In the days following World Water Day, S M Sehgal Foundation received two awards in recognition for work in water conservation and awareness. At the World Water Day celebration in New Delhi, the foundation was honored with the Best NGO Award for Rainwater Harvesting by Water Digest. Also received was the Best Water Awareness Campaign Award in the NGO category from EverythingAboutWater for its community radio Connect FM 107.8 series Jal Jungle Zameen.
SMSF Signs MoA with the Airports Authority of India for Project Gyaan Sanchiti
This one-year initiative focuses on the transformation of schools and the establishment of digital library with computer labs in four government schools in Alwar, Rajasthan, strengthening students’ access to digital learning and educational resources. The MoA was signed by Mr. Vivek Kumar Gupta, general manager (Engg.–E), MIS and CSR, Airports Authority of India, and Ms. Anjali Makhija, trustee and CEO, S M Sehgal Foundation, marking a step toward enhancing learning environments and promoting digital education in rural schools.
(R to L: Priya Kumar, manager, Partnerships and Fundraising; Ankit Ojha, program lead, Transform Lives one school at a time; Neema Joshi, associate director, Partnerships and Fundraising; and Anjali Makhija, CEO and trustee)
Celebrating the Strength and Leadership of Rural Women
On the occasion of International Women’s Day 2026, S M Sehgal Foundation, in partnership with Pernod Ricard India Foundation (PRIF), organized community celebrations in Kanpur Dehat, Uttar Pradesh and Behror, Rajasthan, under the Gram Utkarsh and Abhivriddhi projects. The Gram Utkarsh initiative in Kanpur Dehat is working with more than 1,200 farmers in twenty villages. The Abhivriddhi initiative in Behror is working with seventeen villages and more than 1,600 farmers. The projects are strengthening community-led development and women’s participation across the regions. Read more…
(Buyer-seller meet on March 13, 2026)
(Field visit on March 17, 2026)
Brewing Stronger Connections for Sustainable Coffee
S M Sehgal Foundation organized a buyer–seller meet and field-level interaction in Chikkamagaluru, Karnataka, in March 2026 under the India Coffee Climate Resilient Landscape (ICCRL) program, with financial and management support from JDE Peet’s, HUL, and IDH. The buyer–seller meet brought together over 600 small coffee growers from Chikkamagaluru and Hassan with buyers, roasters, and service providers, enabling direct market linkages and knowledge exchange on sustainable cultivation practices. A subsequent field visit at a demonstration farm engaged farmers and representatives from partner organizations in discussions on regenerative coffee farming, with demonstrations of practices such as Jeevamrutha preparation, composting, and cradle pits. The initiatives strengthened market access, encouraged peer learning, and highlighted the growing participation of women coffee growers in building a resilient coffee ecosystem.
(Inauguration of the pond with Jhajjar and SMSF team)
Pond Rejuvenation Marks World Water Day in Jhajjar
On March 17, 2026, a rejuvenated pond was inaugurated in Akehri Madanpur village under the Gram Vikas Project, in partnership with Jhajjar Power Limited. Implemented by S M Sehgal Foundation across twelve villages (2023–25), the project advances water security and improves agricultural practices, animal health and nutrition, including allied activities such as goat farming. The event saw participation from the sarpanch, Village Development Committee members, community residents, and representatives from both partner organizations. Read more…
(Anjali Makhija, CEO & trustee of S M Sehgal Foundation at the panel)
Anjali Makhija speaks on community-driven solutions for water security
At the C3: Climate, Circularity, Community conference hosted by Outlook Business, Anjali Makhija spoke about the critical role the social impact sector can play in moving from water neutrality to water positivity. She highlighted how partnerships between civil society organizations and corporates can help scale sustainable water management efforts.
Drawing on examples from S M Sehgal Foundation’s work with corporate partners, she shared how community-driven initiatives, such as water body rejuvenation, groundwater recharge, and improved water governance, can contribute to long-term water security.
(Anjali Makhija, CEO and trustee of SMSF speaking at the CEO forum)
(Pooja O. Murada, principal lead, Outreach for Development; and Salahuddin Saiphy, principal lead, Water Management, felicitating the speakers)
SMSF Leads Dialogue on Integrated Pathways for Resilient Futures
At the International Conference on Water Transversality Global Awards and Conclave held March 6-7 by the India Water Foundation, a session curated by S M Sehgal Foundation highlighted the need for integrated approaches to address interconnected challenges across water, energy, health, and the environment.
At the CEO Forum, Anjali Makhija spoke about the importance of women’s leadership in climate-smart agriculture and grassroots resilience, along with the role of ESG and CSR in driving inclusive, sustainable development.
Opening the session, Pooja O. Murada highlighted the links between climate change, resource scarcity, and public health, calling for more collaborative, cross-sector action. Moderated by Lalit Mohan Sharma, the discussion focused on using the nexus approach to analyse and manage the interconnected systems. The speakers stressed behavior change, women’s leadership, resource circularity, and biodiversity conservation. The session closed with a call for integrated action.
(Anjali Makhija as one of the panelists on GCWAS 2026)
(Neema Joshi as one of the panelists on GCWAS 2026)
SMSF Represented at Global Conference on Women in Agri-Food Systems
Anjali Makhija, trustee and CEO of S M Sehgal Foundation, served as cochair at the Global Conference on Women in Agri-Food Systems (GCWAS 2026), guiding discussions on strengthening women’s leadership across agricultural value chains. The session explored barriers to women’s access to land, finance, technology, and decision-making, highlighting practical pathways such as community institutions, capacity building, and women-led producer groups to enable greater participation and leadership in the agri-food sector. Read more…
Neema Joshi, associate director, Partnerships & Fundraising at SMSF, served as a panelist in the technical session titled “Gender Dynamics in Policy and Market Access” at GCWAS 2026. She discussed how this transformation is visible at S M Sehgal Foundation, as women move further beyond participation to leadership roles. Through Women Leadership Schools, Krishi Sakhi and Pashu Sakhi models, and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), rural women are building confidence, providing agricultural services, and collectively accessing markets.
(In Quara, community pledging to actively contribute to water conservation and sustainable usage)
World Water Day Celebration 2026
For World Water Day 2026, S M Sehgal Foundation adopted a broad, campaign-oriented approach, highlighting its collaborative efforts and multi-stakeholder partnerships across regions. Apart from its activities and celebrations on the ground with communities, the organization showcased a series of initiatives implemented with diverse partners, emphasizing sustainable water management, community engagement, and long-term impact. This collective narrative underscored the importance of partnership driven development in addressing water challenges and advancing shared goals for water security.
Contributors: S M Sehgal Foundation team
Photo Credits: S M Sehgal Foundation staff
Design and Production: Outreach for Development team
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