Spotlight
Clean Toilets to Big dreams
S M Sehgal Foundation’s Transform Lives one school at a time program uses the Building as Learning Aid (BaLA) concept to improve the lives of schoolchildren rural government schools. Active in more than eight states and expanding, the program is helping thousands of children in rural India receive a better education and become prepared for more equal and hopeful lives.
Watch the video here.
Partnership for Women’s Empowerment
With a shared mission to empower, inform, and uplift women, Crossing Borders and S M Sehgal Foundation launched Women’s Leadership Schools and Women Farmer Schools. These initiatives not only enable women to grow fresh, healthy produce for their families and reduce household expenses—but women are also equipped them to take charge of their futures.
Watch their stories here.
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SF Outreach and Coverage (Till March 31, 2025)
| Village Start Year (Groups) |
Yearly Population Outreach |
New Villages |
Total Villages |
Total SF Districts |
Total SF States |
| 2000-22 |
35,62,103 |
1556 |
1556 |
52 |
11 |
| 2022-23 |
3,73,048 |
272 |
1828 |
56 |
12 |
| 2023-24 |
9,64,448 |
692 |
2520 |
63 |
12 |
| 2024-25 |
10,30,118 |
516 |
3036 |
74 |
13 |
| Total |
59,29,717 |
3036 |
3036 |
74 |
13 |
Stories of Change
Without proper soil testing, farmers risk lower yields, misuse of fertilizers, and harm to the environment. Soil testing provides crucial insights that enable precise, sustainable farming. The team at S M Sehgal Foundation has conducted more than 23,430 soil tests across rural India—empowering smallholder farmers to understand and nourish their land for greater productivity and make informed decisions from the ground up.
Small acts of generosity create lasting impact!
Partnership Highlights
Volunteering with Mercer
On May 14, 2025, Mercer Consulting India Pvt. Ltd., in partnership with S M Sehgal Foundation, hosted a lively volunteer event at the Government Senior Secondary School in Bhirawati Village, Nuh. More than 175 volunteers, organizational officials, and PRI members participated, including the Village Development Committee. Activities ranged from plantation drives and storytelling to creative painting and sports. Read more…
(Mercer Group and SMSF team)
SMSF and Jhajjar Power Limited Extend Village Development Project in Haryana
S M Sehgal Foundation and Jhajjar Power Limited (Apraava Energy) have renewed their commitment to rural development through the second phase of the Gram Vikas project in Jhajjar District, Haryana. Signed on May 14, 2025, at the Foundation’s Gurugram office, the year-long initiative focuses on water conservation, improved agriculture, and livelihood enhancement across twelve villages, impacting over 36,000 residents.
(Rajeev Rao, head of Human Resource and Administration, Jhajjar Power Limited; and Anjali Makhija, CEO & trustee, SMSF)
Read more…
Sajeevan: A Living Vision for Climate-Smart Communities
The first awareness session under Project Sajeevan was launched in Kaithal and Kurukshetra, Haryana, bringing together women and children to learn about climate-smart environmental practices. Led by Flipkart Foundation and S M Sehgal Foundation, the session introduced the project, its goals, and the importance of environmental awareness in everyday life.
(SMSF team with women participants in Kurukshetra, Haryana)
Read more…
Month At A Glance
Anjali Makhija at Leadership Circle
Ms. Anjali Makhija, CEO and trustee of S M Sehgal Foundation, participated as a panelist at the Leadership Circle: Boost FLN. Organized by DEVI Sansthan in Lucknow, the event focused on advancing foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) under the NIPUN Bharat Mission. Ms. Makhija emphasized the role of corporate social responsibility and shared grassroots insights from the foundation’s work in rural India. Her contribution supported a collective dialogue using collaboration to achieve national FLN goals.
(Ms. Anjali Makhija, CEO & trustee, SMSF, at the Leadership Circle conference)
What Does It Take to Create Real Impact in the Development Sector?
A recent session at Teri School explored the future of careers in development. S M Sehgal Foundation CEO and trustee, Anjali Makhija, and Deepak Kumar, MA SDP alum, spoke about working at the grassroots, navigating policy spaces, and building careers that drive real change.
(Anjali Makhija, CEO & trustee; Deepak Kumar, assistant manager, Partnerships & Fundraising, SMSF)
Amruth Stall Inaugurated in Kolar
Led by women entrepreneurs and Farmer Interest Groups, the stall features a range of value-added products. The prime location at KVK provides rural women from UGI villages with a space to build visibility, market linkages, and long-term income opportunities. The event was honored by Ms. Shruchi Singh, S M Sehgal Foundation; and Mr. Raghavendra Mesta, Horticulture College, Kolar.
(Shruchi Singh, senior program lead, SMSF, inaugurating the stall)
Community Radio Connect Receives Climate Change Award
(Ms. Anupama, additional director, ICDS, presenting the award to Priya Chaudhary, assistant program lead, Outreach for Development, S M Sehgal foundation)
On May 21–22, 2025, the Alliance of Community Radio Rajasthan and UNICEF hosted a state conference in Jaipur, Community Radio as a Changemaker for Climate Justice, spotlighting community radio’s role in local climate action. CR Connect won first prize for its climate change programming. Priya Chaudhary accepted the award on behalf of SMSF.
Read more…
SMSF Represents at WAVES Summit
(Pooja O. Murada, principal lead, Outreach for Development, S M Sehgal Foundation at WAVES Summit 2025, Mumbai)
S M Sehgal Foundation participated in the World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) held in Mumbai. As part of the summit, Pooja represented CR Connect at the National Community Radio (CR) Sammelan, hosted by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC). The summit brought together global media leaders to explore innovations in audio-visual storytelling.
More from SMSF
Podcast
SMSF Connect Podcast features a bouquet of interesting programs about rural development and other social issues and themes. TUNE IN to our podcast channel on I-RadioLive. Podcasts also available on Spotify.
Contributors: S M Sehgal Foundation team
Photo Credits: S M Sehgal Foundation staff
Design and Production: Outreach for Development team
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