When you talk with Manoj Agarwal about the secret to success in rural development, he very passionately begins to espouse the ‘saturation approach.’ As one of Ambuja Foundation’s leadership team for Rajasthan & West Bengal Regions, Manoj believes that “if we are to truly see village transformation, every program must reach every household in a village – period.”

It’s 2022 and the world has changed. And with it, so have we. We have all pivoted towards a new way of doing things – we’ve gone digital like never before; we’ve diversified and taken on new responsibilities; we’ve been forced to become more and more enterprising as seemingly insurmountable hurdles continue to be thrown in our way.

When it comes to implementing development programs in rural communities, paraprofessionals have emerged as powerful conduits to help bridge the gap between an implementing agency and the community and to fast-track outcomes.

There is an urgent need for people in rural communities to change the way in which they view, and subsequently treat, community ponds. From being seen as a community dumping ground, to being viewed and valued as an abundant community resource, we must reignite the interdependent relationship between people and ponds.

Ambuja Foundation is now certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ in India under the Non-Profit and Charity Organization. The core values in Ambuja Foundation’s DNA stood out during the process – being recognized for the strength and dedication of its team, the down to earth and loyal culture, its values & culture, humane yet professional attitude and ethos towards its own team and an unwavering commitment to enabling prosperity in rural India.

Ambuja Foundation’s Dadri was recently felicitated with a CSR Award by the Rotary Club (District 3011) in a glittering event in Gurgaon this October. The award appreciated the efforts of Ambuja Foundation in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene and its sustainable impact through the years. Ambuja Foundation has been working in Dadri, Ghaziabad, (Uttar Pradesh) for the last 15 years in areas of Agro-based Livelihood, Health and Sanitation, Education and Women Empowerment.

All thanks to NABARD, Ambuja Foundation has received a sanction to train 125 youth in Assistant Electrician course in 5 batches at SEDI Bathinda. This sanction is part of NABARD’s ongoing efforts in fostering Skill Development and Rural Entrepreneurship Development initiatives in rural areas.

The recent pandemic has averted our attention from the alarming water crisis India is facing, however the distressing problem remains. With short memories, many have forgotten that 21 Indian cities ran out of water in 2019, and that unless something radical is done, we face a grim future when it comes to water.

Never in her wildest dreams did housewife Renu Thakur imagine where cows would take her in life! From Nauni village in Darlaghat all the way to the offices of the Ministry of Finance, Agriculture and Animal Husbandry in the Himachal Pradesh State Government, Renu has been on a wild ride. Renu was one of the 30 founding members of the women only Amrit Dhara Dairy Milk Cooperative, which has grown from strength to strength - swelling to 300 members today.

Something radical is happening in Inaj village in Veraval, Gir Somnath District. 15 young girls have become the primary breadwinners of their families, having trained in Electronics at SEDI - securing lucrative jobs as Assembly Operators and transforming ingrained perceptions about what women can do.

Ravikiran Saini is a fourth generation farmer from Bhagwanpur, Uttarakhand. On the surface he may look like a simple farmer, but this man is passionate about organic farming – so passionate and experienced in fact that he moonlights as a regular guest lecturer at IIT Roorkee.

Despite the pandemic, the SEDI team celebrated World Youth Skills Day with much enthusiasm at all SEDI locations. With the theme, ‘Reimaging Youth Skills Post-Pandemic’, virtual events were organized at various locations with industry experts and partners sharing insights on skill training.