New Delhi: The S M Sehgal Foundation is a non-profit organization that focuses on community-led development in rural areas. They work to empower villages and citizens to drive social change and improve their own lives. The foundation uses a variety of methods to achieve this, including training and education, infrastructure development, and community organizing.
One of their major successes has been in the state of Haryana, where they have helped to improve the lives of farmers like Irfan. The foundation has organized 19,000 crop demonstrations and trained farmers in modern practices to increase crop yields. They have also used laser leveling to improve irrigation on 3,464 acres of land, and trained 6,900 students in digital and life skills.
Irfan, a farmer from the district of Nuh, was one of the farmers who participated in these demonstrations. His land was saline and had limited irrigation, which led to low yields. However, after participating in a demonstration of modern practices for cultivating millet, he was able to see a major increase in yield on his demonstration plot compared to his traditional methods. He then decided to adopt the modern practices for his entire field.
The foundation’s work in Haryana has led to lasting impact and sustainability. Village development committees and institutions are now able to maintain the physical and social capital created in the villages even after the foundation completes their projects and trainings. This is the power of empowerment, and it is the foundation’s goal to continue to empower communities and drive social change at the grassroots level.
As of December 2022, the foundation has reached 4.2millon people across 12 states of India.
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