S M Sehgal Foundation and FTAPCCI Women in Business sign MOU


Posted April 4, 2016 by SehgalFoundation

The Federation of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FTAPCCI) Women in Business (FWB), Hyderabad, and S M Sehgal Foundation, Gurgaon, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

 
The Federation of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FTAPCCI) Women in Business (FWB), Hyderabad, and S M Sehgal Foundation, Gurgaon, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The signing, on March 19, 2016, took place as part of a rural development discussion co-hosted by the two organizations in collaboration with social entrepreneurs working in the development sector. Sixty people participated in the event held at JSK Hall, Federation House, in Hyderabad. During the event, speakers also discussed a book about the Sehgal Foundation’s work and history, Together We Empower: Rekindling Hope in Rural India by Marly Cornell. The book, published in the US in January 2016, will be available in India later this year.

The MOU partnership creates opportunities for Sehgal Foundation to work with communities in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The foundation will provide Good Rural Governance training and training modules to FWB. FTAPCCI-FWB will recognize rural women achievers and leaders wherever the two organizations work in partnership, and FWB will circulate information to its member companies about Sehgal Foundation programs in agricultural development, water management India, and good rural governance.

Mr. Ravindra Mody, senior vice president, and Sri Gowra Srinivas, vice president of FTAPCCI, presided at the opening session of the event. Mr. Anil Reddy, president of FTAPCCI, and Ms. Jane Schukoske, CEO of Sehgal Foundation, delivered welcome addresses on behalf of the co-hosts and signed the MOU. Special guest speakers included Mr. Michael Mullins, US Consul General Hyderabad, and Dr. Suri Sehgal and Mrs. Edda Sehgal, founders of Sehgal Foundation.

In his address, Mr. Mullins lauded Sehgal Foundation’s work and the signing of the MOU with FTAPCCI-FWB. About the book, Together We Empower, he said, “I am particularly impressed by the journey the foundation undertook in highlighting three areas of rural development: going deeper into the core causes of rural poverty, strengthening local governance, and identifying appropriate interventions. Two points in the book are particularly inspiring: First, as the foundation worked in the rural areas, the founders realized the interconnections between agriculture, water, health, education, sanitation, women’s empowerment, and local governance . . . all of these are interconnected. The foundation understood that positive achievement in one area can positively impact the other areas, and vice-versa. So they started implementing a holistic approach for rural development to ensure long-term sustainable growth. Secondly, they built the foundation on their achievements and learned from their mistakes. These are incredible lessons, for them and for us.”

A panel session on social entrepreneurship for rural development was moderated by Supriya Bhalerao, a publisher and vice president of FTAPCCI-FWB, with panelists from NGOs and social enterprises who described their initiatives in rural entrepreneurship, women’s empowerment, and microfinance.

The Sehgal Foundation “Open House Discussion” about the book, Together We Empower, was moderated by Jay Sehgal, trustee, Sehgal Foundation. In the session, Dr. and Mrs. Sehgal responded to questions from the participants, shared their insights on rural development, and talked about the foundation's work to achieve water security, food security, and social justice in India. Dr. Sehgal stressed that social entrepreneurship is needed from the profit and nonprofit sectors because “India’s problems are enormous” and “many partnerships are needed to make a difference.”.
For further information, visit www.smsfoundation.org or email [email protected]
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Issued By Sehgal Foundation
Website Sehgal Foundation
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Categories Environment , Event , Government
Tags good rural governance , rural development jobs india , rural research programme in india , sustainable rural development , water management india , watershed management , women empowerment india
Last Updated April 4, 2016