The Sehgal Foundation was established as a Trust in 1999 to help reduce poverty and improve the quality of life in rural India. Its goal is to empower individuals and communities to take care of themselves, and eventually help them become self-sufficient. In order to be self-reliant, it is essential that development is multidimensional, and to achieve this, the Foundation promotes an Integrated, Sustainable Village Development (ISVD) model. This comprises five key programs: water management, income enhancement, rural health, family life education and alternative energy.
At the grassroots level, these programs are implemented by a dedicated team of field workers from the villages themselves, who work closely with the local bodies. Personnel on the field receive support from a team of experienced and highly qualified professionals based at the Foundation’s headquarters in Gurgaon. Both the field workers and the headquarters’ team visit the villages on a regular basis, to interact with the communities and involve the people in all key decisions.
The Foundation’s mission is:
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To make a visible difference in the quality of life in the rural areas through better health, education, skills building, and increased income
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To help increase farm productivity by promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and linking farmers to markets
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To undertake crop improvement research, and support programs in biodiversity and genetic conservation
The Foundation is currently active in twelve villages in the Mewat and Kurukeshtra districts of Haryana. Each of these villages is expected to serve as a role model for neighboring villages, which will eventually form twelve clusters of development-oriented villages.
The Foundation works closely through Village Champions (VCs) to disseminate its ISVD model to other villages in the area. Village Champions are selected for their ability to lead the community from within, and are trained intensively by the Foundation. In the future, their training will take place at the Foundation’s Institute for Rural Research and Development (IRRAD), which is currently under construction in Gurgaon.
IRRAD will be a one-of-its-kind facility with four integrated disciplines: rural research, training, advocacy and field activities. Once established, the Institute will play a vital role in expansion of the ISVD model and work closely with policy makers. The training facilities will be shared with other NGOs and volunteers involved in rural development. This will enable the Foundation to actively forge partnerships with other organizations in order to create synergies and accelerate the development process.
Through its ISVD work, the Foundation contributes to the realization of the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), to which India is a signatory. In recognition of its efforts towards achieving the MDGs, the Foundation was granted Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in 2005.
The Sehgal Foundation is funded by the Sehgal Family Foundation, established by Dr. Suri Sehgal and his wife Edda Sehgal in Des Moines, Iowa, USA.
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