Livelihood

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.