I n s t i t u t e o f R u r a l R e s e a r c h a n d D e v e l o p m e n t
(An initiative of S M Sehgal Foundation)
Vision
Transforming village despair into grassroots initiative and empowerment that leads to more secure and
prosperous lives for the poor.
The ISVD model brings about this vision The year 2008 was historic for IRRAD. We established four centers within
through education, better health, IRRAD, thus creating a strong organizational framework for its activities:
improved skills, and more supportive
governance. As it implements, evolves, and · The Programs Implementation Center serves as a resource cluster to create
advocates the ISVD model, IRRAD is serving knowledge, implement programs, and experiment with novel rural
as a premier knowledge institution and technologies and ideas.
learning platform for rural development · The Capacity-Building Center serves to build capacities by training
and poverty reduction in India. manpower in rural development.
· The Rural Research Center undertakes research in areas relevant to rural
development, and analyzes and synthesizes the information for
dissemination.
· The Policy, Governance, and Advocacy Center encourages good rural
governance and influences national polices on rural development.
Capacity-Building Center
Knowledge Synthesis
Contents
Message 3 Crop Improvement 26
Focus 4 Financials 27
Programs Implementation Center 8 The Board 28
Capacity-Building Center 18 The Team 29
Rural Research Center 20 Interns 30
Policy, Governance, and Advocacy Center 22 Partners 30
Support Centers 24 Events 2008-09 31
Notki
Seeing Is Believing Towards an Open Defecation Free Village
Together with villagers and government officials, we are One of the most pressing concerns in Notki was the need for
helping Notki village in Mewat district to develop into an improved sanitation. With guidance from IRRAD, the
ªIRRAD Learning Village.º Neighboring villagers, government community has adopted the Community Led Total Sanitation
officials, private sector entrepreneurs, and sarpanchs (village (CLTS) approach to make Notki an open defecation free (ODF)
mayors) from the region have already started visiting Notki to village. The CLTS campaign was triggered by a collective visit
see for themselves how the transformation of a village is to an area where human excrement was most abundant. This
possible through ISVD. Demonstration villages such as Notki, we area, right next to the local school, must be kept clean out of
believe, will inspire corporations and philanthropists to ªadopt a concern for the children's health. After discussion among
villageº and foster change across rural India. themselves, the villagers decided to make all of Notki ODF.
Within two days of this decision, 35 village households dug
Largely as a result of vigorous training and program
latrine pits near their homes, more than doubling the number
interventions by IRRAD in recent years, the Notki panchayat
of latrines in this 160-household village. When the Additional
(village council) and its community members have become
Deputy Commissioner of Mewat district asked the village
inspired, confident, and empowered to drive their own
sarpanch who was constructing the latrines, expecting that it
development. They are excited about Notki becoming a
was some new government program, he was astonished to
development model for other villages. The villagers and their
hear the sarpanch's proud reply: Hum bana rahe hain (We are
dynamic panchayat have identified their development priorities
constructing them).
and are committed to sustain the interventions into the future.
These interventions include: So far 92 household latrines have been constructed, and Notki
is on its way to be the first ODF village in Mewat district.
· Infrastructure Ð new paved road, solar street lights, taps Notki's example is expected to light a spark that leads to all
and drinking water tanks, roof-water harvesting systems the villages of Mewat becoming ODF.
· Sanitation Ð soak wells, toilets
Poor sanitation is a problem throughout the region. Jyotisar,
· Healthcare Ð well equipped delivery hut for childbirth and
a small village in Kurukshetra district, found that the mainstay
prenatal care
of the local economy, tourism, was being affected because of
· Education Ð improved school infrastructure (construction of
poor hygiene in the village. It had only 400 toilets for
kitchen, boundary wall, toilet blocks, benches), revival of
978 households. IRRAD encouraged Jyotisar to seek the ODF
village education committee, appointment of female
status and led several awareness drives to involve the
teachers, increase in female enrollment
community. As a result 354 additional latrines were built,
· Horticulture Ð model orchard on 4.3 acres (897 plants,
including 261 in 2008 alone.
13 species), cost-effective drip irrigation system, planting of
150 trees Because of these successes, the sanitation drive has been
extended to all our 17 intervention villages; the total number
of latrines subsequently increased nearly 50%, from 1,214 in
2007 to 1,813 in 2008.
Jyotisar
Jyotisar holds religious and mythological significance. It is widely believed to be the site
where Lord Krishna recited his teachings (the Bhagvad Gita) to the warrior Arjuna. Although
Jyotisar attracts about 700 visitors per day, in the past the local population had benefited little
from tourism.
Ghaghas
Serving the Needs of a Village Cluster
The Community Center attracts and benefits villagers from Ghaghas and the
surrounding area. The Center hosts activities such as health camps, training events,
and village meetings, provides space for training courses and information
dissemination, and offers access to computers and assistance in using them.
The Community Center is an Kisan Mitras (farmer's The Demonstration Farm in Here village youth learn
activity hub for our Project friends) disseminate the Community Center marketable skills such as
Implementation Team, which agricultural information at showcases agricultural electrical, computer, and
holds community meetings the Farmers Resource Center innovations such as mobile phone repairs. In
and team-building (FRC) in the Community vermicomposting (worm addition, ªtraining of trainersº
workshops. Our team also Center at Ghaghas. The Kisan culture), raised-bed is conducted to help villagers
provides ISVD training at the Mitras also organize Kisan cultivation, drip irrigation, understand and benefit from
Center to Village Champions Gosthees (farmer meetings/ and intercropping. government programs.
(role-model catalysts drawn training events) to spread Development training is also
from the villages). new agriculture technology. provided to Panchayati Raj
Institutions (PRIs) and groups
interested in community
mobilization.
· Water Management
· Income Enhancement
· Life Skills Education
· Rural Health
· Alternative Energy
Water Management
Out of 503 villages in Mewat district, only 63 have access to fresh groundwater, most
of which is found in pockets at the foothills of the Aravalis (the oldest hill range in
Asia). Other groundwater pockets in the area are mostly brackish, and they are
spreading, thus shrinking the fresh groundwater pockets. Furthermore most fresh
groundwater pockets contain unhealthy levels of nitrates, fluorides, chlorides, and
iron. The affected communities are largely unaware about this or about proper
wastewater disposal, and consequently suffer from a high incidence of waterborne
diseases.
Activities in 2008 emphasized training and continued expansion of proven Here is what one villager from Karheda
techniques, such as the use of check dams, which are very effective at collecting said about water management
rainwater from the hills and recharging clean groundwater supplies. The table improvements introduced by IRRAD:
below shows the water-harvesting potential of three check dams constructed by
ªThere has been no diarrhea in our household in the last
IRRAD in the foothills of the Aravali Hills of Mewat:
few months ever since we adopted the roof-water
Village Storage Area Annual Rainwater Harvesting
harvesting and bio-sand filter. Earlier there were white
(sq. meters) (kiloliters) spots in the containers used for storing water, but now
there are none.º”
Rangala Rajpur 38,850 582,750
Ghaghas village in particular is a success story that illustrates the potential of the
check dam approach. As shown in the figure below, groundwater quality
(as measured by iron, fluoride and nitrate levels) has improved dramatically since
2003 in a large area around the dam site:
0.8 80 1.4
0.6 60 1
0.4 40 0.8
0.2 20 0.4
0 0 0
Jun 03 Dec 03 Jun 04 Jan 05 Jun 06 Jun 03 Dec 03 Jun 04 Jan 05 Jun 06 Jun 03 Dec 03 Jun 04 Jan 05 Jun 06
Sample Site A Sample Site B WHO Permissible It took approx. 1 year for the dilution effects to travel 1.5 km under the
(150 m away) (1500 m away) limits ground, indicates that horizontal movement of recharged water is a
slower process.
Water Management
United by Water Highlights
Since the 19th century a large, to a safe distance from the heritage · Check dams to conserve fresh water
nonfunctional water dam had stood monument. Funding was secured from increased from 23 in 2007 to 30 in 2008,
near the village Bhond. Nothing was the Mewat Development Agency, with 4 new dams in Raniyala,
being done to it because the materials and labor were contributed by 2 in Bhond, and 1 in Kotla
government was concerned that a village groups, and the dam was safely · Recharge wells increased from 38 in
nearby heritage monument would be renovated. It is expected to prevent 2007 to 45 in 2008
damaged if the site were disturbed. further decline of the water table in the
· Culverts constructed to harvest
IRRAD intervened between the village area. The villagers eagerly await the
rainwater runoff
and the government to foster a next rains to fill the reservoir and thus
harmonious solution by designing the recharge the groundwater needed to · Soak pits and soak wells increased from
check dam to restrict the run off storage quench the thirst of the people. 502 in 2007 to 609 in 2008
· Water taps increased from 242 in 2007
to 264 in 2008; 10 new taps in
Several other check dam projects from 2008-09 illustrate the community Dingerhedi, 5 in Goela, 6 in Jaffrabad,
commitment of villages working with IRRAD: and 1 in Raniyala
· Roof-water harvesting systems
Project Total Project Cost Contribution from the Community constructed in 26 households
Bhond check dam Rs 1,000,000 Rs 105,000 towards the cost of stone, labor · Bio-sand filters installed in
40 households
Kotla check dam Rs 450,000 Rs 25,000 cash contribution
· School children trained to explain the
Rangala Rajpur, Rs 400,000 Rs 5,500 in the form of labor
importance of safe drinking water to
Balmiki Chaupals
their parents
Raniyala dam Rs 100,000 Rs 40,000 towards masonry costs · A paper (Saline Groundwater Pockets in
Recharge wells Rs 133,891 Rs 45,600 Mewat: Prevalence, Challenges and
Solutions) citing IRRAD's work in Mewat
Hand pumps Rs 50,017 Rs 11,800
was accepted as a book chapter in Water
and Health, organized by the South Asia
Consortium for Interdisciplinary Water
Resources Studies (SaciWATERs) and to
be published by SAGE.
Income Enhancement
Better Livelihood through Better Agriculture
Agriculture is the primary livelihood activity for most of Micronutrient status (percentage of all samples)
Mewat. However, current farming practices often suffer from Element Low Medium Sufficient High
major shortcomings such as inefficient crop rotation,
inappropriate use of fertilizers, and high incidences of disease Nitrogen 90 10 0 0
and pests. By introducing improved agricultural practices that Phosphorus 94 6 0 0
allow farmers to boost productivity at less cost, and by
helping them to establish direct market linkages, IRRAD helps Potassium 94 6 0 0
them to enhance their income and thus their quality of life. Zinc 99 0 1 0
Income Enhancement
Farmer Behavior 2007 2008
DAINCHA
Daincha (Sesbania bispinosa) has traditionally been used as a green manure crop for
adding nitrogen and organic matter to the soil. Modern commercial applications of
daincha include using its seeds as cattle feed to increase milk production, its fiber in
ways similar to that of jute or hemp, and its wood as smokeless fuel. IRRAD is
fostering an agri-enterprise model in Mewat to produce energy-efficient, smokeless,
briquettes from daincha wood that can be sold in high-value markets such as hotels,
kilns, and cloth-ironing operations.
LIVESTOCK
IRRAD builds farmers' capacities to raise high-quality dairy animals. Goats are the
dominant species in the foothills of Aravalis and many herders are dependent on
these animals for their livelihoods. IRRAD provides education on balanced nutrition,
timely vaccination, insurance, and earning higher income. During 2008 IRRAD
facilitated the vaccination of 7,000 animals and arranged insurance coverage for
137 animals. To increase first-aid services to animals, 28 youths were selected from
three blocks of Mewat district for six months of paraveterinary training in
collaboration with the J. K. Trust Gram Vikas Yojna.
Though most villagers are engaged in agriculture, they often need supplemental ªWe can now see better livelihood opportunities for
income from other sources. With this in mind, vocational training was established at ourselves. My father had a general store earlier, but
the Ghaghas Community Center. The first batch of 40 students has already after I learned mobile phone repair I suggested to
graduated from this course, and 45 more, including 10 girls, are currently enrolled. him that he revamp the business. Now the mobile
The success of this program prompted us to add courses in electrical work and phone repairs make the larger chunk of our
mobile phone repairs. business.º
Vocational Training Project: Courses and Enrollment, 2008 Shahid, Student, Village Chila , Mewat
Computer 40 45
Electrician 8 10
Mobile repair 25 30
Natural Leaders
Sudesh, Santosh, Sanjogita, Usha, and Mamta had never thought of life beyond ªI was restricted at home and never went outside. If I had
homemaking. When IRRAD approached them in May 2005 about forming a Self-Help to move around the village, I wore a veil. But now things
Group , they were understandably skeptical. But, after discussing their concerns, are different. I am doing good work and am proud of the
they decided to give it a try. Now they play a major role in improving their village. fact that I got my elder son admitted to Kurukshetra
They formed a drama group, or Nukkad Natak, to spread awareness of the value of University from my income.º
education in the community. They performed street plays on literacy in May 2008 in
the village Bhore Saidan, which were very well received, and have since expanded Sudesh, SHG Leader, Village Jyotisar
their repertoire on important social issues. These talented women also produce
garments and handicrafts, and they run a community kitchen in the village.
Rural Health
The Rural Health Program promotes health consciousness in
reproductive and child health, hygiene and sanitation, and the
utilization of health care services in village communities. It
builds linkages with health service providers, and facilitates
access to government health assistance schemes.
Alternative Energy
Villages face the problem of erratic power supply and chronic outages. The streets remain dark at night,
forcing people to stay indoors. IRRAD's Alternative Energy Program helps them to harness the potential
of renewable resources. For example, in 2007-08, IRRAD installed 10 solar lights, five each in Rangala and
Notki villages, primarily to demonstrate that streets can be lit with solar lights.
IRRAD has also demonstrated biogas technology for household cooking in some villages.
Most households use cow-dung cakes or agricultural wastes as household cooking fuel. The smoke
from burning these fuels is a health hazard, especially for women who spend most of their time in the
kitchen. Biogas is derived from dung using simple, inexpensive methods. Not only is biogas a safer
and more efficient fuel, but also its residue makes a better organic fertilizer than fresh cow dung.
A model biogas plant has been set up in Goela village to create awareness of the benefits of biogas
and to encourage wider adoption of this proven technology.
IRRAD provides training at all levels, from grassroots social workers to management-level staff, including those
representing:
· Donor agencies
· Mother and individual NGOs
· Government agencies
· Panchayats
· Schools, urban and rural, and academic institutes
· Corporations
Training
Scope of Training
IRRAD has two training centers, one at The following trainings were completed Comprehensive training on water
the head office in Gurgaon and one at for prospective village champions (VCs) issuesÐwater harvesting and
the Community Center at Ghaghas. and a team from Pardada Pardadi conservation, safe drinking water, the
Gurgaon has excellent facilities, Education Society: environment, and waterborne
including classrooms, interactive diseasesÐwas provided to two NGOs:
training rooms, an auditorium, a · Community mobilization Chinmaya Organization of Rural
library, and a cafeteria. The facility at the · Rainwater harvesting Development (CORD) and Navjyoti India
Community Center provides training in · Reproductive and child health Foundation. Safe water management
ISVD at the grassroots level and in · Literacy training was also given to school
job skills. · Managing the Life Skills Education children in six villages.
Center
Team-building and leadership training
was organized for IRRAD's field and
management teams through Advance
Business Consulting, Netherlands.
Learning in Action
The strategy of the Rural Research Center revolves around strengthening the activities of the other centers
and establishing IRRAD as a globally recognized think tank through effective and targeted research and
linkages with academia, research institutes, and other organizations. The Research Center's activities are
organized into three main themes:
· Impact Assessment
Evaluating the direct impact of the ISVD model and using the results to provide research direction for the
various programs within the model
· Research Innovation
Establishing linkages between IRRAD and national and international academia and research institutes, as
well as generating external funding, for innovating research projects in line with IRRAD's vision and
mission.
Before interventions are planned for a village, need assessments are conducted to help formulate an effective
and targeted strategy. During and after implementation, interventions are assessed. Successful and
replicable models are disseminated through internal and external publications, workshops, and conferences.
0 20 40 60 80 100
Literacy levels in Mewat district are generally low, especially among women. Female Male
In contrast, Bhore village of Kurukshetra district has attained high literacy levels for
both women and men. (Figure 1)
Figure 2: Households that reported
institutional deliveries
Among other quality-of-life indicators, we found that the utilization of health care
services was very low in Mewat district. More than 95% of households reported Rural Haryana 30*
home delivery of infants rather than at a medical facility. In contrast, 98% of Bhore Jaffrabad 2
Dingerhedi 4
village women who bore children utilized prenatal care services and 36% delivered
Bhond 3
their babies in medical institutions. (Figure 2) Raniyala 4
Kotla 4
The availability of water and sanitation facilities is critical to villagers' health. In the Santhawadi 4
villages of Mewat, more than 90% of households lack a toilet. The situation is better Pathkhori 3
in Bhore village, where one out of three households has a toilet. (Figure 3) Uleta 10
Bhore 36
The main occupation of poor villagers across Haryana state is agriculture. Our *Married women who reported births
survey found that average farm size in Bhore village is larger (8 acres), but fewer
villagers own land (one-third of households), as compared to the eight villages in Figure 3: Toilet Facility
Mewat. Larger land holdings could reflect greater specialization in farm
Rural Haryana 35
management as a profession by a smaller group of people in the better-off district
Jaffrabad 10
of Kurukshetra. (Figure 4) Dingerhedi 10
Bhond 3
In 2008, IRRAD undertook an agricultural baseline survey in two Mewat villages, Raniyala 3
Santhawadi and Notki, in partnership with Mosaic Fertilizers. The survey collected Kotla 1
agricultural data such as farm income, crop economics, seeds, field preparation and Santhawadi 4
Pathkhori
fertilizer use. A fundamental parameter measured was the average productivity of 1
Uleta 9
the major crops grown in Haryana: Bhore 29
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Crop yield (quintal/acre)* Percent
Creating awareness...
The Constitution of India promises a dignified and decent life for all. IRRAD's Policy, Governance, and Advocacy
Center helps bring this promise to fruition by empowering the rural poor to influence and take advantage of
government policies and practices intended to serve their needs. The specific objectives of the Center are:
· To prepare rural people to exercise accountable, responsive and transparent local governance and policies
· To help rural India voice policy and governance concerns through appropriate forums
· To create a vibrant platform for discussion and advocacy on issues of rural governance and policies
Training
Training in Rural Governance 2008-09
The selected trainees include A review of the training outcomes The Center is organizing a series of four
representatives of PRIs, village leaders, indicates that the trainees are confident panel discussions to complement the
women from the local community, that through their effective training and put the spotlight on the
grassroots social workers, members of participation they can change need for good rural governance. These
IRRAD's village-level staff, and other governance for the better. They feel panels aim to involve the wider society,
conscientious citizens. they are important people engaged in gain a broader input of expertise, and
an important activity and that they are foster discussions on urgent issues
The training program involves practical empowered as owners of the systemЖ leading to policy advocacy. The first
field work supplemented by fifty days of that government functionaries are panel discussion took place in 2008,
classroom training. The curriculum appointed to work for their welfare, and discussing the overarching issues.
includes: their views matter to those Panels comprise 4-6 eminent
functionaries. Trainees also feel that representatives from civil society,
· Developing a perspective on rural they have been successful in using the various levels of government, business,
governance Right to Information Act in combating education, media, and other relevant
· Functioning of PRIs and roles of corruption, opacity, and arbitrariness. arenas; participants in the discussions
different stakeholders include the trainees, panchayat
· Understanding of functionaries, The training began to pay off quickly. members, media, and other invited
institutions, and mechanisms of rural Public food distribution has improved in guests, as well as IRRAD staff, trustees,
governance all six villages where our trainees are and board members.
· Understanding various government working. Ration depot managers have
schemes and programs and the tools cooperated in freeing the distribution
for ensuring their effective and system from corruption and other
transparent implementation problems.
Notki Villagers
Communications
The communication team raises awareness of IRRAD's
achievements across India and worldwide through print and
electronic media. It also uses a range of community
interactions, including special events, meetings, and
publications to share knowledge at the grassroots level.
Resource Mobilization
Highlights The goal of the resource mobilization team is to catalyze
effective partnerships with people and organizations
· Case studies published: 19 committed to bringing positive change to the lives of the
· Articles and papers published: 8 marginalized and vulnerable rural poor. In addition, the team
· Articles in national dailies: 36 intends to promote the concept of ªadopt a villageº to donor
· Coverage in electronic media: NDTV 24X7, Aaj Tak, MH1, organizations, philanthropists, and corporations.
Haryana News, Sahara Samay, CNEB
· Awards received: ªLifetime Achievement Awardº to
Dr. Suri Sehgal by NRI Institute; ªBest Water NGO 2008-09 Mewat Development Agency
for Revival of Rural Water Resourcesº by Water Digest
Magazine and UNESCO The Mewat Development Agency (MDA) has selected IRRAD to
· Website revamp: IRRAD website revised to better reach and execute water management projects in several villages. MDA
serve its audiences has also awarded us a special consultative status for all
· Organized a conference with India Development Coalition of infrastructural development related to water in the district.
America (IDCA) in January 2009 in New Delhi on ªStrategies In 2008 we received grants under two schemes:
to Alleviate Poverty and Mitigate Climate Changeº”
· Organized two panel discussions on ªRural Governanceº and · Ongoing community development scheme for 2007-08:
ªStrengthening Public Distribution System and Mid Day Meal An infrastructure development project at three sites for
Schemes in villagesº as part of year-long training program groundwater recharging, including upgrades to an existing
on rural governance check dam at Kotla and construction of new check dams at
· Memberships: IRRAD became a member of the Indian NGOs Bangali Khola, Kotla, and Bhond
National Network, the Indian Adult Education Association, · Integrated Watershed Development Program: An area
and the UN Global Compact development project at Rangala Rajpur for activities related
· Visitors and volunteers: IRRAD attracted many visitors to see to water resource management, including enhancement of
and learn about our development activities in Mewat, as well rainwater harvesting capacity; construction of a kuchha
as volunteers who joined the team to help. (gravel) road to school, balmiki chaupal (community center),
and culverts; and measures to reduce soil erosion
Mosaic Fertilizers
The Sehgal Foundation and the Maize (corn) has become a very · Generation of diverse and hybrid-
International Crops Research Institute important crop in India over the past oriented pre-breeding germplasm
for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), a decade, with over 19 million metric tons · Development of inbreds from diverse
non-profit international agricultural now produced for human consumption, genetic backgrounds with good
development organization animal feed and industrial use. The performance and excellent combining
headquartered in Hyderabad, joined Foundation supports four maize ability
hands to create a US$4 million improvement projects for India that are · Identification of maize germplasm
endowment fund to provide support for being implemented by a sister sources resistant to insects and
strategic plant breeding research. The international research institute, the diseases
Foundation has also provided funds for International Maize and Wheat · Using modern biotech tools to
biotechnology research, the ICRISAT- Improvement Center (CIMMYT) understand genetic diversity of global
coordinated private-sector hybrid- headquartered in Mexico. maize germplasm
parent breeding research consortium, · Distribution of inbred lines and pre-
and the construction of a 14-hectare The Foundation also conducts its own breeding germplasm to public- and
lake on the ICRISAT campus for maize breeding effort at the ICRISAT private-sector scientists
rainwater harvesting. campus to enhance the diversity of · Capacity-building of maize scientists
maize germplasm and its capacity for by supporting and organizing
ICRISAT research develops pearl millet hybrid breeding. The Foundation freely training courses on breeding
breeding lines tolerant to the dreaded distributes this diverse germplasm to techniques.
downy mildew fungal disease, and public- and private-sector scientists who
sorghum lines able to withstand shoot agree not to restrict its free distribution Highlights
fly attacks and grain mold fungi. The to others. The Foundation's program
improved lines are made freely available has received recognition from India's The Foundation was one of the main
to public- and private-sector plant Department of Scientific and Industrial sponsors of a training course on ªMaize
breeders who use them to develop Research. Breeding for Drought Toleranceº in
commercial hybrids and varieties for Kenya and the 10th Asian Regional
farmers to use. Focus Maize Workshop in Indonesia.
Foundation scientists presented papers
· Collection and characterization of at the maize workshop and at the
maize germplasm still in the public National Symposium on ªQuality Protein
domain, and its classification into Maizeº in New Delhi.
heterotic groups using both classical
and biotechnological tools
Liabilities
Corpus/Endowment fund(s) 1,000 1,000
Current liabilities and provisions 6,845,998 2,418,647
Income & Expenditure A/c. Balance 304,164,541 249,726,139
Total 311,011,539 252,145,786
Expenditure
Program 44,421,174 32,264,289
Management 12,668,443 9,230,247
Others 13,001,317 3,260,164
Total 70,090,934 44,754,700
Deficit/Surplus 54,438,402 94,594,189
Jayshree Balachander holds a Jan Leemans, holds a PhD degree Rajat Jay Sehgal, Executive
Masters in Public Policy in chemistry from the Free Director and Managing Trustee of
(Development Studies) and a University of Brussels, Belgium. the Sehgal Foundation.
degree from the Woodrow Wilson He is a founding member of the Previously, he worked as a Senior
School for Public and steering committee of the Programming Analyst in a
International Affairs, Princeton Institute of Plant Biotechnology leading private sector company in
University, USA. Since 1992, she for Developing Countries, Ghent the USA, and as the Director of
Suri Sehgal has been active on health, University, Belgium. He is the Information Technology for
Chairman of Board of Trustees nutrition, human resource former (1984-1999) research Proagro Seed Company Ltd.,
development, and education director of Plant Genetics, now India.
Suri Sehgal holds a PhD in Plant issues as part of the World Bank's Bayer CropScience, Belgium. Email: jay.sehgal@irrad.org
Genetics from Harvard University, South and East Asia Team.
and a diploma in Business Y C Nanda retired as the Chairman Raman Sehgal is a management
Management from Harvard Kamal Bawa, PhD, is a of the National Bank for graduate from Asia Institute of
Business School. He is the founder distinguished Professor of Agriculture and Rural Management-Manila, Philippines.
and chairman of Misr Hytech Seed Biology at the University of Development following 38 years He is currently the Managing
International, Egypt. He is the Massachusetts, Boston, USA. He is of experience in the rural banking Director and member of the
founder and former chairman of an evolutionary ecologist and a and central banking industries. board of directors, Misr Hytech
the Proagro Group of Companies, conservation biologist. He is the He is a member of the National Seed International, Egypt, and
India, now owned by Bayer of founder-president of the Ashoka Commission on Farmers. member of the board of directors
Germany. Trust for Research in Ecology and of Hytech India.
the Environment (ATREE), Air Vice Marshal (Retired) S Sahni
Bangalore. is the Vice President of the NGO Jagadish Shukla, PhD, is Professor
Development Alternatives. A and Chairman of Climate
Nishat Farooq retired as Director recognized expert in water Dynamics in the School of
of State Resource Centre, Delhi, management and rural Computational Sciences at George
which houses the National Nodal employment development, he was Mason University and President of
Centre for Gender Planning. appointed to the government's the Institute of Global
Currently, she is a member of the National Wasteland Development Environment and Society, USA.
National Book Promotion Board, 1991-94.
Committee of the Ministry of
Edda Sehgal Human Resource Development. Raj Paroda, PhD, is an
agriculturist with significant
Edda Sehgal is a co-founder and Amitabh Kundu, PhD, is Professor contributions in the field of crop
trustee of the Sehgal Family of Economics at the Centre for the science and towards
Foundation, USA, and the Sehgal Study of Regional Development strengthening the national
Foundation, India. She served on and Dean of the School of Social agricultural research systems in
the board of the Proagro Group Sciences at Jawaharlal Nehru India as well as in Central Asia and
of companies, India, and of Global University, New Delhi. He has the Caucasus. He served as
Technologies, Inc., USA, from been nominated as a member of Chairman of the Global Forum on
1990 to 1998. National Statistical Commission in Agricultural Research from 1998
2006. to 2001 and was Director General
of the Indian Council of
Agricultural Research from 1994
to 2001.
Consultants
M D Asthana, Consultant, has Ryan Clutter, IT Consultant, holds Ellora Mubashir holds a PhD in Mark Winslow, Consultant, holds
37 years of experience as a a degree in computer science Biochemistry from Jawaharlal a PhD in Plant Breeding from
member of India's premier central from Grand View College, Iowa, Nehru University, Delhi. She was Michigan State University, USA.
administrative service, the Indian USA. He has worked as a senior Manager of Biotechnology He specializes in new initiative
Administrative Service, in the network engineer at a leading US Regulatory Affairs at Proagro Seed development for the international
fields of public administration, mortgage company, as well as at Company (now Bayer Crop agricultural research centers of
good governance and public a regional US hospital prior to Science). Subsequently she was the CGIAR System. He assists the
policy. becoming a consultant for IRRAD. Program Leader, Communications, foundation with external
Email: md.asthana@irrad.org Email: r.clutter@irrad.org at Sehgal Foundation, for five communications.
years. Presently, Ellora contributes Email: m.winslow@cgiar.org
as consultant to IRRAD's Capacity-
Building Center.
Email: Ellora.mubashir@gmail.com
B Valentine Joseph Gandhi, Group Pooja O Murada, Director, Niti Saxena, Associate Scientist, Murali D Gupta, PhD, established
Leader, Rural Research Center. Communications, is a Rural Research Center, a master in the Foundation's crop
With over 9 years of postgraduate in communications Human Development from Lady improvement project in July 2002
interdisciplinary quantitative & and carries over 13 years of work Irwin College, Delhi University. Her at the ICRISAT campus and had
qualitative research experience, as experience. She has held expertise is working with children been its Technical Director until
well as project management and leadership positions and worked with special needs and has May 2007. He is now associated
teaching/training experience, at in the area of brand management contributed to the concept of ECCD with the Foundation as an
both field & policy levels. in advertising, information through her writings. honorary Technical Advisor. He
He holds a PhD in Economics & technology, healthcare and Email: niti.saxena@irrad.org has 34 years of experience in
Sociology from IIT Bombay. development sectors. plant breeding and seed
Email: v.gandhi@irrad.org Email: poojamurada@irrad.org Lalit Mohan Sharma, Group Leader, enterprise management.
Program Implementation Center, is Email: m.d.gupta@cgiar.org
Anjali Godyal, Program Leader, Ajay Pandey, Director, Policy, a graduate civil engineer, holds a
Life Skills Education. Holds a Rural Governance and Advocacy, is a master's degree from Indian Mukesh K Dhillon is a Special
Management Degree from the lawyer and a human rights Institute of Technology, Delhi, and Project Scientist, Entomology in
Institute of Rural Management, practitioner. He has 14 years of a postgraduate diploma in the Foundation-ICRISAT
Anand, Gujarat, & has completed experience of working with construction management. He is a collaborative project on
an internship in Business Cluster voluntary organizations. Fellow of the Institution of Valuers. development of insect-tolerant
Development and SHGs. He holds an M. Phil. degree in Email: lalit.sharma@irrad.org maize and sorghum germplasm.
Email: a.godyal@irrad.org International Law from Jawaharlal He holds PhD and M.Sc.(Ag)
Nehru University, New Delhi and Shweta, Group Leader, Resource degrees from CCS Haryana
Ramesh Kapahi, Director, Finance an LL.M. degree in Clinical Legal Mobilization. She has 9 years of Agricultural University, Hisar.
& Administration, holds a Education from Vanderbilt experience with national and Email: m.dhillon@cgiar.org
master's degree in finance and University, USA. international NGOs as a Grants
marketing from Lal Bahadur Email: ajay.pandey@irrad.org Manager and was involved in N Mallikarjuna holds PhD and
Shastri Institute of Management, appraising, building capacities and M.Sc.(Ag) degrees in Plant
Delhi. He worked as an internal B R Poonia, Program Leader, monitoring the work of its partner Pathology from University of
auditor for 16 years before joining Community Mobilization, holds a NGOs in the field of poverty Agricultural Sciences (UAS),
the Foundation. master's degree in rural sociology alleviation and women rights. She Bangalore. Prior to joining the
Email: r.kapahi@irrad.org from the University of Udaipur, holds a Post Graduate Degree in Foundation, he worked on maize
and has over 29 years of Child Development from Lady Irwin diseases for six years at UAS,
Pawan Kumar, Program Leader, experience in community College, University of Delhi. Agricultural Research Station,
Income Enhancement, holds a development. Prior to joining the Email: shweta@irrad.org Nagenahalli, Mysore.
master's degree in Forestry, Foundation, he was with CARE- Email: na.mallikarjuna@cgiar.org
Science Policy and Management India for 14 years. CROP IMPROVEMENT (Hyderabad)
from Oxford Forestry Institute, Email: br.poonia@irrad.org S P Deshpande, Visiting Scientist,
Oxford University. He has 13 years J N Hanumantharya, Sr. Scientist, Biotechnology, holds a PhD in
of experience in Agricultural Payal Sahu, Program Leader, Corn Breeding, holds a master's Genetics and Plant Breeding from
interventions and expertise in Rural Health, holds master's and degree in Seed Technology from Marathwada Agricultural
natural resource management. PhD degrees in social work and University of Agriculture Sciences, University, Parbhani. He has
Email: pawan.kumar@irrad.org has a one-year diploma in Child Bangalore. Prior to joining the received hands-on-training in
Education & Applied Psychology Foundation, he worked as a Maize biotechnology while working at
Anjali Makhija, Group Leader, (D.C.Ed., A. Psy.) She has 7 years Breeder with Proagro Seed ICRISAT, Patancheru.
Capacity-Building Center, holds a of experience in the social Company, Ltd., for a period of 15 Email: s.deshpande@cgiar.org
master's degree in social work, development sector. years.
Delhi School of Social Work. She Email: payal.sahu@irrad.org Email: jn.hanumantharaya@cgiar.org
has 15 years of management and
training experience while working
with various NGOs in the area of
education, health and community
development.
Email: anjali.makhija@irrad.org
The Team
SUPPORT TEAM PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION TEAM MEMBERS AND THEIR
RESPONSIBILITIES
Pankaj Gaur Ð Accountant
Aditi Jha Ð Program Associate, Policy, Governance and Advocacy Mubarik Hussain Ð Facilitator, Nagina Block
Center Nasir Hussain Ð Facilitator, Firozepur Jhirkha
Arti Manchanda Ð Communications Associate Kamlesh Ð Facilitator, Taoru Block
Navneet Narwal Ð Program Consultant, Policy, Governance and Mahipal Singh Ð Facilitator, Kurukshetra Block
Advocacy Center Jafar Hussain Ð Specialist, Liaisoning
Jagdish Prasad Ð Administration Manager Kunti Gupta Ð Specialist, School Program
C S Shekhar Ð Accounts Officer Urmilla Ð Specialist, Life Skills Education
Mohammad Siddique Ð Specialist, Water Management
INTERNS
Sarveshwari Mishra Ð Specialist, Income Enhancement
Jaan Mohammed Ð Specialist, Community Mobilization
Kanika Oberoi
June-July 2008 Shaheen Ð Specialist, Rural Health
A Delhi University B.Sc. Statistics student, Kanika conducted a
statistical analysis of all intervention villages of Mewat and comparison
of Mewat district vis-a-vis Haryana state as a whole.
Molly O'Keefe
June-August 2008
A student intern from the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution,
George Mason University, USA, Molly conducted a study on community
conflict resolution in villages of Mewat.
Partners
IRRAD engages in strategic partnerships to build strong IRRAD also collaborates on policy analysis with organizations
synergies. We are constantly seeking to collaborate with including:
outstanding organizations that can help us make a greater
impact on the lives of the rural poor. · The Institute of Social Sciences,
New Delhi
IRRAD continues to strengthen its knowledge base and · Transparency International
expand its village interventions by working with · The Centre for Social Research,
organizations such as: New Delhi
· The Haryana Institute of Rural Development, Nilokheri
· The Mewat Development Agency (MDA) · The Times Foundation, New Delhi
· Mosaic Fertilizers · Relevant government departments at district, state, and
· Development Alternatives national levels.
· The Centre for Development and Population Activities
· Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye Hospitals Partnerships with government agencies advance the
· Pardada Pardadi Educational Society implementation of government schemes at the grassroots
· Dharma Vana Arboretum level. They also provide IRRAD and its village partners an
· International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid opportunity to advocate the needs of rural India in
Tropics (ICRISAT) important policymaking forums.
Haryana,
Mewat District Pathkhori
Bhond
NUH
PUNHANA
Events 2008-09
· Panel Discussion on Mid-Day Meal and Commissioner inaugurated the tourist briquetting, roof tile installation, brick and
Public Distribution System at IRRAD. complex. char formation.
· Panel Discussion on Rural Governance: · Conducted a soil study in Mewat to assess · A five-day teacher training course was
Problems and Challenges at IRRAD. the micronutrient level in collaboration conducted.
with Mosaic fertilizers.
· Mewat Development Agency (MDA) · Scholarship program was introduced to
assigned Premier Organization status to · Five demonstration plots set up at district sponsor the school education of deserving
the Foundation for implementing water block level to demonstrate interventions students in our villages.
projects in Mewat. under the Income Enhancement program.
· Two training sessions on right to
· IRRAD facilitated the implementation of · Initiation of a new vocational trade course, information (RTI) organized by the field
National Rural Employment Guarantee Act mobile phone repairing, for village youth at teams in Kurukshetra and Taoru, resource
(NREGA) for the first time in Mewat for Ghaghas community center. persons were invited from Parivartan.
creation of water infrastructure and
agricultural activities. · Observance of International Development · Two street plays on Environment Day were
Days in villages. Republic Day and held in Learning Villages Notki and
· Setting up of Notki as a demonstration Independence Day celebrated for the first Ranyala.
village having all interventions aimed at a time in many villages.
clean green village. · Training on business enterprise
· A workshop on rice cultivation was development conducted for self-help group
· Inauguration of IRRAD Green Building by organized by Rice Research Institute, HAU, Kriti of Jyotisar by UNDP resource person.
the Honorable Governor of Haryana, in Kurukshetra; 82 farmers participated. The Kriti group took possession of a shop
Dr. A. R. Kidwai. near the temple complex that was allotted to
· Two training sessions conducted by the them by the government to sell their wares.
· Capacity enhancement of existing check horticulture department in Taoru, attended
dams and provision of new check dams at by 35 farmers and 6 female SHG members. · Kriti Group sent for an exposure visit to
Bhond, Bangali Khola, Kotla and Pathkhori Hyderabad to learn about business
under NREGA. · Daincha project started with identification enterprises.
of 13 beneficiaries and procurement of
· Inauguration of Kriti Kendra, Tourist seeds. Out of this group, six farmers visited · Impact assessment of Life Skills Education
Complex in Jyotisar built under UNDP-GoI the projects by Development Alternatives program launched by the Rural Research
Endogenous Tourism Project. The Deputy (DA) in Jhansi and learned about Center.
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