Dr. Ruchira Bhattacharya, assistant professor, NIRD≺ Mr. Anshul Ojha , chief executive, Desert Resource Centre; Dr. Indira Khurana, chairperson, Indian Himalayan River Basins Council)
Jalagam 2.0, a national-level workshop, promoted stakeholder collaboration on community-led rural water security in Bikaner Zila Udyog Sangh. Enabled by DCB Bank’s CSR initiative and supported by NIRDPR as the knowledge partner, the event brought together experts, policymakers, practitioners, and community representatives to explore sustainable water management solutions. More than 200 participants from grassroots organizations and the civil society, Jalagam 2.0 highlighted innovative approaches, local success stories, and collaborative strategies to strengthen water security in Rajasthan and beyond. Read more…
(DC visiting intervention villages of Nuh, Haryana)
DC Visit to Project Villages
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Vishram Kumar Meena, along with Assistant Commissioner Anirudh Yadav and Vijay Pratap Singh, Superintendent of Police, Nuh, visited the Uleta Pond in the presence of Village Development Committee and key village members. S M Sehgal Foundation, under a CSR-supported initiative, rejuvenated the pond in 2024–25. The DC selected Uleta and Manuwas villages for the “Ratri Thairav Yojana,” which mandates that every DC must spend at least one night per month in a village.
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Women’s Day 2025
(Pooja O. Murada, principal lead, Outreach for Development, SMSF, at the IIT Bombay webinar)
This Women’s Day, Radio Connect FM 107.8 (a SMSF initiative) participated in a webinar featuring various topics and issues, including a “Science in Everyday Life” radio program, in collaboration with IIT Bombay Spoken Tutorial. Pooja O. Murada participated as a panelist, shedding light on the series’ impact in motivating young women from rural Haryana and Rajasthan to pursue careers in science. Read more…
Community Radio Connect completed thirteen years of broadcasting as of in March 2025.
Women’s Leadership at She Leads
(Pooja O. Murada, principal lead, Outreach for Development, SMSF, at She Leads)
Ms. Pooja O. Murada was a distinguished participant at “She Leads: Women’s Leadership in Politics at Subnational Levels,” organized by the High Commission of Canada in India and the Impact and Policy Research Institute (IMPRI).
The event brought together women sarpanches, academicians, journalists, and media professionals dedicated to advancing women’s leadership.
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A Platform for Awareness in Ghasera
(Shashank Devra, program lead, Local Participation & Sustainability, SMSF, addressing the community)
In Ghasera village, Haryana, an interface program brought community members together, giving them a space to share their concerns and seek clarity on government initiatives that impact their daily lives. The discussion touched on crucial issues like crop insurance, animal care, water access, sewage systems, and child marriage, giving people the knowledge they need to make informed decisions. Read more…
Water Stewardship Dialogue
(Salahuddin Saiphy, principal lead, Water Management, SMSF, at the UNGC conference)
Salahuddin Saiphy was an invited speaker at the UN Global Contact’s Uniting for Nature: A Collaborative Conference on Forest & Water Stewardship, held at the Taj, Bangalore. He presented a SMSF case study on the impact of check dams in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh. The initiative transformed villages reliant on water tankers and rainfed agriculture into self-sustained communities with a public water supply. Read more…
Insights from IGWC-2025 Presentation
Salahuddin Saiphy presented a research paper abstract titled “Impact of Water Conservation Measures through Check Dams on Water Resources in Semi-Arid Regions: A Case Study from Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh” during the International Groundwater Conference (IGWC-2025) in Roorkee.
(Salahuddin Saiphy, principal lead, Water Management, SMSF)
Shiv Nadar University Industry Partners Summit 2025
Sam Kapoor, senior manager, AI and Academic Partnerships, SMSF took part in the Shiv Nadar University Industry Partners Summit 2025, where he joined top business leaders to talk about the future of work. The conversation centered on innovation, people-first leadership, and the skills needed to keep up in a fast-changing world.
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Water, Research and Training
Innovative Solutions for Groundwater Sustainability
Lalit Mohan Sharma and Aparajeeta Vaibhav were invited to present at NITI Aayog workshop on “Sustaining Groundwater Sources for Drinking Water Supply” in Bhubaneswar, Orissa. Their innovative approach, “Creating Fresh Water Pockets with Saline Aquifers,” along with insights on “Household Water Treatment,” were selected for discussion, highlighting practical solutions for groundwater sustainability.
Highlighting the need for collective action, this workshop brought together policymakers, scientists, technologists, and local communities to protect groundwater sources for both current and future generations.
(Aparajeeta Vaibhav, program lead, SMSF, at NITI Aayog workshop)
(Lalit Sharma, principal scientist, SMSF, introducing MatiKalp in Paderu)
MatiKalp Ceramic Pot Filter in Paderu
The first-ever MatiKalp Ceramic Pot Filter has been molded at a new production unit in Paderu, Andhra Pradesh. This initiative by the LAYA Resource Center marks a significant step toward ensuring safe drinking water for tribal communities, with technical support from S M Sehgal Foundation, the Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology (CAWST), and Potters for Peace. Meanwhile, construction is underway for an energy-efficient, eco-friendly kiln to fire the filters, enhancing sustainability, quality, and efficiency. This milestone reinforces a strong commitment to innovation, sustainability, and the well-being of the community.
Blogs & Media
Podcast
SMSF Connect Podcast features a bouquet of interesting programs about rural development and other social issues and themes. TUNE IN to our podcast channel on I-RadioLive. Podcasts also available on Spotify.
Editorial Team: Pooja O. Murada, Marly Cornell, Priya Chaudhary
Contributors: S M Sehgal Foundation team
Photo Credits: S M Sehgal Foundation staff
Design and Production: Outreach for Development team
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