Three decades ago, Lupin Human Welfare & Research Foundation (LHWRF), widely known as Lupin Foundation began a quest for transforming rural landscapes by reaching out to millions through its rural development initiative with an indomitable passion for bringing smiles on the faces of poor people living in the most deprived, desolate and discreet villages of India.
Established on 2nd October 1988, on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, it began as an independent entity promoted by Lupin Limited – a pharmaceutical giant for implementing CSR activities all over India. This absorbing journey of last 30 years has taken the organisation beyond CSR activities and evolved into a prominent corporate NGO in the country engaged in hands-on implementation of development programmes.
Lupin Foundation organised a memorial lecture to remember their Founder and Chairman, Dr. Desh Bandhu Gupta on his second death anniversary in New Delhi, wherein achievers on Rural Development, representing various region and interventions, recognised for their significant contribution to the rural economy and serving the people of rural part of the nation.
Also Read: Lupin Foundation organises first Desh Bandhu Gupta Memorial Lecture
“Lupin Foundation has always strived to recognise the efforts of the people and reward individuals; the Memorial Day also recognised ‘18 Rural Achievers’ who successfully overcame their hurdles and became an example in their communities.”, company informed India CSR.
Sita Ram Gupta, Executive Director, Lupin Foundation said, “Dr. Desh Bandhu Gupta’s philanthropic and pioneering efforts in India’s CSR space had touched the lives of lakhs of people in more than over 4 thousand villages through a growth oriented model of rural development. Our job is not yet over, we will continue to strive hard and keep his vision alive for betterment of rural development.”
Here is the list of ‘18 Rural Achievers’ identified by the Lupin Foundation:
Region: Bharatpur
Raghuveer Singh: A rural entrepreneur who created more than 2000 jobs in the beekeeping sector, Singh started his business with a small pool of his own household funds. His honey empire today caters to domestic markets and also exports and is valued over Rs. 5 crores. He has been an inspiration for various budding entrepreneurs in his village. He efforts have earned his village Bhuchaka the title of ‘the honey village’.
Suman Singh: A leading woman entrepreneur of her village, Suman today proudly employees over 50 women in the garment sector. She started her journey as a member of a small SHG and today deals with leading fashion houses and garment export.
Amar Singh: Singh is an entrepreneur who set up rural food processing unit that employees 50 people in his area. He began his journey with limited knowledge to utilise his Amala produce. Today, he is a successful business man who sells multiple Amala products and is also in the working towards creating a food processing trend in the local area.
Ombati: She started her own tulsi bead–making, wherein she assembled tulsi bead–making machines at village level. Lupin Foundation with the IIT –RUTAG, Delhi provided her with an upgraded technology for her unit, which boosted her outcome. Till date she has trained more than 1000 women and supplied more than 300 machines to 12 States, providing employment to over 50 rural women
Region: Alwar
Dhupa Devi Meena: She has empowered women and helped with village development through agriculture, animal husbandry, cottage industry, sanitation, education, health and social issues like child marriage, dowry and alcoholism.
Region: Dhule
Dr. Dhanajay Newadkar: He developed Lamkani village as a model for fodder development. Today, Lamkani village is self–sufficient for its fodder needs and has helped to maintain vegetation in the village. His latest agenda is towards Water Resource Development.
Harshal Vibhandik: An NRI and Lupin Foundation’s development partner for E–Learning project in Dhule, Mr Harshal has played a key role to make digital Dhule into reality. It was his efforts that resulted in installation of E–Learning systems in all Zilla Parishad schools. He conducted Prerna Sabh in more than 300 villages to mobilize villagers for contribution
Region: Dhar
Balkrishan Shukla: He developed a model school.
Vinayak Sitaram Chakve: He has actively participated in promotion and establishment of FPO in order to create a forward and backward supply chain for the village. He has worked with Lupin foundation in implementation of various projects like IGWDP, CCA and SDP.
Region: Pune
Devidas Pawar (Buchakewadi): Active participation in promotion and establishment of FPO to establish forward and backward supply chain for the village. Working with Lupin foundation in implementation of the various projects like IGWDP, CCA and SDP.
Region: Tarapur
Parshuram Ganpat Parhad: He is a successful farmer who has followed the Integrated model of agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, floriculture etc. Mr. Parhad has trained more than 50 farmers in his village and actively participates in mobilisation and implementation of activities carried out by Lupin Foundation.
Region: Ankleshwar
Jayaben Patel: Two term Sarpanch of her village who through her active participation has brought development in areas like sanitation, education, agriculture, NRM, animal husbandry and renewable energy. She has also been successful to bring implementation of Government schemes and NGO led projects to her village.
Region: Sindhudurg
Sanjeev Karpe: For developing a self–sustaining institutional ecosystem in bamboo producers Sanjeev Karpe, Founder & Director of KONBAC is appointed as Expert member on the steering committee of “INBAR International Task Force – Bamboo Construction”. International Network for Bamboo & Rattan (INBAR) is an Intergovernmental body having 43 member counties and headquartered at Beijing, China. Sanjeev Karpe is also recently appointed as ‘Bamboo Expert’ on the project: “Promote Bamboo MSME Clusters for Sustainable Development” in 9 states.
Region: Jammu
Roshanlal: Roshanlal lost his legs in cross border firing and was unable to get any employment. It was hard for him to meet the needs of his family. With the help from LHWRF he established a rural mart and now is independent and able to cater to the financial needs of his family.
Region: Vizag
Kolla Gyani, Srujanavani Voluntary Association: Through SRUJANAVANI Voluntary Association, he implemented Career Counselling project of Andhra Govt. in 64 schools of 7 mandals covering 10,000 Class IX & X students, conducted Leadership Development Program for 350 students of Vikas Vidya niketan, trained 1500 women on alternate livelihoods such as – tailoring, dairy, micro enterprises, small ruminant rearing, etc. Under Yuvakiran programme, scholarship was given to 300 rural scholars covering 15000 children. Organized 10 Medical camps in remote tribal gram Panchayats benefiting 2000 beneficiaries.
Region: Dabhasa
Dr. Minakshi Chauhan: District TB officer who actively participated in TB control in Dabhasa district in collaboration with LHWRF. Coordinating government staff and NGO partner in successful implementation of the TB project
Region: Sikkim
Tek Bahadur Gurung: As an Agripreneur, he has motivated 80 youth in farming activities along with dairy, fisheries, cash crop, etc. His farms are now training and resource centres.
