About Host Institute
Society for Creation of Heaven on Earth (SCHE)
Working Towards a Better Future for Rural India
Established in 1995, the Society for Creation of Heaven on Earth (SCHE) is a non-governmental organisation committed to agricultural development, rural empowerment and the improvement of livelihoods. With the approval of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the Society established and hosts Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Ambala, at Village Tepla, Post Saha, District Ambala, Haryana.
Spread over 18.4 hectares, KVK Ambala serves as an important link between agricultural research and the farming community. Through the KVK, SCHE works to bring scientific knowledge, improved technologies and practical solutions to farmers, helping them enhance agricultural productivity, increase incomes and adopt sustainable farming practices.
SCHE believes that rural development goes beyond agriculture alone. It also involves creating opportunities for farm women and rural youth, encouraging entrepreneurship, developing practical skills and strengthening the capacity of rural communities to improve their own lives. These priorities guide the Society’s support for the planning, implementation and review of KVK Ambala’s programmes.
Under the leadership of its President, Mr Akhil Bakshi, SCHE is committed to promoting inclusive and sustainable rural development through collaboration with agricultural research institutions, government departments, development agencies and farming communities.
Role of SCHE as the Host Institute
As the host institution, SCHE provides the organisational support and enabling environment that allow KVK Ambala to fulfil its mandate of transferring agricultural knowledge and technologies from research institutions to farmers. It supports the KVK in identifying local agricultural needs, planning relevant programmes, building partnerships and evaluating the impact of its activities.
The principal areas of support include:
- On-Farm Testing: Assessing agricultural technologies under local conditions and across different farming systems to determine their suitability for farmers.
- Frontline Demonstrations: Demonstrating the potential of improved crop varieties, farming practices and agricultural technologies on farmers’ fields.
- Training and Capacity Building: Enhancing the knowledge and skills of farmers, farm women, rural youth and extension personnel through practical training and educational programmes.
- Agricultural Knowledge and Advisory Services: Helping farmers access relevant technical information and timely advisories through information and communication technologies and other media.
- Research–Extension Linkages: Facilitating collaboration with ICAR institutes, agricultural universities, government departments and other research organisations to assess and disseminate suitable technologies.
- Participatory Planning: Encouraging farmer participation and incorporating field-level feedback into programme planning through Scientific Advisory Committee meetings, consultations and interactions with stakeholders.
- Institutional Convergence: Promoting coordination with departments and agencies working in agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, finance and rural development.
- Skill and Entrepreneurship Development: Encouraging self-employment, enterprise creation and livelihood diversification among farmers and rural youth.
- Women’s Empowerment: Promoting skill development, income-generating activities and entrepreneurship among farm women and rural women.
- Sustainable Rural Development: Supporting environmentally responsible agriculture, improved livelihoods, employment generation and inclusive development in rural communities.
Through this institutional support, SCHE seeks to ensure that KVK Ambala’s activities remain responsive to farmers’ needs and contribute meaningfully to the agricultural and socio-economic development of the district.
International Relations Programme
SCHE also promotes international exposure to rural India through its International Relations Programme, which offers international students an opportunity to understand India’s rural life, agricultural systems and development experience.
The programme seeks to familiarise students with India’s social and economic development, national development schemes and grassroots institutions. It also encourages interaction with administrators, elected representatives, development professionals and rural communities, while providing opportunities for voluntary participation in village-level activities.
The programme is particularly relevant to students and researchers interested in:
- Economics and Development Studies
- Agricultural Development and Research
- Democracy, Governance and Politics
- Rural Health and Life Sciences
- Rural Sanitation and the Environment
- Sociology and Community Development
- South Asian Studies
By bringing international students into contact with rural communities, the programme aims to foster cross-cultural understanding, encourage the exchange of ideas and provide a first-hand perspective on the opportunities and challenges of rural development in India.
Leadership
Mr Akhil Bakshi, President, SCHE
Mr Akhil Bakshi brings nearly five decades of experience in the management of rural development programmes, public institutions and community-oriented initiatives. His professional experience spans grassroots development work as well as senior positions at the highest levels of public policy and administration, including serving as an aide to two Prime Ministers of India.
He holds an MBA from the University of Washington, Seattle, and a BBA from the University of San Francisco, USA, and has also earned a diploma in Industrial Management from Düsseldorf, Germany.
Under his leadership, SCHE continues to support KVK Ambala in its mission to connect agricultural science with farmers’ practical needs and to contribute to the long-term well-being of rural communities.
