Indian American Founded Sehgal Foundation Wins India’s Water Award
India-West Staff Reporter
NEW DELHI – The S M Sehgal Foundation (SMSF), a nonprofit founded by Indian-American scientist and philanthropist Dr.Surinder Mohan Sehgal and Edda Sehgal has been recognized with the prestigious 5th annual National Water Award 2024 by India’s Ministry of Jal Shakti.
Honored in the Best Civil Society category, SMSF received special mention for its groundbreaking work in water management, an area in which it has driven impactful solutions to address water scarcity in rural India.
The foundation’s program employs innovative, cost-effective methods for rainwater harvesting, groundwater replenishment, the revival of traditional water bodies, and promoting access to safe drinking water. These initiatives are supplemented by behavior-change programs around Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), contributing to a sustainable future for water resources in rural communities.
President of India, Droupadi Murmu, attended the award ceremony, while cabinet minister C R Patil, along with water ministers and state secretaries, presented the honors at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
Over 600 applications across nine categories were reviewed, with 38 organizations selected for awards and special mentions.
This accolade comes during a milestone year for SMSF, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary at its green campus in Gurugram. Founded in 1999 as a public charitable trust, SMSF has transformed lives across 13 states and over 12,700 villages, reaching 5.27 million people. Its initiatives span critical areas such as water security, food security, and community-led development, with ongoing efforts to improve agricultural practices and educational outcomes for schoolchildren in rural India.
In addition to the National Water Award, the foundation received a Fortune Leadership Award this week in the “Most Trusted NGO” category. SMSF Trustee and CEO Anjali Makhija dedicated these awards to the organization’s partners and the rural communities it serves, stating that this recognition will inspire SMSF to intensify its efforts on the ground.
