Samarthan-Center for Development Support

Samarthan- Center for Development Support is working on the participatory governance issues in urban areas in India( in the states of MP and Chattisgarh) over the last one and a half decade. We have worked in the area of participatory town planning from the perspective of the poor and the marginalized. We have also addressed the issues of entitlement of the poor to access the social security benefits in towns.

The poor in slums are being organized in self help groups for meeting their small credit needs. The savings also help them access the housing provided by the Government with part subsidy and a part on easy installment. The trained SHG leaders are information resource persons for the slum families to help them access their rights and entitlements.

We also work with the migrant laborers on the issues of their rights in the cities. There are support centers at the source in rural areas and at the destination in the cities. Besides preparing them for effective migration, we also support them in legal aid, dignified living at work sites and skill development for improved wage earning.