Livelihood

It is more important to find out what you are giving to the society than to ask right means of livelihood - Jiddu Krishnamurti

In our quest for creating sustainable and economical empowered communities, promoting on-farm and off-farm livelihoods of the marginalized groups become a focus area of Samerth’s work.  Our Livelihood interventions in Chhattisgarh began in 2007 to address the pressing issues of livelihood for PVTG (Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group), PwDs (People with Disabilities) and Small landholding farmers. The effort aims to strengthen the process of claiming individuals as well as Community Forest Rights under Forest Rights Act and by the means of Sangathans (Community Based Organizations), working on the conservation of the forest as a source of livelihood, community forest management and conservation.

In Chhattisgarh, Samerth has helped set up 1253 Self Help Groups (SHGs). With 626 SHGs we are involved in livelihood and skill development activities such as making traditional jewellery, mushroom cultivation, soap making, agarbatti and phenyl making after receiving the trade based training. Under Samerth’s livelihood programme intervention, 400 small farmers and 600 landless families have benefited by Strengthening Community-Based ‘Seed Banks’ and ‘Tool Banks’. This has promoted short duration crops like local vegetables, maize, oilseeds & millet produce. Alongside, we have promoted alternative livelihood options like goat & pig rearing and Non Timber Forest Produces NTFPs collection. Samerth has worked with the local communities to get them entitlements so that they could get enrolled and qualified for accessing government programmes and develop their village assets such as ponds, springs, Rain Roof Water Harvesting Structures, Earthen Check Dams in Kutch and Kwardha district of Chhattisgarh.

Kutch is a drought-prone region and the Rapar block is one of the most economically backward blocks in Gujarat. The area witnesses heavy migration every year. Samerth started its livelihood activities in 2003 with ‘cash for work’ scheme through desilting, rebuilding and deepening of village ponds. Since then, Samerth has been providing opportunities to develop livelihood for the underrepresented communities by facilitation of MNREGA funds for the construction of water bodies. We also provide seed capital to poor families to meet agricultural needs such as buying seeds, vermicomposting and providing fodder for cattle.  In 2019, over 1300 families received work facilitated by Samerth under MNREGA and 84 families received loans for agricultural purposes.

In Ahmedabad, the Samerth programme team supports livelihood activities for 22 adults with disabilities, 45 parents, caretakers as well as community members through activities such as jewellery making, cloth masks and paper plates.

Our Impact

It is more important to find out what you are giving to the society than to ask right means of livelihood - Jiddu Krishnamurti

Samerth has successfully undertaken initiatives of promoting forest as a source of livelihood, conservation efforts and forest management through Community Based Organisations (Sanathans)

Samerth has successfully empowered over 35,000 households with trainings in livelihood, para-legal issues and leadership for women.

Our Impact

15 Families facilitated to claim individual forest rights
99 Families facilitated construction of home under housing scheme
2403 application of various govt schemes made under gram suraj yojana
3798 PWDs reached
600 landless families and 43 self help groups benefitted
391 familiess have increased income by 30%
60 applications of various schemes made during gram sabhas

Our Impact Stories

We have impacted many of the villages and districts withing India and helped change lives in a better way

What we do

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Livelihood Trainings conducted till date
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Household impacted through sustainable Livelihoods
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Job cards facilitated under the MNREGA scheme
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Ration card facilitated
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