On the occasion of Earth Day, the EBG Foundation announced the launch of ‘Sambhav Hai’, a nationwide initiative aimed at promoting climate action and sustainable development in rural communities. The programme has been spearheaded by EBG Group Founder and Chairman Dr Irfan Khan and begins with the adoption of Charla Thanda village in Telangana’s Nalgonda district.

This project will ensure that the focus remains on sustainable development, where efforts will be made to reduce carbon footprints. As per the Foundation, the program will ensure that there is a reduction in emissions by 10 to 20 percent in the first year, with an effort to reach carbon neutrality in three years.

The program will be rolled out in stages. Initially, 50 villages will get the treatment with a budget of ₹30 crore in the first year, while in the second year, this number will increase to 150 villages.

On-ground initiatives have been taken to conduct household-level mapping of resources and environment at Charla Thanda to evaluate the existing scenario. Interventions in the form of improved access to drinking water, enhancing the recharge rate of underground water, and introduction of systematic waste management systems such as waste segregation and composting have been included in the plan.

The village is expected to serve as a pilot under what the Foundation describes as a ‘Minus One Village’ model, which is intended to be replicated in other regions.

Dr Irfan Khan said, "Real change cannot come from isolated interventions. Through the Sambhav Hai project, we are building a model where environment, development, and local ownership go hand in hand. Our objective is to empower villages with the means, information, and monitoring systems that enable them to drive their transformation process and make significant contributions towards India’s climate objectives.”

The Foundation has indicated that similar work will be initiated in other states as part of a broader national rollout.

Suresh Goyal, Additional Director, EBG Foundation, said, "Sambhav Hai’s success will be tracked through a robust framework that integrates water, energy, waste, food and land systems, along with carbon footprint metrics under the ‘Minus One Village’ model. This ensures that the impact is measurable, accountable, and scalable across geographies."

Ranjitha M, Additional Director, added, " The concept which started out simple has become a movement towards significant change. By bringing the village to the forefront of climate change and filling the policy-action implementation gap, Sambhav Hai provides the way forward for communities to take the lead in taking India towards its future sustainability.”

The initiative reflects a growing focus on involving rural communities in climate action and developing scalable sustainability models across India.