PRESS RELEASE

Sursingpura (Sambhar), Rajasthan, 07 August, 2024: IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals’ social equity arm - The Royal Rajasthan Foundation - on Tuesday celebrated significant milestones in the sustainable development of the Sambhar region, being led by empowered women. Notable amongst these were the solar electrification of 100 households which did not have basic electricity, distribution of 27,000 saplings for livelihoods to flourish, and the launch of the RRF Brand Anthem which resonates with the undying spirit of the empowered women of the region.

The contribution and the collaborative efforts put in by the Gram Chetna Kendra and Bindi International NGO were also recognised. Director (Rajasthan Royals) - Dalip Pande, Program Head (Royal Rajasthan Foundation) - Prachi Kathuria, Foundation Head (Royal Rajasthan Foundation) - Diksha Sekhri, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor (SKN University) - Dr Balraj Saini, Pradhan - Sahdev Gurjar, Tehsildar - Sambhar Mrs Krishna Sharma, CEO (EMP Bindi International Association) - Harsh Tiwari, Head of Project Rajasthan (EMP Bindi International Association) - Mukesh Choudhary, and Sarpanch (Sursingpura) - Mrs Phool Kanwar, were present along with participation from the empowered women leading change in the region, showcasing the impact that the Foundation's efforts in the last five years have had on the society.

The day saw women from the village, along with representatives from RRF, Gram Chetna Kendra and Bindi International conduct thematic workshops, visit the farm ponds they have helped create, plant new saplings, and mark the completion of the lighting up of 100 homes in the Sambhar region.

 

Project Khushaali: Access to Water

The day was celebrated by RRF, having associated with the milestones of Project Khushaali—women-led transformation since 2020—laying major impacts on the Sambhar region. The project has supported the formation of the biodiverse micro-forests in over 900 women's farmlands through the distribution of 70,000 trees and enabling 300-plus rainwater harvesting structures in collaboration with Gram Chetna Kendra. These green sanctuaries have tremendously enhanced livelihoods, better ecological balance, and water security in the long term due to enhanced groundwater recharge.

Building on this tradition, RRF has announced that it will be distributing more than 25,000 Khejri and fruit bearing saplings of endemic varieties among 450 women. Project Khushaali has had a ripple effect of positive change, with empowered women leading their communities towards a brighter, greener, and more sustainable future.

 

Lighting Up Lives with Solar Power

RRF, in association with Bindi International NGO, succeeded in another unique electrification work by providing solar electricity to the households of 100 families. Last year, during the Rajasthan Royals Girls Cup cricket tournament, the franchise had promised to light up one home for every boundary hit during the finale; and a total of 87 boundaries were scored. The Royals have now announced that they have raised this number to a 100 homes. To do this, five months of residential training was provided to Sanju Devi and Pooja Devi in basic solar power technologies, assembly of solar plates and light repairing and maintenance, digital literacy, and financial literacy. This allowed reliable, clean light in households and resulted in greatly reduced reliance on the use of many traditional and sometimes very hazardous other sources of light. It has improved the quality of life, and now, children can study in the evenings, and it has also become possible to engage in income-generating activities after sunset.

The three organisations together aim to impact 10,000-plus more women in the Sambhar region in the next five years.

 

A Testament to Collective Effort

Since 2019, the region of Sambhar has seen exceptional change due to the unbroken spirit and earnest hard work of its women. The significant achievements include:

- Touching lives of over 70,000 women through interventions on access to water and energy and sustainable livelihood

- Building of 250-plus rainwater harvesting structures

- Planting 90,000-plus native Khejri and fruit-bearing trees

- Training of two women as rural solar engineers; the two have gone on to equip 100 households with solar lighting systems

- Doing 100-plus training sessions on mental health, sustainable agriculture, horticulture, and water management

- Offering Shakti Leadership Training to 20 women

Reacting on the achievements of the last four years led by the Royal Rajasthan Foundation, Chairperson Ranjit Barthakur, commented, "With our vision of Aurat Hai Toh Bharat Hai, it has been a very satisfying journey in the last five years wherein our Foundation has enabled over 70,000 empowered women with equitable access to clean water, energy and sustainable livelihoods. Having started this as a small project in 2020, with the support of our partners Gram Chetna Kendra, Bindi International and many others over the years, we are considering these achievements in Sambhar as only addressing the tip of the iceberg. There is significant work that still needs to happen, and we are looking to continue working towards a brighter, greener, and more sustainable future through women-led transformation initiatives."

Sharing his thoughts on the success of Project Khushaali, Organization Secretary Gram Chetna Kendra, Om Prakash Sharma said, "It is a big initiative to make the women farmers self-reliant by connecting them into the mainstream. This collaborative approach with RRF has provided us with a reach of 465 women farmers in the current year who have been selected through surveys in 15 villages. We are looking forward to continuing impacting the lives of these women through the distribution of saplings which enable them to make progression in the truest socio-ecological sense."

Ganesh Gurjar, Project Manager, Bindi International, outlined the success driven by the installation of solar energy, "This program has been both challenging and rewarding. When we conducted surveys and identified communities living without electricity for decades, we were deeply moved by their struggles. From cooking and eating in darkness to children facing difficulties in studying, the lack of electricity affected every aspect of life. We made it our mission to electrify these villages as quickly as possible. We not only trained the solar engineers but also assisted in the electrification process and installed solar street lights in the area. Achieving what was once a dream gives us a profound sense of satisfaction, and with the support of the Royal Rajasthan Foundation, we aim to electrify more such communities."