Gram Saarthi is a non-governmental organization that works in the tribal areas of Central India, covering the states of Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh. We have a presence in more than 28,000 gram panchayats in the region, reaching out to millions of people and empowering them to achieve a sustainable and prosperous future.
Our mission is to walk together with the tribal communities towards the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
We believe that the tribal communities have a rich and diverse heritage of traditional knowledge systems, biodiversity conservation, and natural resource management, which can be leveraged to create innovative and sustainable solutions to the existing problems. We also believe that the tribal communities have the right to access and benefit from the resources and opportunities that are available to them, and to participate in the decision-making processes that affect their lives and livelihoods.
We work with various stakeholders, such as government agencies, private sector, civil society, academia, media, and international organizations, to create partnerships and collaborations that can enhance the impact and outreach of our work. We also work with the tribal communities themselves, to build their capacities and skills, to improve their health and wellness, to increase their income and employment, to protect their environment and culture, and to amplify their voice and agency.