The M. R. Morarka - GDC Rural Research Foundation is a not-for-profit voluntary organization dedicated to rural development work amongst India's vast population of farmers and farm communities. Formed in 1993 by Shri Kamal M. Morarka in honor of his father, the Foundation is a philanthropic offshoot of the Gannon Dunkerley and Company, a construction firm which Mr. Morarka currently owns and operates from Mumbai.

Today, after more than ten years of operation, the efforts of the Morarka Foundation have expanded across the whole of India, touching farmers from Rajasthan to Tamil Nadu. Within Shekhawati, the Foundation's rural development activity has expanded beyond the scope of agriculture to encompass such varied activities as HIV/AIDS awareness and treatment programs, microfinance and self-help groups, child labor eradication and elderly assistance services, heritage conservation efforts and tourism promotion programs. The Foundation is presently working alongside several other NGOs and private and government businesses and organizations to enhance its activity in all these sectors, thereby addressing not only the vocational needs of farmers and farm communities but their entire quality of life. For more information visit www.morarkafoundation.com.

For the past several years, the Morarka Foundation has sponsored the annual 'Shekhawati Festival' as an opportunity to highlight the region's fantastic array of culture and bring in much needed money and opportunity for the people who live here. This year's Shekhawati Festival gives special attention to the organic farm industry that has developed here. We welcome our visitors not only to come and SEE Shekhawati, but to TASTE a bit of the region's rich flavors while you are here.