Managing Editor EDITORIAL Ms. Sucharita Dhar Editorial Board BAIF CELEBRATES GOLDEN JUBILEE Mr. G. G. Sohani Dr. A. B. Pande We are extremely happy to share with our readers Mr. B. K. Kakade that our journey in Rural Development began 50 years ago with the establishment of BAIF at the Editorial Office hands of Dr. Zakir Hussain, President of on BAIF Bhavan, Dr. Manibhai Desai Nagar August 24, 1967 in the presence of the Union Home Warje, 411 058 Minister, Shri. Y.B. Chavan, Chief Minister of Edited, Printed and Published by: Maharashtra, Shri. V.P. Naik and Union Minister of BAIF Development Research Foundation State for Agriculture, Shri. Annasaheb Shinde. We Dr. Manibhai Desai Nagar, Warje, Pune 411 058 are equally happy to share that for the Golden E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.baif.org.in Jubilee celebration of this journey, we were very fortunate to have the Hon'ble Prime Minister BAIF Trustees Shri. Narendra Modi gracing the occasion through Mr. Hrishikesh A. Mafatlal, Chairman Video Address on August 24, 2017. Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, Vice Chairman Mr. Hasmukh S. Shah During these 50 years, BAIF also had the Chairman, Executive Committee of BAIF Trustees honour of being visited by global dignitaries such as Smt. Rajashree A. Birla the Prime Minister of Norway, Madame Gro Harlem Mr. Kishor A. Chaukar Brundtland, Prime Ministers of India, Shri. Morarji Mr. Sunil S. Lalbhai Desai and Shri. Rajiv Gandhi, President of India, Dr. Devendra R. Mehta Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and many others, who Mr. Deepak C. Mehta appreciated our work and supported us in our Mr. Pratap G. Pawar mission of rural prosperity. Mr. Sharad Upasani We were also happy to receive support from Dr. Narayan G. Hegde many national and international donor agencies and Mr. Girish G. Sohani, President & Managing Trustee corporate houses. They have been our source of Founder: Late Dr. Manibhai Desai strength and have helped us to continue fulfilling the Mission of and his associate, Dr. Manibhai Desai, the Founder of BAIF. CONTENTS We are happy to present the Journey of BAIF BAIF Celebrates Golden Jubilee 1 through this special issue of the BAIF Journal. The BAIF Team is overwhelmed by the confidence 1. BAIF Golden Jubilee Celebraon – Address by Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi 2 shown in us by Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi as well as all our donor agencies and supporters 2. BAIF Golden Jubilee Celebraons in States 13 including millions of small farmers who have 3. Innovave Journey towards Sustainable Development 17 expressed their faith in BAIF. This appreciation also 4. Gandhian Blueprint 21 puts upon us the onus of working with greater zeal 5. Milestones during Golden Journey of BAIF 22 for meeting the emerging challenges and increasing 6. Important Visitors and Interacon with Dignitaries 37 our outreach to improve the lives of many more 7. Supporters of BAIF 47 families across India. 8. Trustees of BAIF 52 We hope you will enjoy reading this special 9. Professionals behind the Programme 54 issue. 10. Impact 60

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