SDG Awards 2024

Finalist Profile

Welcome to the SDG Awards, a distinguished recognition program honoring the remarkable contributions of individuals, organizations, and initiatives in championing the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Finalist Profile

Sehgal Foundation

About Company

SDG Awards 2024

Category - SDG 1 - No Poverty

Agricultural Development: Promotes sustainable farming practices, empowering farmers, including women, with improved techniques and technologies to enhance their livelihoods.

➜ Agricultural Development: Promotes sustainable farming practices, empowering farmers, including women, with improved techniques and technologies to enhance their livelihoods.

➜ Water Management: Ensure reliable water sources for rural communities, reducing water scarcity and improving agricultural productivity.

➜ Education: Provide initiatives, including digital literacy and enhance economic opportunities.

1. What is the local impact your organization has achieved regarding your selected SDG? (No Word Limit)

Founded by crop scientist, entrepreneur, and Indian American philanthropist Suri Sehgal in 1999, S M Sehgal Foundation operates in over 2,500 Indian villages, impacting more than five million people across twelve states. With a mission rooted in collective attainment of Sustainable Development Goal 1: No Poverty, the Foundation recognizes that inclusive growth requires a strategic mix of interventions addressing the most pressing needs of marginalized communities. Central to this mission is the belief that investing in social capital drives sustainable social development. The Foundation’s rural development efforts underscore the critical role of an empowered citizenry and accountable participation in enhancing equitable development. Focusing on water conservation, food security, and community participation, S M Sehgal Foundation has introduced and supported a range of practices to enhance the livelihoods of the rural communities, such as adoption of high-value crops like capsicum and broccoli, strengthening and reviving Farmer Producer Organizations, establishing Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs), introducing goatery as an alternate source of livelihood, empowering Pashu Sakhis by providing them with employment opportunities and contributing to women’s empowerment in rural areas, farm mechanization inputs, climate-resilient agri practices for enhance income and accessibility to government schemes, and entitlements through Citizen Information Support Centre (CISC). High-Value Crops The agriculture team of experts work with farmers and conduct training sessions and field days to promote the adoption of high-value crops like broccoli, capsicum, tomatoes through staking, onion etc. A demonstration is done through control plot and demo plot, using necessary micronutrients such as zinc, sulfur, calcium nitrate, and others. Farmers are trained on the vegetable farming. The yields produced in the plots are then used as examples for the adoption. Under a CSR project, Pradeep from Tauro block, Haryana, harvested 2,500 kg of broccoli in half an acre of his demonstration plot from which he earned approximately INR 70,000 in total sales. His cost of cultivation in half an acre was INR 15,000, making is profit to INR 55,000. Farm Mechanization The aim of the community‑led intervention is to impart sustainable solutions in the themes of agriculture, livelihood, and entrepreneurship development. For enhancing income in agriculture, the foundation promotes entrepreneurship‑oriented mechanization in small farming. Ishwar Singh, from Mahendragarh, Haryana, received the power weeder machinery at a subsidized rate. The power weeder reduced the labor-intensive work of weeding and also improved the overall efficiency and productivity of their agricultural operations. Ishwar facilitated the use of the machinery through a custom hiring center that facilitates affordable renting of farm machinery on a per-acre basis to many farmers in Khampura. Over the course of a farming season, Ishwar Singh successfully weeded 22.5 acres of land for his fellow farmers using the power weeder machine. He generated an income of INR 22,500, representing a substantial boost to his family’s income. Entrepreneurship Models Custom Hiring Centers To help small and marginal farmers in mechanization, the foundation under various CSR-supported projects provides select farm machines, including the zero tillage machine, at the Custom Hiring Center. Despite initial scepticism among farmers, many take up the challenge and move forward. The machines and implements are provided to the farmers at a subsidized rate. Custom hiring centers play a crucial role in enhancing the economic stability of small and marginal farmers by providing affordable access to essential agricultural machinery and services. These centers allow farmers to rent equipment, and agri-tools like Wheat/mustard/millet seed drills, threshers, MB plough, rotavators, reapers, bed-maker, cultivators, boom sprayer, laser leveler, and carrot washing machines, among others, that they could not otherwise afford, leading to increased productivity and reduced labor costs. 21 CHCs have been established by the foundation across states like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Haryana and Karnataka.

2. What is the global impact your organization has achieved regarding your selected SDG? (No Word Limit)

Meeting with the issues on a global scale and working to achieve the SDGs. S M Sehgal Foundation, a charitable trust established in India in 1999, focuses on community-driven development to bring about positive social, economic, and environmental change in rural India. Our work targets key issues such as natural resource management, small-scale agriculture, gender equality, and local participation and sustainability. The foundation empowers local communities by providing them with tools, knowledge, and networks to build sustainable futures. Recognized by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the foundation plays a role in advancing global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by sharing its efforts on a global platform. To ensure basic needs and dignity for rural communities, the foundation emphasizes both economic growth and enhancing community well-being. Its key programs are shaped by the most pressing needs in villages, focusing on water management, agricultural development, local participation, school transformation, and outreach initiatives. These efforts are backed by research and are interwoven with a strong commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment. With a vision of empowering every rural person to lead a secure and prosperous life, the foundation, as of June 2024, has expanded its programs to 2,658 villages in 66 districts across 12 states, impacting over 5.11 billion people.

3. What is the scalability of your innovation and how do you plan to achieve it? (No Word Limit)

In addressing Sustainable Development Goal 1 (SDG 1), which seeks to end poverty in all its forms, the foundation’s vision centers on empowering rural communities to lead secure, prosperous, and dignified lives. The foundation's approach is distinctive in its participatory methodology, which drives social change in India’s rural communities. This method leverages social accountability, rooted in the fundamental relationship between the state and its citizens—citizen rights and the state's obligations to uphold those rights. The foundation empowers marginalized individuals to actively participate in a system from which they have been historically excluded, enabling collective action. Additionally, all states, regardless of economic status, provide some form of social protection, making it easier to mobilize communities to demand better public services and increased local participation. The program's success in other remote regions of India, particularly those inhabited by tribal populations, suggests its adaptability to various contexts. In such areas, state and central governments often provide public services that are underutilized due to widespread corruption and lack of awareness. This addresses this gap by raising awareness, enabling citizens to demand the services they are entitled to. Furthermore, the project’s methodology requires no technical expertise in its training processes, as the focus is on educating and guiding communities on effectively utilizing information. The initiative is cost-efficient, with no need for infrastructure development or maintenance costs. Long-term sustainability is ensured by training a critical mass of participants, whose collective engagement can drive lasting change.

4. What is your organization’s unique strategy for using technology to achieve your selected SDG? (150 Words Limit)

The integration of advanced machinery and modern technology in agriculture can significantly tackle issues such as poverty, resource scarcity, climate change, hunger, and malnutrition. Mechanization reduces time and labor costs, lowers input expenses, minimizes weather and labor risks, enhances produce quality and quantity, and boosts farm income. In India, where 43% of the population is engaged in agriculture, a targeted Agriculture Development Program aims to increase mechanization among small and marginal farmers through subsidized farm machinery. This initiative instils ownership and entrepreneurship among farmers. Key tools include paddy threshers, seed drills, power weeders, super seeders, laser leveling systems, and solar-powered pumps. The program also focuses on empowering women and small farmers by strengthening village institutions, such as women-led Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and Farmer Interest Groups (FIGs). Innovations like water-efficient irrigation and crop residue management contribute to sustainable practices and improved economic outcomes for farmers.

5. What challenges did you encounter while working for your selected SDG, and how did you address them? (150 Words Limit)

Mobilizing a community to work collectively toward its development presents significant challenges, particularly as individuals often resist external efforts that may imply their current way of life falls below accepted standards. Bringing people together, instilling a sense of ownership, and helping them recognize the importance of interventions, such as improved agricultural practices and entrepreneurial models, require consistent effort. Encouraging community members to actively participate in creating and sustaining village-level institutions like Village Development Committee, Farmers’ Group, Women Groups; the members in these groups engage in training, and contribute to the sustainability of these initiatives. Maintaining motivation over time is a recurring obstacle in sustaining efforts that drive positive change, as people may struggle to see the long-term benefits or view these changes as disruptive to their established routines.

6. How did you engage local communities and stakeholders in your work, and what was their feedback? (150 Words Limit)

The creation of committees such as the Village Development Committee (VDC), Farmer Groups, Women Farmers’ Club, Water User Groups (WUG) among many others, play a vital role in managing development interventions. At the beginning of the project, a VDC is established, including village members, a panchayat representative, and a member of S M Sehgal Foundation. This committee oversees decision-making, resource and community mobilization. To encourage community ownership, the VDC, with project support, initiates monetary contributions from residents for infrastructure maintenance. This financial engagement highlights the community’s commitment to sustaining the project. Additionally, planning meetings involving various stakeholders such as farmers, residents, and committee members ensure that the project addresses local needs. Regular monitoring and feedback is collected from the community and which is then further used as examples successful case studies to encourage other members. Feedback from these meetings helps shape project design and execution, aligning interventions with community aspirations.

7. Which organizational skills and resources did you use to deliver goods/services without harming the environment or society? (150 Words Limit)

At S M Sehgal Foundation, we prioritize climate-smart adaptation in all our interventions to ensure the sustainable delivery of goods and services. Our organization operates from a green building, which demonstrates our commitment to eco-friendly practices. We regularly conduct awareness campaigns and training sessions to educate communities on sustainability, ensuring that environmental concerns are integral to our work. Through these efforts, we help create a responsible attitude toward natural resource conservation. Our focus on climate-smart practices and continuous sustainability training enables us to minimize our environmental impact while serving society. The foundation aligns operations with what we advocate, we ensure that our services benefit both the environment and the communities we work with. The interventions are designed with community involvement; people are consulted and the initiatives are tailored to their needs, ensuring a balanced development of rural India.

8. In your view what roles do businesses, governments, and civil society should play in achieving the SDGs, and how can they collaborate effectively? (150 Words Limit)

The Trifecta for Sustainable Development: Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) demands a unified approach that involves businesses, governments, and civil society. Businesses have a pivotal role by embedding sustainability into their operations, investing in forward-thinking solutions, and pushing for regulations that align with sustainable development objectives. Governments, in their capacity as policymakers and enforcers, are vital for crafting supportive frameworks, delivering essential public services, and ensuring both transparency and accountability. Civil society, on the other hand, engages communities, monitors advancement, and holds both public and private sectors accountable for their actions. True progress requires coordinated efforts among these sectors. Governments can establish sustainability through incentives that encourage businesses to adopt responsible practices. Civil society can push for policies that directly support the SDGs and drive awareness. In turn, businesses can engage in meaningful partnerships with civil society, co-creating innovative approaches to complex sustainability challenges.

9. What advice do you have for individuals or organizations aiming to create positive change and support the SDGs? (150 Words Limit)

Individuals and organizations seeking to contribute to positive change and support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can take several strategic approaches. First, identify the deep cause of the problem on ground, these problem can be related to a particular SDG. Focusing then on a need-based SDGs, can make a more targeted and impactful contribution. Second, prepare a plan to work together with the communities to find solutions. This knowledge will inform effective solutions and prevent unintended consequences. Third, build partnerships with other organizations and individuals who share their goals. Collaboration can amplify efforts and leverage diverse resources. Fourth, prioritize equity and inclusivity in all initiatives. Ensuring that marginalized communities are involved and benefit from change is essential for creating a just and sustainable future. Finally, measure progress and learn from experiences to continuously improve strategies and outcomes. The project should be able to sustain so people can reap the fruitful results for generations to come.

10. How would winning this SDG Award help you enhance your impact and expand your project? (150 Words Limit)

Winning the EUTECH SDG Award will greatly enhance our foundation’s impact and extend our reach. As a distinguished program that recognizes exceptional dedication and innovation in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the award will be a significant endorsement of our work. This accolade will increase our visibility, highlighting our successful projects and initiatives on a global platform. It will not only validate our innovative methods and impact but also attract new partners, supporters, and stakeholders, thus expanding our network and resources. S M Sehgal Foundation completed twenty-five years in 2024, and winning this award will give us an opportunity to share our success stories and best practices with a broader audience, creating a stronger global community committed to the SDG agenda.

11. What are your future objectives regarding your selected SDG? (150 Words Limit)

Our future objectives for SDG 1 (No Poverty) focus on empowering rural communities, especially farmers, to lead dignified lives. We aim to strengthen Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) to enhance their collective bargaining power, ensuring better market access and fair remuneration for farm produce. By providing accurate information on government subsidies and programs, we aim to bridge the information divide that often leaves the rural poor unaware of available support. We will also advocate for improved information channels, equipping farmers with the knowledge and tools to access profitable markets. Through these efforts, we aspire to uplift rural livelihoods and contribute to a sustainable reduction in poverty.

SDG Awards 2024

Finalist Profile

Finalist Profile

Sehgal Foundation

About Company

SDG Awards 2024

Category - SDG 1 - No Poverty

1. What is the local impact your organization has achieved regarding your selected SDG? (No Word Limit)

2. What is the global impact your organization has achieved regarding your selected SDG? (No Word Limit)

3. What is the scalability of your innovation and how do you plan to achieve it? (No Word Limit)

4. What is your organization’s unique strategy for using technology to achieve your selected SDG? (150 Words Limit)

5. What challenges did you encounter while working for your selected SDG, and how did you address them? (150 Words Limit)

6. How did you engage local communities and stakeholders in your work, and what was their feedback? (150 Words Limit)

7. Which organizational skills and resources did you use to deliver goods/services without harming the environment or society? (150 Words Limit)

8. In your view what roles do businesses, governments, and civil society should play in achieving the SDGs, and how can they collaborate effectively? (150 Words Limit)

9. What advice do you have for individuals or organizations aiming to create positive change and support the SDGs? (150 Words Limit)

10. How would winning this SDG Award help you enhance your impact and expand your project? (150 Words Limit)

11. What are your future objectives regarding your selected SDG? (150 Words Limit)

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