Sarthi

Empowering Communities Through Self-Reliance: Together, We Can Build a Better Future! SARTHI (Social Action for Rural and Tribal Inhabitants of India) was founded in 1980 as a branch of the Social Work and Research Centre (SWRC), Tilonia, and became an independent organization in 1985. Beginning with basic infrastructure support such as hand pumps, wells, and cookstoves, SARTHI gradually evolved into a community-driven organization focused on leadership development, rights awareness, and empowerment of tribal and marginalized communities, especially women. Today, SARTHI works in nearly 300 villages across 14 blocks in Gujarat and one block in Rajasthan. Its programs span natural resource management, soil and water conservation, health and sanitation, education, sustainable agriculture, and women’s participation in Panchayati Raj Institutions. SARTHI has implemented extensive water and land development initiatives, including check dams, farm ponds, watershed treatment, biogas plants, and sanitation facilities. A core strength of SARTHI lies in nurturing grassroots leadership through women’s Self-Help Groups, Village Development Committees, and Farmer Producer Organizations. The organization also supports adolescent development, digital learning, disaster response, and livelihoods, while collaborating with government agencies and civil society networks. Through field-based engagement and community institutions, SARTHI enables communities to lead their own development processes.