SM Sehgal Foundation receives Fortune Leadership Award

SM Sehgal Foundation, a rural development NGO in India, has received the prestigious Fortune Leadership Award, honoring remarkable individuals and organizations making significant contributions in their fields, in the “Most Trusted NGO” category.

Niti Saxena, CTO, SM Sehgal Foundation, accepted the award on behalf of the organization, at an event in New Delhi to celebrate the achievements of leaders across various sectors.

Besides 10 NGOs, the awards honored 50 Healthcare leaders, 40 women under 40,  30 HR leaders, 25 Emerging Startups, 25 Visionary real estate leaders and 25 Strategic leaders.

“This award reflects the hard work of SMSF and the strong trust and support of the communities we serve,” the foundation said in a LinkedIn post. “Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey. Let’s keep moving forward in our mission to empower rural India!”

READ: Sehgal Foundation celebrates 25 years of empowering rural India (October 16, 2024)

The Foundation recently celebrated its 25th anniversary at its green building campus in Gurugram, Haryana highlighting its commitment to sustainable rural development over the past quarter century.

Founded in 1999 as a public charitable trust, Sehgal Foundation has worked to empower rural communities, enabling sustainable social, economic, and environmental changes across rural India.

Over the past 25 years, the foundation has expanded its presence to more than 2,658 villages in 66 districts across 12 states — Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh —  with its impact continuing to grow.

The foundation’s key programs address the most pressing needs of rural India, including water management, agricultural development, local participation and sustainability, school transformation, and digital and life skills awareness.

READ: Swaminathan made myriad contributions to global agriculture: Suri Sehgal (October 14, 2023)

The foundation stresses its commitment to information dissemination through multimedia communication approach, innovation, impact, and sustainability, with a particular focus on the empowerment of women and girls.

In a message recorded for the 25th anniversary event, Dr. Suri Sehgal, founder, SM Sehgal Foundation shared that “our work has taught us that true development is not just about providing resources but about nurturing a sense of ownership and empowerment within the communities. We have seen firsthand the power of community-led initiatives and the ongoing progress that is possible when individuals are given the tools and support they need to take charge of their own destinies.”