We, humans are exceptional by the very fact that, we have the ability to create, design and build on the available resources of nature. This potent ability has enabled humankind to sustain and flourish into massive economic societies globally. Thus, Livelihoods befall as one of the significant aspects of our survival and development.

Agriculture and allied activities support livelihoods of nearly 70 percent of India’s rural population. Though in recent years, land based livelihoods of small and marginal farmers are increasingly becoming unsustainable with the growing pace of development. Loss of livelihood options and the break-up of the socio-cultural fabric of society have brought about changes in the socio economic structures across the country. This has widened disparity among the rural and urban, rich and poor, men and women. In an attempt to bridge this gap, Government of India with the help of development organizations has introduced various programmes and policies.

This allowed the nonprofit Organizations and the Corporate Houses to participate actively in the sector of Livelihood and Employability. Eventually, the programmes not only implemented the government policies but also focused on the capacity building of the community, so as to equip them with skills to cope with change in the society.

Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation (NSF) has a vision to raise the scale of employability, and hence financially support Livelihood Projects specifically for development and programme costs for the implementation of the various projects both in urban and rural India. The Foundation endeavors to promote, encourage, and assist in the promotion of entrepreneurship and self employment in all possible manner by providing training, vocational guidance and making funds available by way of grants. The vital feature of Livelihood Vertical is that most of the projects supported by Foundation are gigantic in nature with vast experience of working in this sector.

PRADAN (Professional Assistance in Development Action), a not for profit organization, working with around 200,000 families and formed over 12,000 SHG’s through 30 teams covering 43 poverty districts. NSF supports, a demonstrating model of land-water crop based livelihoods, in Abu Road, located in the Sirohi district of Rajasthan. One of the significant achievements of this project has been the ability and acknowledgement received to replicate this demonstrative model in other parts of Rajasthan by the Government and other NGO’s.

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Minal Chheda

Warm Greetings!

I find myself introspecting about my first step towards working in the field of education. Back then I was only a volunteer trying to teach the students the very basics of education. Today, I feel that the word ‘Education’ is very difficult to define, as there is a vast difference between being ‘Literate’ and being ‘Educated’. Education today needs to go beyond the basics of Reading, Writing and Arithmetic, it has to instill the right values in the student, it has to teach the student to distinguish between right and wrong, it has to equip them to face the future.

At the Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation, we have a more holistic approach to education. The Foundation endeavors to promote scholastic excellence in India, at both the Undergraduate and Postgraduate level. We facilitate capacity building, nurture and support meritorious students through the Scholarship Program. We believe that our responsibility to our students does not end with selection, but continues through the studies and professional life.
Speaking of which, I would like to make a special mention of the Postgraduate scholarship, which is open to students across the country from a wide range of disciplines.

Some of our success stories include:

Vaibhav Chidrewar, a first generation learner who has consistently been a topper since his class X despite adverse conditions. Today, with the help of the scholarship programme, he is pursuing an MS in Electrical Engineering at Stanford University

Divya Iyer, after pursuing a Master’s Diploma in Mass Communication started her career with Aaj Tak as a Reporter and there after joined CNN IBN as a Senior Special Correspondent and was also part of the editorial team. The exposure in this field gave Divya the passion to pursue higher studies in Human Rights. Today she is studying at SOAS, University of London for an MA in Human Rights Law.

Thus, the Foundation believes that a good degree can serve as a springboard but other skills are needed to complement one`s desired career. Hence the PG program has the unique feature of assigning a suitable Mentor for the student. This mentor- mentee relationship not only enhances the academic and professional development of the student but provides a handholding to reach the career goal.

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Shalini Noronha