At SEED foundation, our mission is to create a movement towards sustainable and self sufficient rural development. The Mission is founded on a four pillar model for socio-economic reforms in rural India that is replicable and scalable. To achieve our mission, we want to leverage the technical and corporate expertise that exists in USA and engage extensively with people working on the ground in India.
Pillar 1:
Sustainability Innovation and Knowledge Center (SIKC) for Organic Farming: The concept is to create supply link from farm to fork circumventing middlemen in the chain to empower the marginalized farmers and farmworkers. Our Mission is to promote organic farming and create an impetus to build a movement of organic farmers. The vision is to empower farmers with state-of-the-art technologies in food production, processing, and packaging and connect with the concept of e-retail to complete the chain from farm to fork. To achieve this sustainability innovation and knowledge center (SIKC) to be established in the cluster of villages. An example of an innovation that could be launched within a SIKC is the Research on cow management and products development and innovations, e.g. composts, bio-fertilizers, ayurveda preparations, clean fuel and renewable energy source (methane production from cow dung), dairy products. It should be noted that if successful this management must obey the local traditions, e.g. in India it will be beneficial to put up a world class humane eco-friendly dairy practice as an example. Strictly cows/bulls will not be used for meat along the principles of sustainability, rather for promoting wellness and sustainable energy. Vocational training programs for skill development of rural population will be executed by SIKC on the regular basis. In the above example a crucial step for success is to make a platform (the SIKC) for interaction of research experts in there respectively field together with local innovators.
Pillar 2:
Gurukuls for value based education system: To provide an education system founded on inquiry &, self-motivation induced learning a new Gurukul-styled residential schools are essentially needed, where students will be allowed to evolve in the environment of strong value based teachings by truly inspiring Gurus/mentors in a natural environment settings. Idea is to develop these schools (or Gurukuls) in different parts of the country within the cluster of villages in India. In fact SIKC & Gurukul are aimed to be synergetic in operations. Such Gurukuls will have their self-sustained economy through organic food and herbs enterprise.
Pillar 3:
Training of Social workers: We need people to be trained and motivated to rootout social injustice and corruption prevailing at the grassroots. But such people need a support system and right mentoring. We aim to achieve this through establishment of vocational, entrepreneurship and training center (within SIKC) will sustain their needs and provide them resources for simple living. They can lead the society by becoming a living example of high morals and integrity. They will be trained with special guidelines.
Pillar 4:
Life-caring activities: To build sustainable and happier communities, a proper health care and support for weaker, old and sick people is essential. Our mission is to create Life-caring shelter (within SIKC) to run healthcare activities, e.g. health camps and a naturopathy center, and promote healthier life-style regularly and render helping hand to abandoned, old and helpless people of the society. This will enable them to live a peaceful life with love and care like a family and in fact they contribute positively to the constructive programs of the Mission.