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Top Feature .
Jalagam Workshop Series Concluded in Jhansi.
S M Sehgal Foundation, in collaboration with DCB Bank and NIRDPR-National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj as the knowledge partner, held the fourth and final workshop of Jalagam Capacity Building and Experience Sharing series in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, on March 14, 2024.
Ms. Anjali Makhija, trustee and CEO, S M Sehgal Foundation, inaugurated the workshop and launched the white paper consolidating best practices to promote community stewardship in mitigating climate change and promoting water security at the grassroots. The paper features community stewardship efforts for water management from various regions across India. Read more . . .
Stories of Change
A nicely painted building of an anganwadi center in Rigarh village, Ferozepur Jhirka block, Nuh, Haryana welcomes children and pregnant and nursing mothers to spend part of their day in this stimulating, newly renovated building.
The relevance of the building can be estimated with the population it serves.
Read more . . .
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Partnership Highlight
Walmart Supports Bolstering Farmer Producer Organizations
S M Sehgal Foundation announced the extension of its project “Bolstering Farmer Producer Organizations” in Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka. Initiated in 2023 for two years with a philanthropic grant of $1.5 million from Walmart Foundation, this next phase will reach twenty-three Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) with 23,000 members and enhance the capacities of FPOs to promote climate-resilient practices and develop infrastructure that add value to crop production. Read more . . .
HDFC Bank Parivartan CSR Project Across Locations
In various parts of India, initiatives under the Parivartan Project, facilitated by the S M Sehgal Foundation, are making significant impacts in rural communities.
(HRDP handover in and appreciation letter, in Nuh, Haryana)
Nuh, Haryana:
During a village-based event held in Firozpur Jhirkha, S M Sehgal Foundation handed over the Holistic Rural Development Project (HRDP) carried out in Nuh, Haryana, under the HDFC Bank Parivartan project, to the community members upon its completion on March 13, 2024. HRDP featured themes of natural resource management, education promotion, livelihood and skill development, and healthcare and sanitation. Read more . . .
S M Sehgal Foundation also received appreciation for renovating six anganwadi centers in Nuh, Haryana, which included infrastructure improvements and repairs, BaLA painting, provision of recreational equipment, and construction of toilets facilities. Ms. Sunita, the Women and Child Development project officer, acknowledged the foundation’s efforts on March 2, 2024. The renovated anganwadi centers promise to greatly enhance early childhood development.
(Stall Exhibition in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh)
Mathura, Uttar Pradesh:
On March 6, 2024, S M Sehgal Foundation showcased agricultural initiatives at the National Goat Fair and Agricultural Technology Exhibition 2024 in Mathura. This event, organized by ICAR’s Central Goat Research Institute, featured twenty-five stalls representing over fifteen states, displaying various aspects of agriculture, goat rearing, and products made by women, including pickles and ghee. As part of Parivartan Project’s efforts to empower women and improve their livelihoods, women involved in the mustard extraction unit were invited to demonstrate and sell their products at the fair.
A convergence meeting held on March 5 facilitated interactions between community members, government officials, and department heads, enabling them to learn about and derive benefits from various programs.
(Stakeholders workshop in Champawat, Uttarakhand)
Champawat, Uttarakhand:
Champawat Monal Farmer Producer Company (FPC), formed under the Parivartan Project’s focused development program, has seen numerous successes since its inception. Led by women, the FPC has established itself as a viable business, contributing to the progress of rural Champawat.
A stakeholder workshop on March 11, inaugurated by Mrs. Shivani Pashbola, Civil Judge Champawat, celebrated the achievements of the 2,000 rural women associated with the FPC. Directors of Champawat Monal discussed future strategies at the workshop, which also featured stalls showcasing products made by various women’s groups.
World Water Day Highlight
Coexist, by Bollywood actor, Alia Bhatt, is an initiative towards environment and wildlife welfare. On World Water Day 2024, a collaborative post on Instagram was shared; their team has given S M Sehgal Foundation a shoutout for the exceptional work in water management and security.
See the video here.
Month At A Glance
Women’s Day Celebration
International Women’s Day was celebrated in Rampur Village of Medak District, Telangana, as part of the “Empowerment and capacity building of women farmers on better agriculture practices” project. The event highlighted the achievements of progressive women farmers from Chegunta block who have embraced new agricultural practices introduced and promoted by S M Sehgal Foundation, such as soil testing, drip irrigation, better crop management, kitchen gardening, and integrated pest management.
In addition, in four villages in the Sri Ganganagar region of Rajasthan, International Women’s Day was celebrated under CSR-supported initiative to empower rural women and dispel prejudices.
Exposure Visit to IIHR
The farmers’ visit to the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR) in Bengaluru focused on enhancing the knowledge of ten Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and Krishi Jyoti project participants from Kolar. Farmers explored value-added techniques for horticultural crops, learned about new technologies to boost productivity, and grasped the significance of border crops. They were also introduced to new seed varieties and high-yield saplings. The farmers gained insights into allied activities to bolster their income such as beekeeping, livestock rearing, and agroforestry. Such exposure equips farmers with innovative approaches for better yields, improved market opportunities, and sustainable livelihoods. A total of 700 farmers benefited from this.
Water Management Expedition to Sierra Leone
Mr. Salahuddin Saiphy, principal lead of Water Management, S M Sehgal Foundation, undertook a two-week expedition to Sierra Leone, West Africa. The purpose of the trip was to engage in a learning exchange and provide technical expertise on rainwater harvesting and water conservation projects. The initiative was prompted by challenges faced by local farmers, particularly during the summer months when water scarcity becomes a pressing issue.
S M Sehgal Foundation Honored for Rural Development Efforts
The College of Social Work at Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, has honored S M Sehgal Foundation for its impactful contributions to social work and rural development in the region. Mr. Yogesh Singare, assistant program lead, S M Sehgal Foundation, accepted the award on behalf of the foundation from Pro-Vice Chancellor Dr. Prashant Amrutkar, Principal Dr. PM Shahapurakar, and Dean Dr. Salunke.
Interns from Malla Reddy University Conclude Training
Six students from Malla Reddy University, School of Agricultural Sciences, Hyderabad, Telangana, recently finished a forty-five-day internship at S M Sehgal Foundation. Their internship tenure focused on community development in water conservation projects, local participation and sustainability, water management, agriculture development initiatives, empowerment and capacity building of women farmers, and assessing the project’s impact toward improving infrastructure and digital awareness among students in Telangana.
SMSF Let’s Connect Podcast
With capacity building at the core, the Bolstering Farmer Producer Organization project, implemented by S M Sehgal Foundation with support from the Walmart Foundation since 2021, is guided by the belief that strengthening FPOs will enable more opportunities for smallholder farmers in India. Mr. Nishant Gupta from Walmart Foundation, in conversation with Ms. Pooja O. Murada, principal lead of Outreach for Development, S M Sehgal Foundation, shares more about how the project transitioned from its first phase to the next as he speaks in our podcast series.
Listen to the entire episode here.
Conferences and Workshops
S M Sehgal Foundation Teams Up for Water Workshops Across India
In Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, a three-day training workshop on Rainwater Harvesting took place, organized by S M Sehgal Foundation in collaboration with CAWST and Shramik Bharti. Participants engaged actively and shared action plans to sustain water conservation efforts.
S M Sehgal Foundation, CAWST, and WASH Institute joined together in Jaipur for a four-day workshop on Delivering Effective WASH Training (DEWT) from March 12–15, 2024. Representatives from ten states came together, fostering a safe and collaborative learning environment.
In Guwahati, a three-day workshop was held on Arsenic and Fluoride Mitigation, initiated by S M Sehgal Foundation for the Centre for Microfinance & Livelihood (a Tata Trust initiative). The team shared comprehensive strategies developed to effective fluoride and arsenic mitigation.
Blogs & News
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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