Samarthak Samiti

The Rajasthan Vanupaj Sangrahak Aavm Prasshodhak Samooh Samarthak Samiti (Samarthak
Samiti) is a registered organization (under Society Act 1956), which is active in the state of Rajasthan.
Samarthak Samiti’s goal is “Providing guidance and motivation to smaller organizations, cooperative
societies and other societies, which are engaged in the collection of non-timber forest produce (NTFPs)
and devoted to the cause of biodiversity conservation”. The Samiti promotes the exchange of information
about NTFP collection and marketing concerns to increase awareness; to improve co-ordination of
marketing linkage efforts; and sharing of experiences and lessons learned.

Samarthak Samiti has reached out to 2000 families through is cooperatives and groups. It is expected to
reach out to 5000 families through activities such as organizing and empowering community members
and formation of the NTFP collectors cooperatives, building team capacity, federating grass root groups,
documentation, building knowledge and skills in the production and marketing of NTFPs, and influencing
policy in favor of community rights over NTFPs.

The Samiti’s vision is that of strengthening the livelihood of tribal communities and other marginalized
sections of the societies in Rajasthan through natural resource management. It’s mission endeavors to
strengthen people’s organizations by facilitating appropriate interventions in collection, processing and
marketing of forest produces in Rajasthan.

The Samiti’s broad objectives include a. to support forest dwellers to get their rights over their forests and
to collect NTFPs, b. to promote natural farming, c. to get rights over NTFP collection in the sanctuary
zones and other Protected Forest Areas, d. social mobilization of women, especially tribal women, to get
their rights over natural resources, e. information exchange within communities about regulations
regarding the forest, f. to provide support for the creation of new groups and Cooperatives for collective
marketing of their products, g. provide financial, marketing and legal support to organizations to groups
and cooperatives for selling their NTFPs and other products, h. to conduct research, survey and
documentation of information related with different varieties of forest produce and i. to enhance the
organizational and financial capacities of smaller groups.