Nehru Foundation for Development a Charitable trust dedicated to Jawaharlal Nehru, was founded by Vikram Sarabhai in 1965. The foundation is dedicated to promote basic study and thinking on current problems of development at individual and the societal level.
Concerns
The main objective of the foundation is to help encourage participation in the development of ideas/proposals relating to the problems of development via various methods. NFD runs a number of educational activities in fields such as Mathematics and Science. These activities are guided by the Councils of Management consisting of eminent people in the respective field from across the country.
Affiliated Institutions
The various activities of Nehru Foundation for Development are carried out by affiliated institutions i.e. VASCSC, VIKSAT, CHETNA, CEE, and KHAMIR.
Vikram A Sarabhai Community Science Centre is a Science center that emphasizes on nurturing young minds and directing them towards scientific thinking with methods and techniques which make the process of learning a fun filled, enjoyable and lasting experience. It is located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
Centre for Health Education, Training and Nutrition Awareness (CHETNA)
CHETNA works to make an equitable society where disadvantaged communities are empowered to live healthy lives by improving access to food and enhancing nutrition, ensuring health and development in childhood, saving the girl child, promoting sexual health of adolescents and youth, and improving maternal and newborn health.
Vikram Sarabhai Centre for Development Interaction (VIKSAT)
Vikram Sarabhai Centre for Development Interaction was set up in the year 1977 as an activity of the Nehru Foundation for Development to carry out environment improvement activities. VIKSAT felt that lack of interactions is a major bottleneck in involving individuals and organizations in environment protection. Hence, VIKSAT articulates its mission as promoting and strengthening people's institutions through interactions, for an equitable, gender sensitive, sustainable development and management of natural resources. The objectives of the organization include: • promote and strengthen People’s Institutions for natural resource management • evolve innovative participatory NRM strategies for dissemination and scaling up • work towards decisive participation of the communities, especially women, and community organizations in policy forums • strive for developing appropriate and enabling legal and policy frameworks • facilitate technology and information access and transfer in NRM • network with Government Organizations, Non Governmental Organisations and PIs and other technical institutions for the above Over the last 35 years, VIKSAT has worked at grassroots level with communities in their local regions towards developing models which ensure sustainability of livelihoods through natural resource management. To enhance meaningful participation in natural resources management, VIKSAT has been working towards imparting skills related to management, institution building, resource generation and other support. At present, VIKSAT has five field offices in four districts of Gujarat, namely, Bhiloda, Kheroj in Sabarkantha district; Satlasana in Mehsana district; Kukama, in Kachchh district; and Radhanpur in Patan district with the head office located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The primary activity areas of VIKSAT are Natural Resource Management and Sustainable Livelihoods through intensive intervention on Forestry, Land, Water, Sustainable Agriculture, Bio-diversity, Policy Advocacy and Women Empowerment. VIKSAT’s Council of Management is currently chaired by Prof. M.S. Swaminathan, the renowned scientist and the leader of Green Revolution in India. The main thrust areas of VIKSAT include Natural Resource Management, Land and Water Management, sustainable livelihoods and Institutions & Capacity Building. To enhance meaningful participation in Natural Resources Management, VIKSAT has been working towards imparting community skills related to group organization, institution building, training and other resource support.
Achievements
o Participation in World Summit on Sustainable Development, 2002 o VIKSAT received a Prestigious National AwardIndira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra Puraskar in 1997 from Ministry of Environment & Forests, New Delhi. The Award is in recognition of exceptional contributions in the field of afforestation and wastelands development. o VIKSAT Promoted Shree Janjharmata TGCS, Malekpur received a prestigious National Award Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra Puraskar in 2002 from Ministry of Environment & Forests, New Delhi in the Village Level Institutions categories. o VIKSAT Selected as a Finalist in the development marketplace global competition, 2006 o Partner, Global Water partnership, 2006 o VIKSAT promoted Shree Ashapura TGCS, Nana Kothasana got Gram Sanghthan Paritoshik 2005 from Development Support Centre, Ahmedabad.
Centre for Environment Education or CEE was established in 1984 with support from Ministry of Environment and Forests. The primary objective of CEE is to improve public awareness and understanding of the environment with a view to promoting the conservation and sustainable use of nature and natural resources, leading to a better environment and a better quality of life.
Khamir
Khamir is a joint initiative of Nehru Foundation for Development, Confederation of Indian Industry and Kutch Navnirman Abhiyan which is supported by Government of Gujarat. For conservation in the areas of craft, environment and heritage in Kutch District, KHAMIR has been set up as an education, training, demonstration and Interpretation facility.
