Annual Report 2016-17

Registered Address: Reliance Corporate Park, First Floor, Project Office, Thane Belapur Road, Ghansoli, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra 400701, India www.reliancefoundation.org (CIN) U85110MH2010NPL207270

This is not the statutory annual report and the information contained herein is based on the data (as of December 2017) available with Reliance Foundation. Though all efforts are taken to provide accurate information, Reliance Foundation cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information nor can it be held responsible for any discrepancies and inaccuracies. Giving Wings to The photographs, if any, appearing in the Annual Report are taken from various projects run by Reliance Foundation or its associated entities. All these photographs are used in this Annual Report for illustration purposes only and should not be considered as endorsements of any nature by any individual appearing in these photographs. Wherever a copyright is owned by a third party, the same Hopes & Dreams is duly acknowledged and mentioned in the document. Message from the Founder & Chairperson

I am pleased to present the Annual Report been ranked the best International School management, livestock care, schemes and of Reliance Foundation (RF) for 2016-17. in India consecutively for the fourth year, subsidies, healthcare, employment, It has been yet another year of concerted the best school in Mumbai for the fourth disaster risks, etc. efforts towards realising our vision of an time, and the No. 1 school for academics inclusive India through our work in rural in India. DAIS received international RF supplied over 60 Mn litres of RF has so far been transformation, health, education, sports accreditation from the Council of drinking water to over 0.2 Mn people able to reach out to for development, disaster response, arts, International Schools (CIS) and the in 100 drought-affected villages in the culture and heritage, and urban renewal. New England Association of Schools and Marathwada region of Maharashtra, over 12 Mn people Continuing our commitment to take Colleges (NEASC). apart from constructing structures to across India covering millions of marginalised Indians to the conserve and harvest water. Using Jio more than 12,500 development mainstream and working For over two decades, the Dhirubhai 4G technology, we reached out to the on the frontlines of social and economic Ambani Scholarship programme has flood-affected communities in Madhya villages and 74 urban challenges, RF has so far been able to benefitted over 11,000 meritorious Pradesh. Through Swachh Bharat locations. reach out to over 12 Mn people across students, 50% of them being girls campaigns in 500 villages, RF has India covering more than 12,500 villages and 20% being specially-abled. The spread awareness about the importance and 74 urban locations. ‘Education for All’ initiative has impacted of cleanliness and hygiene. Our skilling I take this opportunity to express my the education of 0.1 Mn underprivileged and employment programme has sincere thanks to everyone at RF for their On 23rd July, 2016, our Hon’ble Prime children, while its ‘Digital Learning Van’ facilitated the placement of employable deep commitment towards achieving Minister Shri. Narendra Modi launched project launched this year has taken youths in urban areas, while the our goals. We are also grateful to all our the Reliance Foundation Youth Sports knowledge to the doorsteps of thousands financial literacy programme has helped partner institutions and governmental (RFYS) programme, a multi-city, multi- of underprivileged children across underprivileged women in urban areas organisations for their unstinted sports school and college competition. Mumbai. save money and better manage their support in accomplishing our shared RFYS organised football tournaments expenditure. mission. The road ahead for development in eight centres, with 20,000 students Truly living its motto ‘Respect for Life’, presents extraordinary opportunities from 4,000 educational institutions the Sir H. N. Reliance Foundation Towards preserving and promoting along with significant challenges, which participating in them. That RFYS has Hospital and Research Centre continues India’s rich artistic legacy, RF call for bringing scale and speed to our been able to reach out to 2 Mn children in to provide international quality commissioned the families of 100 Pichvai initiatives, pushing the boundaries of the inaugural year is proof of its potential healthcare at affordable pricing. It artists in Nathdwara in Rajasthan, to innovation, and intensely leveraging to contribute to the nation’s sporting has carried out several path-breaking create 17,000 Pichvai paintings, one of game-changing technologies. landscape. The RF Jr. NBA programme surgeries and medical procedures, the oldest living art forms in the world. has this year reached out to an additional including Maharashtra’s first robotic It has created employment opportunities We look to the future with optimism 0.6 Mn children while cumulatively kidney transplant. Reliance Foundation for these artists and helped them keep in our ability and conviction in benefitting over 3.4 Mn children, Drishti has so far carried out more their art form alive. our intent to unlock people’s potential 45 percent of them being girls. The than 15,500 transplants. RF’s health for development and stand by their Reliance Foundation Young Champs outreach programme, which offers free or On the whole, this year all our aspiration for a better tomorrow. We seek programme has so far benefitted 41 subsidised medical care, has reached out philanthropic initiatives, with direct everyone’s support in shaping lives and youngsters, some of whom got the to 0.45 Mn people. engagement as a core pillar of our spreading smiles, and for making RF a opportunity to be trained at leading policy, received a new momentum. movement. football clubs in Europe. RF’s grassroots Our Rural Transformation initiative Directing resources where they were sports initiatives have cumulatively has till now enhanced the livelihoods of needed the most and through outreach more than 3 Mn farmers, fisherfolk and actions in partnership with like-minded reached out to about 6 Mn youngsters. With best regards, livestock owners. The Reliance institutions, we have helped maximise The 13 RF schools provided quality Nutrition Garden (RNG) programme the impact in all our intervention areas. education to 15,000 children and enabled has been appreciated by various state Devising new ways of empowering them to excel in academics as well as governments. The Government of people, especially women, and increasing in sports and co-curricular activities. Maharashtra has adopted the RNG access to resources and information, Dhirubhai Ambani International School model in eight districts. Our Information in six years, we have been able to Nita M. Ambani (DAIS), which provides world-class Services continue to play a pivotal role make a mark on the nation’s social Founder & Chairperson, education to over 1,000 children, has in disseminating information on crop development ecosystem. Reliance Foundation

Annual Report 2016 - 2017 | 1 Report Contents 04 24 34 42 52 56 RELIANCE FOUNDATION HEALTH EDUCATION SPORTS FOR ARTS, CULTURE & CASE STUDIES ON Nurturing Every Dream, Improving Quality of Life ____ 24 Enriching Young Minds_____ 34 DEVELOPMENT HERITAGE TRANSFORMING LIVES Supporting Inclusive India ___ Encouraging Active Participation Celebrating India’s Glorious Ferro-Cement Technology for 04 Preventive and Primary Dhirubhai Ambani Scholarship & Promotion______42 Legacy______52 Water Storage in High-Altitude Healthcare______26 Our Journey______06 Programme______36 Geographies______57 Maternal and Child Health ___ 28 Reliance Foundation In Each Indian State, Giving Education for All______37 Youth Sports______44 Plastic Sheets to Enhance Child Malnutrition______29 Wings to Hopes and Dreams __ 08 Agricultural Livelihood______58 Eye-care Services______30 Digital Classrooms______38 Junior NBA Programme_____ 45 2016-17 Key Highlights______09 Primary and Preventive Care__ Strengthening Health Systems_ 59 31 Reliance Foundation Schools__ 39 Reliance Foundation Sir H. N. Reliance Foundation Young Champs______46 Tab Didi: Digitally-Empowered Dhirubhai Ambani International Hospital and Research Centre_ 32 Swasth Sanginis______60 School (DAIS)______40 Rural Sports______47 Piloting Digitisation for Primary Partnerships to Enhance Healthcare in Punjab______61 Education______41 Using the ‘Flag Method’ to 12 Save Paddy Fields______62 International Delegates Learning RURAL TRANSFORMATION 48 53 from Technology Interventions Sowing the Seeds of Hope ____ 12 of RF______63 DISASTER RESPONSE URBAN BEAUTIFICATION Water Security ______14 Soil Testing Yields Positive Results Rebuilding Lives______48 Improving India’s Cities_____ 53 among Banana Plantations___ 64 Food Security ______15 Drought Relief Support in Skilling and Employment____ 54 Geographical Information System Nutrition Security ______16 Maharashtra______50 Financial Literacy______55 Technologies in Measuring Rural Transformation______65 Farmer Producer Companies _ 17 Technology Support to Flood Relief in Madhya Pradesh____ 51 A Transformational Story of a Information Services for Vermi-compost Producer____ 66 Livelihood Enhancement____ 18

A Transformational Story of Institution Building______19 Rickshaw Puller who became a Biodiversity______20 driver of Community Change__ 67

Livestock Camps ______22

Contribution to Government Initiatives______23

2 | Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2016 - 2017 | 3 Reliance Foundation Nurturing Every Dream, Sports for Supporting Inclusive India Development Disaster Education Response

Arts, Culture Health and Heritage

Rural Focus Urban Transformation Areas Renewal

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has Approach for achieving inclusivity To maximise its reach and optimise RF leverages technology and achieved significant milestones and As one of the largest corporate societal outcomes, RF has adopted a three- innovation to provide sustainable measurable progress in the last 40 foundations in India, RF has pronged strategy – Direct Engagement, solutions for the enhancement of 12 Mn Lives years. The Company has always believed aligned its focus areas to national The vision of RF is Partnerships and Use of Technology. agriculture, livelihood, health and touched in creating societal value through its development goals and the international well-being of the marginalised and philanthropic activities for more than development agenda. Providing hope to build an inclusive RF directly engages with marginalised underprivileged communities across In a short span of six two decades, with its approach towards to individuals who need it the most, India by pioneering communities through a team of trained India. years, the efforts of social development evolving as per giving them an equal opportunity to a holistic model professionals dedicatedly working RF have already given contemporary needs over the years. To dream big and fulfil their potential, RF’s to address our for their upliftment and sustainable wings to hopes and create positive social impact, Reliance steadfast endeavour is to create replicable nation’s multi- development. Foundation (RF) was set up in 2010 as a and scalable models of development faceted development dreams of more than separate entity to promote and manage through an integrated approach that challenges, and RF has forged partnerships with 12 Mn people the social initiatives of Reliance Group. RF nurtures the dreams of millions and organisations that have the technical is registered as a not-for-profit company leads the way towards a self-reliant contribute to its expertise and experience to undertake across India. under Section 25 of the Companies Act, nation. collective aspirations. various programmes in the key focus 1956 (Section 8, of the new Companies areas of operation. RF also engages with Act, 2013). RF creates and supports impactful government in several initiatives. This initiatives through innovative self-reliant in achieving their development year, RF has collaborated with several Led by Smt. Nita M. Ambani, RF is institutions. Following a model of goals, simultaneously addressing areas of state governments including Andhra committed to the spirit of maximising direct engagement, RF directly reaches national importance. Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya societal value for all, bringing it in sync out to identified, underprivileged Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana, with vision, mission and values of its parent communities with trained professionals, besides its partnership with the organisation, Reliance Industries Limited. with the ultimate aim of making them Government of India institutions.

4 | Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2016 - 2017 | 5 Our Journey

2016-17

1. The Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Shri. Narendra Modi launched the ‘Reliance Foundation Youth Sports’ 2015-16 programme.

1. The Dhirubhai Ambani Scholarship 2. Received the ‘India CSR Award’, in programme completed two decades of recognition of its work to create water continued financial support towards security, setup producer companies higher education of economically weak and its deployment of innovative 2014-15 meritorious students. communication methods through information services. 1. Rebuilt Sir H. N. Reliance Foundation 2. Launched the ‘Young Champs’ Hospital and Research Centre to programme, a full-scholarship based, 3. Initiated technology-enabled solutions provide world-class tertiary healthcare full-time residential football and to the flood-affected communities in 2013-14 facilities. education programme. Madhya Pradesh. 2. Relief material provided during the 3. The health outreach programme was 1. Set up a taskforce to support relief unprecedented floods in Jammu & awarded ISO 9001:2008 certification. operations in the aftermath of Kashmir. Uttarakhand floods. 4. ‘Bharat India Jodo’ programme received the Rama Krishna Bajaj 2012-13 2. The ‘Bharat India Jodo’ programme National Quality Award, Certificate of was awarded ISO 9001:2008 Merit 2015, under the NGO category. 1. Launched the ‘Health for All’ initiative certification. to provide primary and preventive 2010-12 healthcare to the underprivileged, 3. The ‘Drishti’ programme, a long- using state-of-the-art technology for standing initiative of RF, completed 1. RF was set up in 2010 as a separate service delivery. 10 years of continued support for the entity to promote and manage visually impaired underprivileged all the social sector initiatives of 2. A technology-backed Information people. Reliance Group. Services programme to connect knowledge seekers and knowledge 4. Launched Junior NBA, a school- 2. Launch of ‘Bharat India Jodo’ providers was launched, to address based programme aimed at promoting programme to support small rural developmental and livelihood basketball as a Sports for Development landholding farmers. security issues. initiative under RF.

3. Launch of the ‘Education for All’ initiative to make quality education accessible to underprivileged children.

4. Under the ‘Drishti’ programme, India’s first registered national Hindi newspaper in Braille was launched. This was for circulation to over 20,000 visually impaired across the country.

6 | Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2016 - 2017 | 7 In Each Indian State, Giving Wings to Hopes and Dreams 2016-17 Key Highlights

RURAL TRANSFORMATION HEALTH >0.8 Mn >0.87 Mn ~30,000 Number of livelihoods, including Saplings planted Children screened for malnutrition. Geographical reach of farmers, fisherfolk and livestock (>3.0 Mn since inception). Out of these, >2,000 children Reliance Foundation owners, enhanced (> 2.8 Mn since found malnourished and linked to inception). next level of care and treatment >Rs. 29.4 Mn (since inception, >42,500 Amount accrued as Village children screened and >3,500 >2,200 Development Funds received follow-up treatment). Hectares (>Rs. 170 Mn since inception). >1,000 severely malnourished children provided intensive care Land area brought under improved through linkages to government cultivation (>56,000 Hectares since 106 rehabilitation centres for treatment. inception). Women’s Thrift Groups formed to enhance financial decision-making, ~1,100 >2,900 with a corpus of >Rs. 2.2 Mn. Individuals with visual disability Hectares supported for corneal transplants Land area brought under irrigation ~8,000 under the Drishti programme (>15,500 transplants provided through water harvesting and Reliance Nutrition Gardens (RNGs) since inception). Two of the project conservation efforts (>23,500 developed, producing 6,000 Metric villages certified as Preventive Visual Hectares since inception). tonnes of fresh vegetables. Disability, controlled by the district health administration. >20,000 Rural households provided with 2 food security till date by bringing HEALTH land under sustainable agricultural Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) practices. launched this year to provide >0.17 Mn preventive and primary healthcare Health consultations provided to services. Of this, 1 MMU completely >3.2 Bn litres patients through mobile and static run by female health professionals, medical units and various health dedicatedly providing services on Rainwater collected with water camps (>0.43 Mn since inception). women-centric health issues. harvesting structures (>58.6 Bn litres since inception), securing habitats across 131 villages with drinking water. Out of these, 51 ~34,000 villages were secured with water for Women screened for anaemia, of drinking and agricultural use. which 8,000 women were diagnosed with the condition and provided treatment (since inception, ~46,000 women screened for anaemia, of which >12,000 women provided with treatment).

Map not to scale For illustrative purpose only

8 | Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2016 - 2017 | 9 2016-17 Key Highlights

EDUCATION SPORTS FOR DISASTER ARTS, CULTURE DEVELOPMENT RESPONSE AND HERITAGE 437 Meritorious students, including 0.6 Mn >60 Mn 17,000 143 specially-abled students, given Students across 18 cities encouraged Paintings created to keep alive Dhirubhai Ambani scholarships to Litres to adopt healthy and active lifestyles Pichvai, one of the world’s oldest art pursue higher studies (>11,000 since Volume of drinking water provided by integrating basketball into their forms, by extending support to inception). to over 100 drought-affected villages physical education curriculum 100 Pichvai artists. across 4 districts of Maharashtra. through the RF Jr. NBA programme 0.1 Mn (~3.4 Mn students since inception). Underprivileged students provided >70,000 quality education under the 18 Technology-enabled solutions ‘Education for All’ initiative. leveraged to provide support in Children awarded scholarships This year, the initiative supported the flood-affected areas of Madhya under the Young Champs 12 partner NGOs. Pradesh. Timely information programme to develop their disseminated to affected people on footballing abilities (41 scholarships URBAN disaster-related compensations, since inception). 1 procedures for availing them, and RENEWAL Digital Learning Van launched to disease management of crops. provide access to digital learning >1,500 2 to thousands of underprivileged Rural youth reached out under Lakes in Thane, Maharashtra children across Mumbai. 1.5 Bn litres the rural sports initiative – aimed beautified with a focus on enhancing Water storage capacity created at empowering communities to the quality of public spaces in urban through revival of Sona river in improve education, health, gender areas. Aurangabad, Maharashtra, thus and leadership qualities ensuring drinking water security for (~4,000 youth since inception). >14,000 people and irrigation for ~2,500 acres of land in 5 villages.

10 | Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2016 - 2017 | 11 Rural Transformation Sowing the Seeds of Hope

The Rural Transformation initiative works closely with farmers for co-creating and Geographical reach of co-designing strategies for holistic rural Rural Transformation initiative development. The process of harvesting change begins with selecting the right pathways. Meaningful interventions that can have a transformational impact are undertaken after a deeper understanding of ground realities.

Approach for harvesting change Launched in 2010, RF’s Bharat India Jodo (BIJ) programme draws inspiration from the Hindi word bij, meaning ‘seed’– the bearer of infinite potential, for generating and sustaining life. The BIJ programme aims to sow the seeds of hope for marginalised rural farming communities by bridging the development gap between rural Bharat and urban India. Guided by its objective, the BIJ programme has been working tirelessly to create a holistic, self- reliant and sustainable model of rural transformation. RF deploys appropriate rural technology that is simple, replicable and farmer-friendly, thereby reducing the community’s dependence on external factors. The RF Information Services (RFIS) programme supports farmers, fisherfolk and livestock owners with timely information that is tailored to Being free from debt their local needs. The information gives me relief, further services are aimed at empowering the Map not to scale I don’t have to work as community in more effective decision- For illustrative purpose only a daily wage labourer making in the interest of their livelihoods. as I earn sufficient from By March 2017, the RF BIJ programme agro-ecological sub-regions. The RFIS my farm… I am happy reached out to more than 52,000 programme reached out to over 2.8 Mn households spread across more than people using technological platforms and can now see a better 500 villages from 32 districts of 12 across 12,000 villages in 11 states and two future for my children… states, which fall under 19 different union territories.

Pappulal Sharma, Jamwa Ramgarh, Jaipur, Rajasthan

12 | Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2016 - 2017 | 13 Water Security Food Security

Assured means of I had never dreamt irrigation has provided that my life will change relief from erratic rains so much from being a and given me the wealth daily wage labourer to a of happiness. I can progressive farmer in my now cultivate my land village. throughout the year. Rod Singh, Madhav Kakade, Jhalara, Shajapur, Madhya Pradesh Gangakhed, Parbhani, Maharashtra

Objective: Ensuring water self- Results: Rainwater-harvesting capacity secure for drinking water and helped Objective: Reducing hunger and standard agronomical practices etc., under sustainable agriculture with nearly sufficiency in rural areas. has exceeded 3.2 Bn litres in this year 51 villages attain complete water malnutrition in rural India. thereby enhancing the net income of the 5,000 Hectares of private wasteland (58.6 Bn litres since inception). security for both drinking and farmers. being brought under cultivation for Approach: RF is contributing agricultural use. Further, over 2,900 Approach: While India has emerged as the first time. This has ensured food significantly towards harvesting and The water security initiative has Hectares of land has been brought under global agricultural powerhouse, a large Results: Till date, land area in excess security for more than 20,000 rural conserving rainwater in all its programme made habitations across 131 villages irrigation this year. section of its population continues to of 56,000 Hectares has been brought households. villages. Various technological options face the challenge of food security and such as new or renovated earthen malnutrition. A recent report on food dams, masonry/concrete check dams, security states that India is home to a Cumulative Rainwater Harvesting Capacities Created Cumulative land brought under sustainable agriculture farm ponds and open wells, dikes quarter of the world’s undernourished (in Bn litres) (in Hectares) and temporary structures such as the population (194.6 Mn). Almost 51 Bori Bandhan have been deployed to 6.3 24.4 44.7 54.9 58.6 percent of its women are anaemic and 15,314 31,010 47,185 53,934 56,139 harvest surface run-off and recharge 44 percent of its children under the age groundwater. For effective planning and of five are underweight (FAO, IFAD management, water budgeting has been & WFP, 2015). undertaken in 354 villages. Communities are putting water governance mechanisms The Rural Transformation initiative in place to ensure that both surface and promotes integrated sustainable crop groundwater is accorded the status of management practices to enhance common property and treated like a crop productivity, thereby ensuring shared resource to ensure sustainable the availability of food grains for utilisation. households throughout the year. The interventions also aim to reduce the cost of production by promoting the adoption FY 2012-13 FY 2013-14 FY 2014-15 FY 2015-16 FY 2016-17 FY 2012-13 FY 2013-14 FY 2014-15 FY 2015-16 FY 2016-17 of organic fertilisers, bio-pesticides,

14 | Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2016 - 2017 | 15 Nutrition Security Farmer Producer Companies

Apart from all the We learned to support earnings from each other through our agriculture fields, Producer Company I am getting plenty not only for getting of vegetables from better price, but also RNG. Now we are not for lowering our cost, purchasing vegetables improving the quality from the market, of produce for better rather selling to marketability and others. gaining information for productivity Kaushalya Bai, enhancement. Ghuchepali, Balangir, Odisha Mallesh Dandugula, Vandrikal Village, Kamareddy, Telangana

Objective: Increasing the intake of Government and Non-Government has resulted in the establishment of Objective: Providing income address many challenges of agriculture once there is felt need amongst the nutritional food in rural India. organisations. Several organisations have 3,035 nutrition gardens benefitting over security to farmers through such as just and transparent market, community seeking an organised also adopted the RNG model and scaled 62,000 children across these districts. establishment and promotion of farm inputs, improved access to formal structure for marketing of the farm Approach: RF has been promoting its it up in their project areas with technical The RNG technical guidelines developed farmer collectives in the form of financial institutions and advanced produce. unique model of nutrition gardens, which support from RF. by RF are being used by the Department Farmer Producer Companies. technology. are water-efficient kitchen or backyard of Women and Child Development, Results: So far, 17 Producer Companies gardens that can produce diverse Results: This year, RF developed Government of Maharashtra, in a newly Approach: Reliance Foundation Uniqueness of the model have been established, benefitting over varieties of fresh organic vegetables. nearly 8,000 RNGs across its villages. developed smartphone application promotes community owned and • Producer member owned and managed 20,000 families. These companies Reliance Nutrition Gardens (RNGs) are The Government of Maharashtra has ‘WCD Anganwadi’. managed producer institution under the • Farmers’ equity have transacted over 4,500 Metric usually set up by rural women, many adopted the RNG model in eight districts. legal framework of Producer Company • FPC board governed by members only tonnes of farm and non-farm produce, of whom have now emerged as leaders Under this initiative, RF has trained as the end piece of its institutional • RF plays the role of knowledge partner with a business turnover in excess of in their communities, motivating other 1,066 master trainers from various design to build sustainable institutions and mentor for establishing institutional Rs. 100.0 Mn till date. women to take up similar interventions. departments on the technical aspects at the grassroot level. Farmer Producer and market linkages for FPCs This nutrition security initiative has of RNGs including design, layout, Company (FPC) aims at collectivisation of received wide appreciation from various maintenance and its management. This producers especially small and marginal The formation of FPC is an evolutionary farmers, to form an effective alliance to process where the FPC is organised

16 | Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2016 - 2017 | 17 Information Services for Livelihood Enhancement Institution Building

Objective: Creating a culture of In addition to reaching out through Results: A collaboration with 619 Objective: Promoting local self- also provide platforms for exchange leadership development, documentation empowerment through information technological platforms, the programme information providers and 284 grassroots governance in villages as part of the of information, views and resources and processes. dissemination to rural families. directly serves marginal communities organisations to provide effective larger goal to promote sustainable at a local level, and promote a larger through camps providing medical information services that reaches out to rural development. stewardship for developmental issues in Results: The primary outcome is the Approach: Since 2013, the RF services livestock management, over 0.8 Mn individuals this year (over the region by leveraging programmes and emergence of empowered and self- Information Services programme has plant diagnostics, soil testing. It also 2.8 Mn since inception). Additionally, Approach: For creating long-term, resources from various developmental reliant community-based organisations been disseminating information on crop conducts various demonstrations and queries of over 0.12 Mn farmers, fisherfolk sustainable local self-governance, RF organisations. with robust membership bases and management, livestock care, schemes training programmes, with technical and livestock owners have been resolved mobilises poor and marginalised farmers strong leadership. The uniqueness of the and subsidies, healthcare, education, support from government departments, this year (over 0.22 Mn since inception). to form people’s collectives known RF also promotes Women’s Thrift design lies in the co-creation and co- employment and civic services advisories universities, research institutions, as Village Associations (VAs). These Groups (WTGs), aimed at improving designing of solutions contextualised to boost income of rural families. The hospitals etc. institutions ensure fair representation of the participation of women in rural as per social, economic and ecological information is shared with farmers, all residents – especially marginalised transformation. This model encourages situations that are self-sustaining. Till livestock owners, fisherfolk, pregnant This entire eco-system is supported by groups such as women and the poverty- women to drive the process of socio- date, more than 52,000 rural families women, disaster-affected populations, cloud telephony, based around the toll- stricken, in providing strategic directions economic change by making them have joined hands to form 529 VAs, young people and other segments of free helpline number (1800-419-8800). for village development; they also ensure financially self-reliant and ensuring to drive the village transformation the population. These advisories are collective planning and decision-making. that they play an active role in decision- initiative. transmitted through technological making. platforms such as mobile phones, cable VAs interface with their Gram Panchayats Regarding the progress of WTGs, till date, television, print and electronic media, by improving the vibrancy of Gram Sabhas To promote self-reliance and success more than 3,000 women have formed 106 audio-video conferences etc. with active participation and contribution of the WTGs, RF focusses on capacity thrift groups across 14 districts in seven towards village planning. The VAs building of women, with a special focus on states, having saved over Rs. 2.2 Mn.

18 | Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2016 - 2017 | 19 Biodiversity

Objective: Restoring the ecological different knowledge partners, more than Results: This year, RF has supported the balance in rural landscapes and 4,500 soil health tests were conducted conservation of more than 2,200 Hectares protecting farmers’ livelihood. this year (above 15,000 soil tests since of unproductive land and converted it inception), based on which relevant into cultivable land (more than 56,000 Approach: Rain-fed areas in India advisories were disseminated at the village Hectares since inception). More than 80 are characterised by land degradation level. Till date, RF has helped construct percent of this land has been used for and depletion of vegetation, crop more than 2,000 biogas plants in rural food production, while the rest has been biodiversity and groundwater levels. households. A survey found that these used for activities such as cultivation of RF deploys sustainable practices to biogas units have helped in reduction of fodder and other commercial crops. revive the ecology, focussing on re- health problems by 92 percent, reduced vegetating the landscape by adopting the drudgery of women by seven hours a soil and water conservation measures, week, saved 2.1 metric tonnes of firewood improving biomass productivity and per year and reduced 102 metric tonnes of enhancing crop biodiversity. Plantation methane gas emission. activity on individual and common lands, preparation of local biodiversity registers, promotion of sustainable agricultural practices and eco-friendly livelihoods such as bee-keeping, lac cultivation and Cumulative saplings planted biogas plants are brought into practice in (in Mn) RF’s clusters across India. 0.8 1.2 1.7 2.2 3.0 In an effort to promote biodiversity and preserve the ecology, the number of saplings planted this year crossed 0.87 Mn. So far, the number of saplings that have been planted by VAs on both individual and common landholdings has crossed 3.0 Mn. To get high yields from cost-effective farming, RF supported and conducted soil health activities such as camps and workshops, facilitating soil- testing and ensuring the application of essential nutrients in about 797 Hectares FY 2012-13 FY 2013-14 FY 2014-15 FY 2015-16 FY 2016-17 of agricultural land. In collaboration with

20 | Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2016 - 2017 | 21 Livestock Camps

My livestock was severely affected with indigestion, resulting in reduced milking Objective: Extending all possible milk society unions to organise livestock to it. Besides direct on-field support, the capacity. I followed the assistance to owners for successful camps. These camps provide veterinary intervention also uses virtual platforms suggestions given over livestock development. services such as free consultation, such as video and audio conferences and phone by expert from RF, vaccination, castration, deworming, liver meetings to provide expert solutions to and my livestock started Approach: Recognising that livestock treatment, artificial insemination etc. the queries of livestock owners. recovering. Now, I consult are an important source of livelihood for During these camps, livestock owners experts of RF for all the rural population and a vital resource are also provided medicines, mineral Results: This year, over 53,000 livestock for agricultural development, RF has mixtures, fodder and fodder seeds for animals have been treated through 230 problems related to my collaborated with different government their livestock along with information camps (over 0.13 Mn livestock since livestock. departments, veterinary colleges and on various government schemes related inception) across seven states.

Jayram Sahu, Contribution to Government Initiatives Barapada, Puri, Odisha

Complement to Swachh Bharat E-Toilets at Cities Sona River Revival Initiative RF extended support to Navi Mumbai RF took on the challenge of ending Village-level efforts Municipal Corporation (NMMC) in water woes plaguing five villages Since the launch of Government of construction of 12 E-toilets across Navi around Soygaon in Aurangabad District, India’s Swachh Bharat Mission, RF has Mumbai. These are women-friendly Maharashtra, by reviving the Sona River. been conducting several activities to public toilets designed with stainless With just one-and-a-half months to go for improve cleanliness, health and hygiene steel interiors that ensure easier cleaning the monsoons, the RF team swung into in its programme villages. This year, and thus maintain hygiene. It has other action and deployed all its managerial awareness campaigns were carried out specifications such as separate toilet and skill and technological expertise to in around 500 villages through posters, rest room, automated washing, sensors accomplish the task. Heavy machinery kala jathas and rallies, to sensitise for conservation of water and electricity, including earth movers and tractors were villagers on the importance of cleanliness, water empty indication, power backup, deployed for de-siltation along a 5-km hygiene, sanitation and the use of toilets. napkin vending machine and incinerator, stretch of the river. All these activities Additionally, through teleconferences and exhaust fan etc. created a water storage capacity of 1.5 Bn toll-free helplines, citizens were informed litres. Additionally, three gated structures about the procedures to avail benefits Village Social Transformation were repaired while one new structure of schemes such as the Sardar Patel Mission was constructed for releasing water. Awas Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Gramin RF partners with the Government of Awas Yojana, Vriddha Pension Yojana Maharashtra’s village transformation The revived Sona River ensured drinking etc. To facilitate villages achieve ‘Open- initiative that aims to transform the water security for over 14,000 people and defecation Free’ status, information 1,000 poorest villages of the state in over assured irrigation for about 2,500 acres is being shared for leveraging funds 18 months. RF is taking up 53 villages in of land in five villages. from different government schemes the Parbhani and Yavatmal districts of for construction of toilets. As a result of Maharashtra to support this initiative, these efforts, more than 14,000 toilets focussing on sustainable development have been constructed in around 263 of its villages through ‘Mission Village villages, of which 48 villages have been Transformation’. In addition to steering declared ‘Open-defecation Free’ by the the work in these villages, RF is on the government. governing board of the Village Social Transformation Foundation, which is the governing board for the mission.

22 | Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2016 - 2017 | 23 Health Improving Quality of Life

Geographical reach of Health initiative

From RF Swasth Samuh, I realised that the development of a community is in the hands of its residents. ‘Swachh Mumbai’, a cleanliness drive was our first activity as a Samuh. We went door to door, lane by lane, spreading the message of cleanliness; put up posters, organised rallies and made sure that everyone in our locality received the message.

Beena Saini (RF Swasth Samuh Member), Bharat Nagar, Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai, Maharashtra Map not to scale For illustrative purpose only

RF addresses issues around the affordability spectrum of preventive and primary care, for tertiary care. RF also works on and accessibility of quality healthcare and maternal and child health, malnutrition, bringing about positive behavioural brings about improvement in awareness communicable and non-communicable change for the improvement of health of healthy living practices. Its ‘Health diseases, ophthalmological services, outcomes, with a special focus on for All’ motto and integrated healthcare health system strengthening etc. maternal and child health. The model caters to the most vulnerable programmes inform and engage sections of society through a network of The focus of these initiatives is to community members to meet their healthcare delivery mechanisms. enhance preventive healthcare, improve healthcare needs. The programmes access to primary and secondary also utilise technology for effective Approach for improving the quality healthcare services, reduce economic processing of patient information. of life: burden due to healthcare expenditure, RF’s health initiatives range across the and provide need-based referral services

24 | Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2016 - 2017 | 25 Preventive and Primary Healthcare

Objective: Addressing preventive Cumulative health consultations and number of Mobile and and primary healthcare needs of Static Medical Units the underprivileged living in both rural and urban areas. 68,756 1,49,084 2,64,843 4,36,382

Approach: Launched in 2012, the 13 12 health outreach programme works through Static Medical Units (SMUs) 8 and Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) with 5 a team of healthcare professionals. This programme imparts health education and promotes health-seeking behaviour, besides providing preventive and primary health services. The programme also offers specialised services through SMUs, with an emphasis on non-communicable FY 2013-14 FY 2014-15 FY 2015-16 FY 2016-17 diseases. The medical units are equipped with state-of-the-art technology, Health consultations Functional medical units including cloud-based software, to store patient information. The intervention is currently operational in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Uttarakhand.

This year, two new MMUs were launched - one in Palghar district of Maharashtra, which will provide health services to nearly 18,000 people across 11 villages, while the other MMU is at Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh to provide healthcare services around women-centric issues. I live only for my child. The latter is fully run by women healthcare I want him to be healthy, providers. and grow up as a smart and intelligent man, but Results: Overall, RF runs 13 medical he was ailing. The MMU units across the focus states. Health consultations carried out this year crossed team helped me get the 0.17 Mn (over 0.43 Mn since inception), proper treatment for providing advice on general health issues, him, guiding me at every diabetes, hypertension, physiotherapy, step. Sohil is better now. gynaecology etc.

Afreen Sayyed (Sohil’s Mother), Masjid Bunder, Mumbai, Maharashtra

26 | Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2016 - 2017 | 27 Maternal and Child Health Child Malnutrition

Many children in my neighbourhood were Becoming a Swasth identified as malnourished at the health camp. Sangini has been a life They advised that I also take my child to the changing experience camp. When Didi (Nutritionist) tied a band for me. It has garnered around my child’s hand and told me that my for me new respect Approach: The Maternal and Child with Jio TV conferences being organised Objective: Addressing the major baby is healthy, I breathed a sigh of relief. Didi and recognition in Health (MCH) programme, started in to provide information to the local concern of malnutrition among also counselled me on healthy practices to family and society. Mumbai in 2014 and scaled up to meet communities. children in the early years of life. prevent malnutrition in children. The trainings and the the needs of rural transformation villages, skills I acquired as a has adopted a unique community Results: Currently, the MCH programme Approach: Prevalence of child Swasth Sangini have engagement model for effective service is scaled-up and being implemented malnutrition is our country’s silent Shakuntala Singh (Mother of Samskruthi), delivery. Community volunteers, called across eight states. Over 1,440 women emergency as almost 38% of our Sambhaji Nagar, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra empowered me as a Swasth Sanginis, are trained to cascade enrolled this year for availing maternal children are stunted, 30% underweight person. their learnings and provide basic health services (2,441 women since and 15% wasted (Ministry of Women healthcare and diagnostic services to inception). The community effort and Child Development, 2014). Under the programme, RF started an Results: The programme has screened women during prenatal and postnatal under the intervention has ensured safe Focussed attention is required for e-learning initiative wherein Swasth 29,706 children under five years of age Anita Soren, (Swasth Sangini), period. Additionally, regular health childbirths of more than 350 high-risk significant reduction in the prevalence Sanginis were trained by nutritionists this year, of which about eight percent of Joramo, Deoghar, Jharkhand screenings are conducted for anaemia pregnant women that potentially could of malnutrition among children via virtual platforms. These virtual children were found malnourished and among adolescent girls and women of have resulted in fatalities. This year, under 5 years. RF is addressing child culinary workshops guided them on received treatment. Since inception, the childbearing age. 33,958 women were screened for anaemia malnutrition issues in urban and rural nutritional values of various local food malnutrition intervention has screened Objective: Addressing the key (45,979 screenings since inception) and areas across eight states by involving products and demonstrated healthy over 42,500 children, of which 3,500 health challenges faced by women Health professionals routinely conduct those diagnosed were provided with 233 community volunteers. These recipes for improving nutrition among children were found malnourished and and children, such as malnutrition, awareness campaigns on health and appropriate care. volunteers are trained on malnutrition malnourished children as well as received treatment. anaemia, maternal health and nutrition. This year, the campaign was screening and empowered with pregnant/lactating mothers and anaemic improved menstrual hygiene. scaled up through the use of technology, measurement kits. women in their programme area.

28 | Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2016 - 2017 | 29 Eye-care Services Strengthening Health Systems

Since last few years I was having a hard time getting sleep at night. I experienced a burning sensation in eyes all through the night. It had started to affect my daily routine. That’s Objective: Restoring sight of the villages at Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh. when I visited the RF Objective: Providing support through these facilities. Moreover, 213 underprivileged people suffering The purpose was to improve awareness vision camp held near for provision of quality care at frontline workers have been trained on from visual impairment. and control visual disabilities through my house. The doctor at government healthcare institutes. communication skills and select tools community-based screening and the camp examined my developed by RF on antenatal care. Approach: Since over a decade, RIL provision of appropriate care such as Approach: RF is providing technical First phase of Health Management and later under the aegis of RF, has provision of glasses to correct refractory eyes and told me that I support for process standardisation, Information System (HMIS) covering been supporting visually-impaired errors, and correction of Vitamin-A am in need of corrective capacity building and technology Out-Patient Department (OPD) and Lab underprivileged people through ‘Drishti’ deficiency induced visual impairment etc. glasses. I am so thankful integration to the healthcare institutes services is near completion and will be programme that supports corneal to RF for organising this and public health facilities in Warangal inaugurated shortly. transplant surgeries. As part of the eye- Results: This year, the programme camp in our locality. District, Telangana. The initiative in care awareness programme, a week-long partnered with the National Association collaboration with the local government Results: The success of RF pilot Drishti art and essay competitions is also for the Blind, Arvind Eye Hospital has trained 103 staff members of eight has resulted in a multiplier effect organised annually. and the LV Prasad Eye Institute in Ratna Baban Shinde, primary and secondary care facilities with the pilot being adapted across Hyderabad, supporting 1,096 corneal Yadav Nagar, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra on primary health centre management all health facilities in five districts Besides Drishti, RF has been conducting transplants (15,824 corneal transplants and maternal and child health skills. of Telangana. vision care camps across different since inception). Around 10,000 50 staff members have been trained on programme areas. This year, a unique people participated in the art and essay district - were certified as Preventive communication skills, effective meetings, community co-participated vision competition. Two of the programme Visual Disability Controlled by the district team building and decision-making, care initiative was launched across six villages - Lalpur and Deori in Shahdol health administration. vastly improving the services provided

30 | Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2016 - 2017 | 31 Sir H. N. Reliance Foundation Hospital and Research Centre

Inaugurated by the Hon’ble Prime With a commitment to its fundamental Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital Minister Shri. Narendra Modi, Sir H. N. principle – Patient First – the hospital World-class medical facilities in Reliance Foundation Hospital is gaining has launched a number of initiatives rural India recognition as a Centre of Quality Care. to improve the experience of patients The Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital Located in Mumbai, the hospital is and their family members. Visits to at Lodhivali near Patalganga is an currently in its third year of operations. the hospital are substantially reduced 82-bed state-of-the-art hospital catering True to its core value – Respect for Life – by online availability of reports. to the industrial and rural population the hospital provides specialised services Similarly, online registration and mobile in the Raigad District of Maharashtra. to underprivileged patients, including applications help find suitable doctors A majority of these patients are complex paediatric cardiac surgeries and and secure online appointments. An underprivileged or senior citizens, cancer therapies. outstation clinic has also been opened or trauma accident victims from the in Surat to provide patients in Gujarat economically weaker sections of society. Objective: Providing state-of- access to the best doctors. The hospital Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital has one of the the-art medical facilities, both in is designed in accordance with the country’s largest Anti-Retroviral Therapy terms of expertise and required highest international quality standards. (ART) centres – a major Corporate Social infrastructure, so that the best It has been awarded IGBC’s LEED GOLD Responsibility (CSR) initiative – which possible treatment is available at certification. caters to HIV patients. affordable rates in India. Results: In a short span of time, the RESULTS ACHIEVED IN THE Approach: In addition to providing hospital has crossed many medical FINANCIAL YEAR 2016-17 world-class medical services, the hospital milestones. This year, the hospital • 2,211 patients provided free outpatient believes that ‘prevention is better than performed 3,415 surgeries and 608 and subsidised inpatient treatment By God’s grace, cure’. This year alone, 7,210 medical cathlab procedures with excellent • 237 HIV AIDS patients registered Shikhar Salecha from screenings were conducted. The hospital outcomes. Also, in the course of the year, (3,809 patients since inception); all Mumbai has come organises health awareness and education the hospital provided medical benefits these patients have been provided programmes. This year, 30 community to more than 180 underprivileged free consultation, counselling, out of trouble. The awareness programmes, attended by individuals, besides providing 9,024 free investigation and treatment entire team of doctors over 2,800 people, were conducted. OPD consultations. Recently, the hospital • 14,621 consultations were offered at and staff attending to The hospital also held 50 events such reached a major milestone, starting an the centre (1,26,280 consultations Shikhar were excellent. as corporate health awareness talks, Organ Transplantation programme. since inception) They treated him just awareness and school-screening camps, A large number of patients who required like a family member. attended by over 4,800 people. As part of complex medical management have also Everybody at the an ongoing Continued Medical Education been treated at the hospital. Some of these programme, the hospital organised 23 patients required high-end equipment hospital, including the symposiums, workshops and seminars, like ECHMO, which are not available in staff, has been a pillar attended by almost 2,400 doctors. most hospitals. of support for him all throughout.

Mr. Salecha (Father of Shikhar, who underwent treatment for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, a type of blood cancer)

32 | Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2016 - 2017 | 33 Education Enriching Young Minds

Geographical reach of education initiative I am glad to be selected by your Company for financial assistance. My family was facing a financial crisis, and the scholarship has given me the opportunity to fly with glorious colours.

Kishor S. Dixit, Aurangabad, Maharashtra

There are unmistakable inequalities in access to education in India; further affecting the entire lifecycle of disadvantaged individuals, stunting their intellectual development and limiting their employment options. Understanding this, RF has identified education as one of the most pressing development needs to bring transformational change in the society.

Approach for enriching young minds: RF provides quality education, training Map not to scale and skill enhancement to improve the For illustrative purpose only quality of lives and livelihoods. The initiatives are aimed at promoting primary and secondary education and enabling higher education through merit-cum-means scholarships across the country. RF has set up schools, and promotes higher education by setting up as well as supporting universities. It has leveraged technology, including digital education platforms, for a richer learning environment and greater reach.

34 | Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2016 - 2017 | 35 Dhirubhai Ambani Scholarship Programme Education for All

Objective: Making higher Objective: Providing access to Results: Since inception, the initiative education accessible to meritorious Scholarships given to needy and deserving students quality education to underprivileged has positively impacted the lives of underprivileged students. for higher education children to enable them to improve 0.1 Mn underprivileged children. 2,084 4,751 8,108 10,921 11,358 opportunities in life. Approach: The Dhirubhai Ambani Scholarship (DAS) programme has been Approach: RF launched the ‘Education providing educational scholarships to for All’ initiative in 2010 with ardent students since 1996 to pursue college support from Mumbai Indians. education in their preferred stream. The The initiative supports like-minded programme continues to further the organisations dedicatedly working in vision of Late Shri Dhirubhai Ambani the education space for underprivileged towards honing youth leadership within children. In 2017, the initiative started the country. supporting 12 partner NGOs. This year, a Digital Learning Van was launched to Results: In the 21st year of the DAS Year Up to Up to Up to Up to provide a virtual learning experience to programme, 437 meritorious students 1996-2000 2005 2010 2015 2016 underprivileged children. across India, including 143 specially-abled students, were provided scholarships to pursue higher education (11,358 Bureau (IMRB) in 2016 found that the scope is diversified and does not limit scholarships since inception). A survey programme is unique as compared to support to particular disciplines or conducted by Indian Market Research other scholarship programmes as its stream of education.

36 | Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2016 - 2017 | 37 Digital Classrooms Reliance Foundation Schools

Objective: Introducing innovative education through the medium of Results: The schools in Andhra Pradesh Objective: Providing a complete Reliance Foundation School providing Science stream. So far, about 25,000 web-enabled methods providing Marathi, Urdu and English languages. and Gujarat are benefitting over 25,000 and an enriching educational primary education was set up in Dahej. children have graduated from these access to quality education and The initiative aims at creating world- children. The State Council of Educational experience that helps students The School’s educational programmes, a schools. Students are encouraged to improve learning outcomes. class infrastructure for educational Research and Training has used the realise their full potential. fine blend of curricular and co-curricular participate in state and national level classroom training and interaction setup to train more than 800 teachers elements, equip children with knowledge, Olympiads, competitions and events Approach: RF has promoted Digital beyond the school syllabus. While the virtually. In Thane district, over 3,000 Approach: A total of 13 Reliance skills and values that will make them that make them familiar with academic Classrooms for improving the teaching- students of TMC schools cannot afford students have benefitted from the virtual Foundation Schools that educate aware, successful and responsible rigour and trends, preparing them for learning process to ensure quality high cost education, the initiative aspires classroom initiative this year. around 15,000 children are located in citizens. the emerging world. Students have won education. to provide them with equal opportunity Jamnagar, Surat, Vadodara, Dahej, several awards at the district, state and for obtaining quality education through a Lodhivali, Nagothane, Nagpur and Navi Results: Students of Reliance national levels in various co-curricular RF has been implementing digital digital platform. Mumbai. These schools offer educational Foundation Schools continue to excel and sports competitions like CBSE learning initiative in 100 schools across programmes right from Kindergarten in academics as well as co-scholastic, Nationals, School Games Federation of Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat. This to Class 12 and are affiliated to Central sporting and co-curricular pursuits. India Nationals, Indian International year, RF supported setting up 16 virtual Board of Secondary Education, Gujarat Most of the schools have reported 100 Model United Nations etc. classrooms in the Secondary Schools of State Board and Maharashtra State percent results in Class 10 and Class 12 Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), Board, offering instructions in English, examinations, with one school achieving Maharashtra. These schools impart Gujarati and Marathi. In 2016, a new 100 percent distinction in the Class 12

38 | Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2016 - 2017 | 39 Dhirubhai Ambani International School (DAIS) Partnerships to Enhance Education

Objective: Offering students in • The ‘Hindustan Times C fore School The students have consistently achieved India a world-class and pioneering Survey 2016’ ranked DAIS the No. 1 outstanding results across all three educational experience that School in Mumbai for the fourth time curricula – the ICSE, IGCSE and IB prepares them to succeed at in five years Diploma. The IB Diploma Class of 2016 national and international levels. • The ‘Times School Survey 2016’ ranked earned an average of 39 points (out of the DAIS the No. 1 School in Mumbai in maximum possible score of 45). Three Approach: The Dhirubhai Ambani the ‘National + International School’ students obtained the perfect score of International School (DAIS), Mumbai, category 45 points, achieved by only 201 students prepares students for the ICSE, IGCSE • DAIS has also been recognised worldwide. In 2016, two students topped and IB Diploma Examinations. The as the No. 1 School in Academics the world in Mathematics, one topped the School is also a member of the Cambridge in the country, with the conferment of world in Biology and two students topped International Primary Programme, the ‘Excellence in Academics’ award in in India in various subjects in the IGCSE Objective: Providing children in In another education initiative, RF provides world-class international the ‘NDTV Education Awards 2016’ examinations. The School’s average in the rural areas with a comprehensive supported The Bombay Community education to over 1,000 children and • In 2016, DAIS received international 2016 ICSE examinations was 95% and the learning environment that helps Public Trust’s ‘English E-Teach’ (EET) has 150 teachers with rich experience in accreditation from the Council of highest score was 98.40%. During 2016, prevent school drop-outs and project. The project aims to improve national and international curricula. International Schools (CIS) and the DAIS students won over 450 awards improve learning levels. quality of English of poor children so as New England Association of Schools in various sporting events, and over to better their employment opportunities. Results: Over the years, the School has and Colleges (NEASC) 70 awards in various co-scholastic and Approach: RF, in partnership with achieved highest standards of excellence • DAIS is among the seven schools in co-curricular events at the state, national Eklavya Foundation, implemented a pilot Results: An assessment done to on all performance parameters: India to be awarded joint accreditation and international levels. project reaching out to 1,300 children in review the intervention found active • In 2016, ‘Education World’ ranked by CIS and NEASC 41 villages of Madhya Pradesh to improve participation of children in SPKs DAIS as the No. 1 International School • In 2016, the School also received the The Class of 2016 earned admissions in the learning abilities of children through and demonstrated the remarkable in India for the fourth consecutive ‘Green Building Certificate’ from the 16 of the top 30 global universities like Shiksha Protsahan Kendras (SPKs). By improvement they had from the year Indian Green Building Council with Cambridge, Yale, UCL, Imperial College, creating a positive and conducive learning programme to be able to participate • DAIS was also ranked the No. 1 ICSE the highest-level ‘platinum’ rating, King’s College, Johns Hopkins and Brown, environment, the programme addressed effectively in mainstream education. School in India in the Education World making it one of only 19 schools in to name a few. Many leading universities the bottlenecks in learning that most of Till date, the EET initiative has reached Academic School Rankings 2016 India to receive this honour offered scholarships to the students. the children have. about 0.2 Mn children in Maharashtra.

40 | Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2016 - 2017 | 41 Sports for Development Encouraging Active Participation & Promotion

The Government of India’s National Sports Policy, 2001, highlights the Geographical reach of need to promote sports with the twin Sports for Development initiative objective of achieving excellence at national and international levels as well as integrating sports and physical education more effectively with school and college curricula. The ‘Khelo-India’ national programme for development of sports is aimed at reaching out to the largest possible section of the population, identifying and grooming talent, and improving sports infrastructure.

Approach for sports promotion: RF understands the need to formally engage and bring together young sporting talent, and provide them a platform to perform and excel in sports. RF’s sports initiatives are also aimed at using sports as a tool for all-round development of India’s young people by encouraging learning and inculcating leadership skills. Through the initiative, RF promotes health, fitness and an active lifestyle to bring about a positive change in society.

Map not to scale For illustrative purpose only

42 | Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2016 - 2017 | 43 Reliance Foundation Youth Sports Junior NBA Programme

In July 2016, Prime Minister Shri. Objective: Identifying and Results: The first phase of the Objective: Promoting sports among Results: Launched in 2013, the first Narendra Modi and Minister of Youth nurturing young sporting talent to programme witnessed participation the children, and through the phase of the programme covered Affairs and Sports Shri. Vijay Goel, facilitate India’s emergence as a from 4,000 educational institutions medium of sports, impart social 2.8 Mn youth across 18 cities in India. The along with Smt. Nita M. Ambani, sporting nation. across eight cities in India and motivated and ethical values. second phase started in 2016, reaching Founder and Chairperson of RF, about 2 Mn students studying in these out to 0.6 Mn youth. Since inception, launched the Reliance Foundation Youth Approach: As part of the programme, institutions. More than 20,000 students Approach: The Reliance Foundation the programme has reached out to about Sports programme. The digital launch incentives have been announced to participated in the football tournament Junior NBA programme is a 3.4 Mn youth across 18 cities in India. linked eight sports grounds at Kochi, motivate educational institutes and also organised through the programme. comprehensive school-based youth Chennai, Goa, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Physical Education (PE) teachers, to pick These students are aspiring football basketball programme. Through Guwahati and Pune through a live a sporting talent pool for the country. players who were nominated by their this collaborative programme, RF is broadcast. In his interaction with Also, the PE teachers have been provided educational institutions to take part committed to promote sports among school children, the Prime Minister exposure and training from renowned in the programme. The students were millions of young people across the urged the nation to ‘Play’ and hailed the football academies across the world, scouted by more than 4,000 PE teachers, country. The programme promotes initiative as a unique step towards which will help them train their students. who are secondary beneficiaries of the health, fitness, an active lifestyle through promoting sports culture among the The programme is aimed at promoting programme. Of these, over 400 of the basketball and teaches values of life youth. sports in more than 50 cities by 2020 and best teachers were shortlisted and their such as teamwork, sacrifice, discipline, creating opportunities for youngsters to “D-License Coaching Certification” was dedication and sportsmanship. pursue sports as a career. sponsored through the programme.

44 | Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2016 - 2017 | 45 Reliance Foundation Young Champs Rural Sports

I felt proud when the community recognised me for my contribution Objective: Providing aspiring organised to six international football Objective: Engaging the children young volunteers leading the activities. in educating the football talent from across the academies. Close observation of elite in rural areas in sports or physical In another initiative to promote football children through country the opportunity to hone youth footballers from across the world activities for their holistic sports in rural areas, more than 34,500 sports activities. their skills with world-class will encourage the upcoming talent from development. footballs were distributed to over 6,520 facilities and best-in-class training. India to lift their performance to the village schools and youth clubs. Proud that I am highest level. Approach: RF supports the cause to bringing back Approach: RF has launched ‘Young contribute to the overall physical and Results: This year, more than 1,500 dropout children to Champs’ - a unique, full scholarship- Results: This year, 18 children were mental well-being of children in rural children were enrolled in the programme school and creating based, full-time residential football and awarded scholarships to develop their areas, inculcate the quality of team spirit, (over 4,000 children since inception). new hope. educational programme. The programme football skills, taking the total number of nurture their leadership abilities and By encouraging sports as an activity, invests in nurturing football talent for scholarships to 41. make them confident. The Rural Sports concentration and fitness levels of the top performance. Children and coaches initiative has been implemented by RF children have also improved, leading to Toli Kharadi, are provided exposure to advanced level in Madhya Pradesh. The programme is better education, health and all-round Banswara, Rajasthan sporting abilities. This year, tours were run by the community members, with development.

46 | Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2016 - 2017 | 47 Disaster Response Rebuilding Lives

RF’s work in the field of Disaster Response aims to reduce the vulnerability Geographical reach of of the poor and the marginalised during Disaster Response initiative and after the incidence of disaster. The programme aims to ensure dignity of life by making communities more resilient to natural disasters, equips them to help themselves; and provides relief during a disaster.

Approach to disaster preparedness: RF invests in prevention, preparedness and relief as the necessary aspects of a systematic approach to increase disaster preparedness. RF brings in its large asset of professional human resources to improve the efficiency of delivery and quality of decision-making. It uses the large volunteer force available with it from across RIL’s employee base to deliver immediate relief, information and communication technology. RF also leverages its social mobilising skills to organise communities to provide planning and implementation capacity.

In the previous year, India was struck by several disasters including floods and droughts, which severely damaged rural lives and livelihoods. RF’s Mission Rahat acted swiftly to help people tackle these situations, taking on the challenge to reach out to people in drought-stricken

Marathwada with interventions of Map not to scale immediate and long-term impact. For illustrative purpose only

48 | Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2016 - 2017 | 49 Drought Relief Support in Maharashtra Technology Support to Flood Relief in Madhya Pradesh

This scheme of providing drinking water by RF is very helpful. Even God Objective: Extending support to solution to the prolonged water crisis, Objective: Use of technology for of Panna District, Madhya Pradesh. The Results: More than 76,000 individuals has not favoured us the four most distressed districts experts from RF supported water information dissemination in the group provided dynamic update from benefitted from 78 different advisories but you have with of the Marathwada region – Latur, development and conservation plans in aftermath of 2016 Madhya Pradesh the field, disseminated information on provided through mobile phones. Apart this water. If you see Hingoli, Jalna and Nanded – with all 106 villages across the four districts, floods, especially which related to flood relief operations and coordinated from the medium of technology, the today’s situation, drinking water. besides seeking implementation support compensation packages and crop activities from various affected locations. affected communities were also served the cattle have gone from government and other agencies. disease management. To curb the spread of serious illnesses through direct interventions under flood without water for Approach: In summer 2016, the such as malaria, RF facilitated malaria relief, including disease prevention Marathwada region suffered from severe Results: More than 60.0 Mn litres Approach: RF, for the first time, control and prevention meeting at measures, distribution of wheat flour, four days. You have water crisis. RF’s relief team deployed all of drinking water was supplied to experimented with technology solutions Jio Centre, Panna with the support of tarpaulin sheets, plastic thin rope, really obliged us by technological options at its disposal to about 0.21 Mn people in 106 villages to address relief requirements. As a part district line departments and technical gambusia affinis (mosquito fish species), providing drinking ensure supply of safe drinking water to across the four districts. Further, of the relief measure, 5,500 helpline calls partners. A dial-out conference facility diagnostic camps for malaria etc. water. the affected communities. Water samples sustainable water conservation solutions were attended to, in addition to 21 multi- was organised to discuss various relief were tested to check if the water sources helped reduce the woes of many local location audio and video conferences operations among Home Guard Officials, were potable, tankers were deployed, and women who earlier had to travel long organised using Jio’s 4G network. Panna. Additionally, RF used Jio Chat Mahajan Anandrao Shinde, RF’s helpline was used to swiftly connect distances to fetch water. to coordinate its relief operations across Harbal, Nanded, Maharashtra villages with the relief team to ensure A WhatsApp group was formed with 104 several affected locations and by uniting timely supply of water. As a sustainable Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan volunteers volunteers.

50 | Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2016 - 2017 | 51 Arts, Culture & Heritage Urban Beautification Celebrating India’s Glorious Legacy Improving India’s Cities

Objective: Preserving India’s rich Results: This year, RF commissioned This year, RF continued its support to Objective: Demonstrating greater RF supported the Municipal Corporation Results: The beautification effort has heritage of art and culture as well as the families of 100 Pichvai artists in the annual concert, ‘Abbaji’, organised sensitivity towards the upkeep and in beautification of two lakes of Thane resulted in the lakes becoming prominent enhance avenues for livelihood of Nathdwara in Rajasthan, to create 17,000 by Ustad Zakir Hussain in the memory of restoration of urban public spaces. District - Upvan and Masunda. Both places for leisure and physical activities. traditional artisans and craftsmen. Pichvai paintings, one of the oldest living his father, Ustad Allah Rakha Khan. This these lakes have been illuminated with Upvan Lake is also being used by Thane art forms in the world. While encouraging concert featured renowned musicians Approach: Many urban spaces in India various types of colourful LED lights. Municipal Corporation for organising art Approach: Aligned to its objective to the continuity of this rare art form, RF’s who came together to pay tribute to the are losing their visual and aesthetic A floating musical fountain comprising festivals. preserve, protect and promote India’s intervention has also helped to create legendary Guru. beauty due to the sustained pressures of five different patterns of colourful lights arts, culture and heritage, RF undertakes employment opportunities for Pichvai commercial development and burgeoning and sound system has been installed in various promotional and developmental artists. population. Under its focus on enhancing Upvan Lake. projects and activities. the quality of public spaces in urban areas,

52 | Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2016 - 2017 | 53 Skilling and Employment Financial Literacy

At the training, I learnt Objective: Providing proper skill by providing linkages to aspirational about different aspects training and orientation to the career choices in some upcoming sectors of the retail industry. youth to facilitate employment. like retail. Further, retail skilling modules By the time the training are being made available in all languages, Approach: Skills and knowledge have through a mobile application, to facilitate concluded, I felt become the driving force of economic a faster and larger outreach of skilling. confident talking to growth and social development. India, Last but not the least, the importance people from different Objective: Facilitating financial Results: Till date, the programme has with a large portion of its demography of a centralised, multilingual tracking of walks of life. Thanks empowerment of urban trained over 7,500 women on aspects between 15 and 35 years, is well poised trained youth has been identified. This to my training, I easily underprivileged women and related to financial literacy. A survey to tap this opportunity, provided that will help to increase the efficiency of the secured a position as inculcate in them the habit of saving found that the programme has been the poor and marginal sections of society Skilling programme. a retail executive in money. successful in developing the capabilities are provided an equal opportunity to of about half of the beneficiaries, who participate in this journey. Additionally, Results: The learnings from first few the civil construction Approach: A financial literacy reported positive change in managing RF realises that there is an urgent need training sessions have immensely helped and home appliances programme is being implemented their finances, making long-term financial to diversify the rural livelihood basket in evolving a better strategy for placement department of a by RF. The programme is aimed at planning and dealing with financial and provide job opportunities in urban oriented mobilisation, profiling, training, company. developing capabilities in financial emergencies. About 80 percent of the areas, which will act as a cushion when assessment & certification and final planning, budgeting and saving, so as to women were satisfied with the financial agriculture gets disrupted due to the placement. There have been pilot skilling enable underprivileged women manage literacy programme, stating that they factors beyond human control. RF’s cum placements in the skill trades of Kirthi Gavali, their unpredictable sources of income have become more confident in dealing programme acts as this catalyst by skilling Bank Mitras (banking associates) and Nashik, Maharashtra sustainably. with financial institutions and budgeting the youth with the required expertise and bedside assistants. for their families’ expenses.

54 | Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2016 - 2017 | 55 Ferro-Cement Technology for Water Storage in High-Altitude Geographies

Case Studies on Challenge: In hilly and mountainous Solution: This year, RF used an Transforming Lives terrains, tapping of water for critical innovative tool to optimise water irrigation to agriculture fields at higher storage in a manner that is socially elevations is a challenge. Water-storage acceptable and environmentally sound. I was just an and water-harvesting structures have been Ferro-cement technology was used to ordinary mason a recognised as sustainable agricultural effectively overcome the challenges faced couple of years back, solutions, ensuring water security in construction of conventional water but now people know throughout the seasons. However, these storage tanks in the hilly, rugged terrain me as Ferro cement structures require immense planning, of Uttarakhand. with implementation consuming Tank technician enormous technical and monetary Impact: Ferro-cement tanks require and mason who has resources, as well as human labour. fewer building materials than constructed tanks in Considering the investment incurred, conventional technologies, and less entire watershed of it is essential that these structures number of days for construction. Built my area. sustain under adverse climatic conditions, without causing any disruption to the so as to yield better returns on investment local ecosystem, these tanks have helped in the long run. In this scenario, reduce the cost of water storage by 50 Keshar Singh, engineering skills and techniques percent. The biggest advantages of using Dhankurali Village, become imperative, and technologies this technology are its longevity, ease of Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand and innovations play a key role in replication for local communities and determining design. cost-effective maintenance.

56 | Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2016 - 2017 | 57 Plastic Sheets to Enhance Agricultural Livelihood Primary and Preventive Care

I have always hated the long queues and never-ending paper work at hospitals. I end up spending hours waiting at the registration counter, for laboratory reports, prescription sheets and medicines. I also have to carry my 100-page medical file on each visit. If by any chance I forget the file, I have to wait even longer for the staff to go through their patient files to find history and details. But recently, on a visit to an RF Static Medical Unit I saw how much things had changed and how technology is being used to maintain records for patients like me.

Challenge: Rural India needs Challenge: Well-being and health friendly electronic medical records, RF Today at the RF SMU, I do not have innovative methods that are both farmer- protection has a positive impact on has leveraged technology to provide to carry my medical files or papers friendly and easy to scale up in order to economic and social development of quality, accessible and affordable for consultations. Once I receive sustainably increase the income of small people. Unfortunately, in India, the healthcare to the marginalised sections of audio messages on my mobile phone and marginalised farmers. healthcare sector faces a major challenge society. reminding me about follow-up visits of a large number of people still not having to the doctor, I just need to go to the Solution: RF leverages plastic access to affordable, high-quality primary clinic with my health card. All my technology for the enhancement of rural healthcare and preventive services. medical information is stored in a livelihoods in agriculture and its allied tablet and the doctor can access it at sectors. This year, the use of plastic Solution: RF’s Static Medical Units the click of a button. No time is wasted sheets was introduced for two different (SMUs) use state-of-the-art technology to in completing paper work, waiting for productions - for banana plantation and provide primary and preventive care to its tests results and drug prescriptions. for the production of Azolla - a nutritive beneficiaries. I don’t even have to worry about the feed supplement for cattle. doctor’s handwriting! Everything is Impact: Through digitalised health fed into the doctor’s tablet and I get to These cost-effective and highly productive screening and investigations, tele- take home a neat printout with all the technologies is being introduced in rural consultations, audio message details. What makes me most happy is areas, where they have a huge potential based follow-ups, health awareness that all these facilities are available to for replication and scaling up. mechanisms, custom-made and user- me at subsidised rates! banana cultivation. About 70 percent of banana bunches have reported better Impact: Using the plastic technology, the beneficiaries using Azolla as cattle feed colour, quality, and lesser attacks of pest/ Vimladevi Solanki, over 950 farmers in Andhra Pradesh have confirmed increase in milk production birds, resulting in better realisation of Mumbai benefitted from production of Azolla and with rich fat content. About 87 percent market price. over 450 farmers have benefitted from of farmers using plastic sheets to cover

58 | Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2016 - 2017 | 59 Tab Didi: Digitally-Empowered Swasth Sanginis Piloting Digitisation for Primary Healthcare in Punjab

Challenge: Despite recent advancements made by India in the medical and healthcare sector, a large section of its population still does not have access to As the RF Swasth Sangini in my village, I At RF, I collect all the data in a tab. quality and affordable healthcare. visit people in their homes to understand I no longer have to carry bundles of their health concerns. I also collect data papers and registers. I saw a tablet for Solution: RF believes in a healthcare related to their health and provide basic the first time at the RF training. The model that is accessible and affordable healthcare services. Before joining RF RF team trained us on how to conduct Challenge: Adoption of digital health implementation of professional health Impact: Health information systems to all. Emerging technologies in the field as a Swasth Sangini, I was associated surveys, enter investigation findings, practices is imperative to improve the applications. The project aims to support developed by RF is helping increase of healthcare have provided the means to with another organisation that provided and use audio-visual aids during health quality of care and strengthen the reach healthcare providers in PHCs and efficiency in healthcare delivery, realise this vision. RF Swasth Sanginis, health services. The work used to be tiring education sessions. A lot of our time is of services. At the same time, to achieve sub-centres as they adopt technology- benefitting the selected communities. who are community health workers and unending. During our home visits, saved on the ground because we can digitalisation of primary healthcare, based patient records systems, Enhanced clinical decision-making and identified and trained by RF, can now use we had to write down details of all our use tabs. In the initial days, patients improved network connectivity is demonstrate risk stratification for non- improved coordination across different different gadgets to administer digitalised patients and their family members in a used to stare curiously at the gadget fundamental. communicable diseases and help create strata of care are the other advantages of tests for blood, blood pressure, doppler register. After returning to office, we had when I used it to enter data. Now, after the building blocks for a digital platform the use of digital technology. foetal monitoring, etc. in addition to to enter all the data into an Excel sheet months of use, these tabs have become Solution: Keeping this in mind, RF for continuity of care throughout the using tabs to collect and store data. and send the same to the head office. This an integral part of our routine work and has partnered with Reliance Jio to healthcare lifecycle. The Jio Healthcare was a tedious task and often information our lives! implement a pilot project for healthcare Solution application includes forms Impact: Swasth Sanginis, empowered was lost or wrongly entered. solutions in three Primary Health to be used by ANMs (Auxiliary Nurse (Swasth Sangini), by their skills in using healthcare Nirmala Devi Centres (PHCs) and 11 sub-centres in Midwives) on ground, a PHC application Deoghar, Jharkhand technology tools, are the new-age the Mukundpur block of Nawashahr to be used by doctors, pharmacists and community health workers that District, Punjab. The objective of this receptionists at PHCs and integrated Developing India needs. They are project is to help digitise patient records phone-based applications for patients, facilitating the provision of basic and provide tools to better administer using which they can access and manage healthcare solutions to economically local healthcare facilities through the their own health records. weaker sections of the society.

60 | Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2016 - 2017 | 61 Using the ‘Flag Method’ to Save Paddy Fields International Delegates Learning from Technology Interventions of RF

Challenge: While communication receives critical information from the Impact: This method was used to channels such as television, radio and expert even if he is absent at the time of disseminate crop advisories to farmers mobile phones act as primary mediums of the expert’s visit. It also saves the expert in several villages across Tamil Nadu information dissemination, these services valuable time and energy and speeds up and Andhra Pradesh to manage are often unavailable to poor farmers, thus his work. This method is also particularly aftermath of cyclone. The method helped restraining their productivity and profits. useful in the event of natural disasters save about 10,000 acres of paddy fields such as cyclones, floods and earthquakes from destruction. Solution: The Flag Method, a technique – when it is essential to communicate Eager to learn about RF’s different IBM officials from Romania, USA and services and technological platforms used developed by Korean extension workers life-saving information to farmers and technological engagement models, several the Czech Republic also visited a fish for information dissemination, with the in the year 2006, is an innovative other rural citizens. like-minded organisations have been landing centre in Kakinada, Andhra intent of implementing technologies for communication technique used by RF to visiting RF’s operational areas. Delegates Pradesh, to better understand Reliance supporting palm oil farmers under the fill this gap. from the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation Marine Advisory systems, implemented Smart City Programme in Malaysia. & Livestock, Afghanistan, recently paid a to map information needs of marine In this method, RF experts visiting the visit to learn about RF methodologies for fisherfolk and to disseminate advisories The students and professors from fields and villages place the written form the implementation of Digital Extension to beneficiaries. They interacted with Agricultural College Public Charles Baltet, of their information or recommendation Services. The visit was prompted by their staff members and users to understand Saint-Pouange, France visited Dindigul, in a red vinyl flag, attach it to a thin pole, desire to replicate the technology in their how linkages have been established with Tamil Nadu and interacted with farmers and place the pole in the field, in a place own country. The team of delegates was different government departments. who were receiving the weather-based where the farmer can easily spot it. After introduced to various technology-based agro-advisories disseminated by RF. reading the message, the farmer rolls up dissemination tools and also enjoyed the Delegates from the Malaysian Industry the flag and puts it back in the same place live demonstration of a farmer video- Government Group for High Technology for the expert to collect it during his next conference at the Jio centre in Yavatmal, also visited the RF office in Chennai visit. This method ensures that the farmer Maharashtra. to learn about RF’s digital extension

62 | Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2016 - 2017 | 63 Soil Testing Yields Positive Results among Banana Plantations Geographical Information System Technologies in Measuring Rural Transformation

Titmoh Village, Deoghar Cluster, Jharkhand: Land Use Change (based on Google Earth images)

Challenge: For India to sustain high growth rates, an inclusive growth strategy that includes both urban and rural segments is paramount. Agricultural productivity and farmers’ income must be significantly enhanced to improve the rural economy.

Solution: RF has been extensively engaged with rural communities in improving agricultural production through multifaceted interventions. These interventions include land development activities, conversion of waste and fallow lands into cultivable lands, soil and water conservation, among others. For systematic implementation of the programme activities, RF is using technologies such as geographical information systems and remote sensing for programme planning and evaluation.

Impact: Through its land development Narayan Chavan, a resident of Jalna When the RF Information Services team The results have been phenomenal. activities, so far, RF has brought district, Maharashtra, had been practicing conducted a programme on soil testing The plot, which used to remain fallow, The boundary of wasteland patch marked with yellow colour mapped using GPS. It has over 56,000 Hectares of land under traditional farming on his 22-acre plot at Chincholi Village, Narayan decided to has been yielding profits around been converted to cultivable land due to RF intervention and changes are clearly visible on improved cultivation, thereby leading for years. Even though his plot was quite attend it. Based on the recommendations 0.25 Mn, solely from the banana yield. after image (2017) to increased production and additional large and he had access to irrigation from the soil testing done on his farm, In this way, soil testing analysis obviates income to the families. The maps facilities, production was far lower than Chavan started growing bananas on a 1.25- excessive expenditure on chemical presented above shows the status desirable. acre plot, using drip irrigation techniques fertilisers and arrests the deterioration of of waste/fallow land brought under and applying the recommended fertiliser. soil quality. cultivation after RF interventions.

64 | Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2016 - 2017 | 65 A Transformational Story of a Vermi-compost Producer A Transformational Story of a Rickshaw Puller who became a driver of Community Change After connecting with RF in 2011, Sahablal learnt about the ill effects of While Village Association (VA) was using chemical fertilisers and its role formed in Titmoh, Praful hardly had time in degradation of soil health. At the to participate in the meetings or plan awareness sessions, he also learnt how his progression. Gradually, with support to prepare and use vermi-compost and encouragement of VA members, he for enhancement of soil fertility and planned agricultural development on productivity. Guided by these insights, his land. VA supported him with border Sahablal decided to produce vermi- bunding, quality seeds, well, vermi- compost for consumption of his crops compost pit, nutrition garden and deep with an investment of Rs. 1,500 in one plough. He has donated 0.2 Hectares of production bed. Within four months, he land for community pond construction produced 10 quintals of manure. Using that has ensured irrigation in his farm. the culture developed in the initial bed, The total monetary value of the support he prepared and produced another five provided by RF is Rs. 0.25 Mn. beds. Within two years, he harvested vermi-compost six times, producing As a result of land developmental 120 quintals of manure and utilised it in activities, he is able to grow a wide variety the vegetable cultivation and farming. of crops in all the three seasons (Kharif, He even provided earthworms to his Rabi and Zaid) on his One Hectare of producer friends, who took interest in land. He cultivates paddy through the undertaking similar intervention. System of Rice Intensification (SRI), vegetables, arhar, horse gram and wheat As a result of Sahablal’s effort, moisture during Rabi season and moong during retention of the soil increased along Zaid, which has significantly increased with decrease in pest attack. The yield his agricultural income from Rs. 9,200 from his farm increased up to 2 to 3 to Rs. 72,900. Agricultural prosperity has quintals per acre. The quality of the crops allowed Praful and his family to live a life also improved. For the first time, he of dignity and buy new assets like mobile earned about Rs. 50,000 from vegetable phone, light and fan for themselves, as well cultivation. Through this intervention, as bullock and buffalo for the fields. The he is able to meet the need for manure Praful Singh, a resident of Titmoh was a rickshaw puller and earned about milk produced fetches him an additional besides saving the cost of buying chemical barely able to manage three months Rs. 24,000 per annum. Missing a day’s annual income of Rs. 27,000, which is fertilisers amounting to nearly Rs. 5,000. of food for his wife and three children work meant that his family would have to higher than his earlier non-farm income. despite all his efforts on his land. Out starve that day. With below subsistence He is happy with this transformation and “There is gold in the waste,” says 45-year- that fetched a mere annual income of Now Sahablal is also an inspiration for of the two Hectares of land he owned, level of living, he could scarcely afford now all three children are able to attend old Sahablal Yaduvanshee, a progressive about Rs. 38,000. The major constraint neighbouring villagers, who visit him to he cultivated paddy and horse gram on new clothes, school fees and stationery school. vermi-compost producer from Umradi behind the low production were learn about vermi-composting. only 0.2 Hectares, which fetched him an for his children. Adding to this grave village, Jamai, Madhya Pradesh. He stays poor soil conditions and unreliable annual income of Rs. 9,200. For fulfilling situation, health issues further saddled with a family of 5 members and owns monsoons that lead to high the needs of his family, he worked as him with a debt of Rs. 10,000. eight acres of rainfed agricultural land input cost.

66 | Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2016 - 2017 | 67 Notes