SARTHI (Social Action for Rural and Tribal Inhabitants of India) was founded by Mr. Giriraj Singh in 1980, initially as a branch of the Social Work and Research Centre (SWRC) in Tilonia, Rajasthan, under the leadership of Mr. Sanjit Roy (Bunker Roy). In 1985, SARTHI was formally registered as an independent organization under the Gujarat Societies Act 1860 and the Bombay Public Charitable Trust Act 1950.
The organization's early work focused on addressing the severe socio-economic challenges faced by the tribal communities of the Santrampur block in the Panchmahals district of Gujarat. This area, predominantly inhabited by tribal populations, was marked by widespread poverty, material deprivation, and isolation. Contributing factors to poverty included deforestation, seasonal migration, lack of infrastructure, and inadequate access to education and healthcare. Additionally, high population growth and the depletion of natural resources, especially water sources, further strained living conditions in the region.
The area was geologically characterized by Precambrian rocks, limiting groundwater storage and exacerbating water scarcity, which became a chronic issue. Villagers, particularly women, were heavily dependent on wells, hand pumps, and ponds, which often ran dry during the summer months. This forced women to travel long distances to fetch water, adding to their already heavy workloads. The region had lost much of its once-thick teak forests, previously used by Mughal emperors for elephant hunting, due to deforestation caused by the furniture and paper industries. This loss of tree cover further impacted groundwater availability.
Initially, SARTHI's efforts were focused on basic aid work such as installing hand pumps, deepening wells, and initiating income-generating programs. Over time, SARTHI's focus expanded to leadership development and empowerment, particularly of marginalized groups such as women. The organization worked to sensitize both men and women to gender dynamics and empower women to actively participate in local development and decision-making processes.
Today, SARTHI's mission is centered on fostering self-reliant communities through a self-help approach, with a particular emphasis on women's empowerment. The organization has mainstreamed gender issues across all its programs, which now focus on women's health, empowerment, and gender relations. SARTHI also promotes the sustainable management of natural and human resources, advocating for the optimal long-term use of land and water resources through improved technology, innovation, and management techniques.
As SARTHI grew, it expanded geographically, establishing multiple field centers to better serve the communities it worked with. The organization’s work has been instrumental in developing local leadership, improving access to basic resources, and addressing key issues related to health, education, and livelihood. Today, SARTHI continues to work in over 250 villages across various districts of Gujarat and Rajasthan, helping empower rural and tribal communities, particularly women, to take control of their development needs.