When you visit a village in Rajasthan, you are bound to find a 'talab' close by - a village water pond that supplies water for drinking, domestic and livestock purposes.

When it comes to developing a rural community, unfortunately many interventions are undertaken by an external party and participation of the community in their own development is not always considered. At best, a general assessment of the needs of a community is undertaken and the willingness of the community to undertake certain activities is assessed during project formulation.

Developing institutions which are managed by their own members, is accepted as an important function for those committed to making development people-centric and sustainable. Ambuja Foundation has, from the very beginning, involved the community in charting their own future and whilst the process may look difficult in the beginning, has found that it actually pays in the long run.

Anagha Mahajani, Ambuja Foundations General Manager (Research & Monitoring) shares key insights into how they achieved local involvement and ownership of 26 PIMs (Participatory Irrigation Management) in a 2 year period in Gujarat. Covering 30 villages and 12443 farmers across 13326 hectares of land, Ambuja Foundation had the role of facilitating and strengthening groups.

Raising awareness of health issues in rural communities plays a critical role in prevention and influencing the health seeking behaviour of families. A variety of activities were recently organized across locations to advocate 'better health.'

NABARD has played a critical role in promoting people's institutions across India as a key tool for sustainable rural development, and was the first to promote the concept of the Self Help Groups in India in the 1980's.

With a proven strength in mobilizing and building the capacity of farmers, it was a natural fit when the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), on the lookout for a partner to operate the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) in Kodinar, Gujarat, commissioned Ambuja Foundation to take up the mantle.

How Ambuja Foundation overcame multiple adversities in building a large-scale tidal regulator in Gujarat.

Cement and other manufacturing companies often get a rap on their knuckles for being big consumers of water and are criticized for the negative impact they have on local community water resources.

All they wanted was water. And it completely revolutionised their lives!

Entrepreneurship is giving young men, women and the disabled from rural communities, lucrative, flexible careers, and status in the community - thanks to the work of SEDI who actively promotes the establishment of new businesses among trainees.

A grand celebration was held to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of Ambuja Foundation at Ambujanagar, Gujarat (where Ambuja Foundation began its journey back in 1993) on 18th December 2017 – the first of many celebrations around the country.