OUR WORK
Rooted in villages and small towns, we turn participation into reliable water and environment, local governance, and sustainable agriculture—year after year.
For 30 years, Samarthan has worked alongside communities in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to ensure that governance, water, farming, and public services are planned, delivered, and owned by the people themselves. Our approach blends hands-on facilitation at the grassroots, capacity enhancement, and multi stakeholder enggegement — so change doesn’t fade when a project ends.
Participatory Governance
Putting people at the centre of local decision making
People centred governance starts with citizens being part of the decisions that shape their lives. We strengthen Village Panchayats, urban local bodies, and citizens’ collectives to plan effectively, manage resources judiciously with transparency, and fulfil their roles in promoting economic development and social justice.
Our work spans basic services like drinking water, sanitation, and public health; environmental and livelihood functions such as sustainable agriculture, watershed management, and conservation; and access to rights and entitlements including pensions, scholarships, and social protection. We facilitate social audits, citizens report cards and community score cards. We also build the capacities of youth groups, women’s self-help groups, and other CBOs to keep Gram Sabhas vibrant and inclusive.
Ongoing Projects
Water, Sanitation & Health
Building Health and Dignity from the Ground Up
Safe drinking water, sanitation, hygiene, and public health are cornerstones of a healthy and dignified life. When these services are missing, women and children bear the greatest burden—walking long distances for water, facing unsafe sanitation, and suffering from preventable illnesses that impact nutrition and education.
Samarthan works to change this by strengthening local institutions—Panchayats, water user committees, and community groups—so they can plan, manage, and maintain services. We support participatory planning, monitoring, and implementation systems to ensure facilities are responsive and sustainable. With government and donor investments, and strong local ownership, we help communities secure lasting improvements in WASH services that directly improve health outcomes.
Ongoing Projects
Sustainable Agriculture & Environment
Restoring the Land, Securing Livelihoods
Jal, Jangal, Jameen - Water, Forest and Land are inseparably linked in rural life. When one suffers, so do livelihoods, food security, and the ability of communities to stay rooted in their land. Climate change is intensifying these challenges, especially for small and marginal farmers, leading to distress migration and deepening cycles of debt.
We partner with local institutions to revive indigenous knowledge in water conservation, soil management, sustainable farming, and forestry, while integrating modern scientific approaches. This combination not only increases productivity and incomes but also protects ecosystems. By building climate resilience and restoring natural resources, we help rural communities create a more secure and prosperous future.
Ongoing Projects
Integrated Development
Bringing services, livelihoods, and governance together for stronger rural outcomes
Some development challenges cannot be solved in isolation. In response, Samarthan adopts an integrated development approach in select programmes, working holistically at the village level rather than through separate sector lenses.
This approach brings together education, health, water and sanitation, livelihoods, skills, environment, and access to entitlements — recognising that progress in one area depends on many others. Addressing these needs together allows for deeper and more lasting impact.
Central to this work is strengthening local governance, community groups, and youth and women’s leadership. By supporting participatory planning and linking village priorities with government schemes and public resources, integrated development efforts build local ownership, resilience, and long-term change.
Ongoing Projects
