is a non-governmental developmental organisation working with some of the poorest sections of society in the south Indian state of Karnataka. Currently, SAMUHA works in the districts of Raichur, Koppal, Uttara Kannada and Bangalore Urban.
SAMUHA's goal is to help vulnerable people improve the quality of their lives in defined periods of time. While recognising that the poor are, by definition, vulnerable, SAMUHA looks at their degree of vulnerability in a given context as a key factor in deciding whether to intervene or not. People with whom SAMUHA presently works for are children, women, rural communities living in rain-fed agricultural economies in north Karnataka, people with disabilities, people vulnerable to/living with HIV/AIDS in Karnataka, and people living in slums in Bangalore.
SAMUHA began its operations with 2500 families from 24 villages of Deodurg Taluk in Raichur district, where it had been working since 1986 as part of an ActionAid Project. After phasing out from the original ActionAid funded project villages after 10 years of work, SAMUHA began its new operations in 51 different villages as part of its new partnership with PLAN International.
SAMUHA was initiated by ActionAid India, and is supported by the Govt. of Karnataka, CAPART, Tata Trust, PLAN International, OXFAM, ICCO, MacArthur Foundation, DFID-GoUK and Swiss Development Cooperation, amongst others.
SAMUHA's approach to development has evolved over the years from a purely service delivery programme to what is now a more participatory process, involving people directly in programme planning, decision-making, and implementation.
We are committed to building communities, who will raise issues on their own, find solutions for themselves - and ultimately - become self-dependent. So far, we have facilitated three people's organisations to register as formal societies. SAMUHA now sees the setting up of local NGOs as its starting point, rather than a part of its withdrawal strategy.
SAMUHA's work with people with disabilities (PWDs), people vulnerable to/living with HIV/AIDS, people's organisations, and watersheds are at the cutting edge of participative methodologies.
A professional Board administers SAMUHA. The organisation has formally instituted a public accountability mechanism: a former Judge of the Karnataka High Court is its present Social Auditor. In addition, all SAMUHA's financial books are externally audited on a monthly basis.
SAMUHA works with a core programme of integrated development for which it is trying to raise funds directly. SAMUHA also runs stand-alone projects that are funded by the Government of Karnataka, and by international and bilateral donor agencies.
