SBI Foundation celebrated the valediction of its 12th batch of Youth for India Fellows in Gurgaon this week, recognising 70 young professionals who spent 13 months living and working in rural India to help communities design sustainable solutions to local challenges.
The SBI Youth for India Fellowship, launched in 2011, has become one of India’s most respected youth development programs. Over 13 years, it has reached more than 200,000 people across 250 villages in 21 states and one union territory, through partnerships with 15 NGOs. Nearly 70% of the 700 alumni remain active in India’s social sector through enterprises, start-ups, and policy initiatives.
Encouraging the Fellows, Shri ChandraBhushan Kumar Singh, GM and Director at SBI, said, “As young changemakers stepping into a world full of opportunities, I encourage you to stay curious, keep learning, and remain committed to your goals. The future belongs to those who adapt and embrace change. The SBI Youth for India Fellowship embodies this spirit, empowering youth to drive meaningful change at the grassroots.”
SBI Foundation’s Managing Director and CEO, Shri Sanjay Prakash, said, “Each Fellow of the SBI Youth for India Fellowship embodies hope, action, and meaningful impact. Fellowship goes beyond nurturing leaders—it cultivates changemakers who immerse themselves in rural communities to understand challenges firsthand and co-create sustainable solutions.”
Shri Jagannath Sahoo, President and COO, SBI Foundation, added that the Fellows’ work “reflects a steadfast commitment to equity, inclusion, and sustainability, the pillars of our nation’s development ethos.”
The program spans 12 thematic areas aligned to 10 UN Sustainable Development Goals, including health, education, livelihoods, environment, water, and social entrepreneurship. The 2024–25 cohort represented diverse disciplines—61% graduates and 39% postgraduates—from fields such as arts and social sciences, commerce, mathematics, and engineering.
Several alumni have gone on to create lasting impact. Nitesh Bhardwaj founded Aadiwasi Janjagruti in Maharashtra, a media platform that has helped more than 2,500 tribal families access government benefits. Ruchinilo Kemp of Nagaland’s Kenono Foundation promotes biodiversity conservation and ecotourism, while Nishit Sangomla of Himachal Pradesh’s Navikarana Trust works on clean water access, renewable energy, and sustainable livelihoods.
Through these initiatives, the SBI Youth for India Fellowship continues to connect India’s urban youth with the country’s rural heart, fostering empathy, innovation, and long-term social change.
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