Cover Story.
Sehgal Foundation Honored with Iowa State Proclamation.
Sehgal Foundation received a proclamation from the State of Iowa Executive Department for the social development work in India and in Iowa, USA.
During her trade mission to India, Governor Kim Reynolds visited the foundation office in Gurugram and learned about the social initiatives in agriculture development, water management, and women’s empowerment.
The Proclamation she signed during her visit details appreciation by the Governor and the State of Iowa. This celebratory honor is in recognition of Sehgal Foundation’s work to empower rural India for twenty-five years. Click here to read the proclamation . . .
Stories of Change.
Niyaz expressed, “The application of liquid foliar fertilizers has delivered exceptional outcomes in my agricultural land. So I intend to continue utilizing this method for cultivating vegetables. Other farmers have also been impressed by observing the outcomes and are considering adopting this technique.”
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Small acts of generosity create lasting impact. Start today!
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Top Feature.
Bhamashah Award Bestowed to SMSF.
S M Sehgal Foundation received the Bhamashah Award for the seventh consecutive year in the Shiksha Vibhushan category from the Rajasthan Department of Education. The award was presented by Mr. Madan Dilawar, Cabinet Minister of Education and Panchayati Raj, during a state-level event in Udaipur. SMSF was honored for significant contributions to transforming government schools and establishing digital libraries in rural Alwar through its Transform Lives one school at a time program. Mr. Navneet Narwal, principal lead; Mr. Shailesh Pant, program lead; and Mr. Ankit Ojha, program lead, accepted the award on behalf of the foundation.
Mr. Shailesh Pant was also felicitated for his contributions through the Krishi Jyoti project supported by Mosaic India Pvt Ltd.
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Union Minister Inaugurates Transformed School in Alwar.
Sh. Bhupender Yadav Ji, Honorable Union Cabinet Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, inaugurated the newly transformed Government Senior Secondary School and Digital Library in Ahirbas village, Alwar District, Rajasthan.
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Partnership Highlights.
Celebrating a Greener Tomorrow!.
A successful plantation drive was conducted under the Watershed Development Project, supported by First American India (FAI), in Kolar, Karnataka.
With 120 passionate volunteers, alongside gram panchayat members and Tank Users Group members, the team collectively planted 170 saplings, marking a significant step toward environmental conservation and sustainable development.
A Milestone in Water Conservation.
Two rejuvenated ponds were inaugurated under the Water Conservation Project in Bhiwani and Jhajjar districts, Haryana, supported by IndusInd Bank’s CSR program. Located in Nigana Kalan and Bajina, these ponds now have a combined water storage capacity of 16 million liters. Over the next two years, the project will create an additional 60 million liters of storage through seven ponds across six villages, benefiting 22,000 people.
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Month At A Glance.
Farmers Gain Insight on ICRISAT Exposure Visit.
Forty-seven farmers from ten villages in Chegunta, Medak, came to ICRISAT, Patancheru, for an inspiring exposure visit.
The group explored advanced agricultural practices, learning about ICRISAT’s innovative crops such as sorghum, millet, and groundnut, along with irrigation methods.
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Celebrating Nutrition Month.
This Nutrition Month celebration brought maximum participation from women across six villages of the Indri, Punhana, and Nagina blocks, Haryana. The events highlighted themes that included anemia, complementary feeding, early childhood care, and government programs. Women shared experiences of growing kitchen gardens.
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SMSF Experts Share Insights at Leading Development Conferences.
Ms. Anjali Makhija, CEO and trustee, S M Sehgal Foundation, was the invited speaker at the “Environment and Carbon Conference 2024,” organized by Assocham, and also at the “Water & Philanthropy: Vision 2050” session during the IWMI-Tata Partners’ meeting.
Ms. Makhija highlighted key issues, such as the circular economy and resource conservation, and philanthropy’s role in achieving the development goals through water security.
Read more on Assocham conference and IWMI-Tata.
Pooja O. Murada, principal lead, Outreach for Development, S M Sehgal Foundation, was invited by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, and CEMCA, as a community radio expert to the Community Radio Awareness Workshop held in Agartala, and as a guest speaker at the AIBD/KCC/KISDI Pre-Summit Workshop on Promoting Media Accessibility for Vulnerable Groups in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
This discussion alongside esteemed delegates set the stage for the 19th Asia Media Summit, which included over 400 attendees from 40+ countries.
Read about CEMCA conference and the Asia Summit.
UNESCO Project Documentation.
As part of project documentation for UNESCO, the CAWST team visited Bihar, where they met with satisfied users of the JalKalp and MatiKalp systems, illustrating the positive impact of these low-cost water treatment solutions on local communities.
Interns Column.
“My internship at S M Sehgal Foundation has been marked by immense personal growth. I am grateful for the supportive mentors and the opportunity to explore food system transformation. I will cherish this experience.”
— Calla Doh
Student at Rice University, Houston, TX
“I am deeply grateful for this internship opportunity. I gained a deeper understanding of media and communication’s role in amplifying social change. This kind of experience is something everyone should pursue.”
— Dawson Bird
Student at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
Workshops and Training.
WASH Workshops.
A five-day workshop, Creating Effective WASH Training, was successfully conducted from September 9–13, 2024, in Goa. Delivered by the Center for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology (CAWST) and organized by WASH I, the program enabled participants to develop comprehensive lesson plans and training modules focused on climate change and its impact on the WASH sector.
Another workshop, Delivering Effective WASH Training, was held from September 24–27, 2024, in Orchha, Madhya Pradesh, in collaboration with CAWST (Canada), the Regional Centre for Urban and Environmental Studies (RCUES, Lucknow), and WASH I (Delhi). Participants from the government sector showed great enthusiasm throughout the event.
News & Articles.
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: Marly Cornell, Pooja O. Murada, 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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