NEW DELHI (India CSR): In its twenty-fifth year of rural development, S M Sehgal Foundation (SMSF) received the 8th ISC-FICCI Sanitation Awards 2024 in the category ‘Best Non-Profit Engagement Model in Sanitation (Rural)’ in an event held on November 26, 2024 at FICCI House, New Delhi.
Innovative Soak Pit and Soak Well Designs
This recognition highlights the foundation’s innovative soak pit and soak well designs, which address wastewater management challenges while promoting cleanliness and hygiene in rural areas. These efforts align with the vision of Swachh Bharat and reinforce the foundation’s commitment to sustainable development.
Award Presentation Ceremony
Ashok K. K. Meena, secretary, Sh. Jitendra Srivastava, joint secretary, Depatment of Drinking Water and Sanitation; Mr. Harsh Vardhan Aggarwal, president, FICCI; Ms. Naina Lal Kidwai, chair, and Ms. Natasha Patel, CEO, India Sanitation Coalition, presented the award.
Award Acceptance by S M Sehgal Foundation Team
Salahuddin Saiphy, principal lead, Water Management, Ms. Pooja O. Murada, principal lead, Outreach for Development and Ms. Priya Chaudhary, assistant program lead, S M Sehgal Foundation, accepted the award on behalf of the organization. In their address, Pooja and Salahuddin dedicated this award to the rural communities and the CSR partners who support the implementation, sustainability, and replicability of the project in the villages.
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SMSF Water Management Program
The SMSF Water Management Program focuses on harvesting and storing rainwater, replenishing groundwater, reviving traditional water bodies, and promoting access to safe drinking water through innovative, low-cost technologies and encouraging WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) behavior change. It also provides WASH training and hand-holding support for the capacity building of practitioners.
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S M Sehgal Foundation’s Mission and Impact
S M Sehgal Foundation has been working since 1999 to improve the quality of life of the rural communities in India by addressing critical issues such as food security, water security, and strengthening community-led development initiatives across rural India. Operating across 13 states and more than 2,727 villages, the foundation has reached 5.27 million people with its mission to drive social, economic, and environmental change through efforts in water management, agricultural development, and transforming the lives of schoolchildren. S M Sehgal Foundation continues to make a meaningful impact in rural communities.
(India CSR)
