About SAKTI: 30 Years of Empowering Tribes and Conserving Natural Resources
Our Founder’s Journey
Sakti was founded by Dr. Sivaramakrishna, who was born in Jaggayapeta, Krishna District. He began his career as a Telugu language teacher in a tribal upper primary school in Pedagaddada village, Rampachodavaram Mandal, East Godavari District. While pursuing his Doctoral research at Osmania University, he realized that the tribal communities were often exploited by government departments and market forces. This realization led him to make a pivotal decision: instead of joining an academic institution, he chose to live among the tribes and work directly with them in the field.
Establishment of SAKTI
In 1985, after completing his doctoral research on “Tribal Knowledge Systems,” Dr. Sivaramakrishna founded SAKTI, an NGO dedicated to empowering tribal communities and conserving natural resources. SAKTI’s initial efforts focused on training tribal laborers through the TRYSEM (Training for Self-Employment) programs, which equipped them with skills in carpentry, blacksmithing, mechanics, and cane furniture weaving.
Key Initiatives and Impact
Sustainable Agriculture: SAKTI initiated plantation projects on lands under shifting cultivation, supported by the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA). These efforts aimed to rehabilitate lands and improve agricultural productivity for tribal communities.
Market Regulation: To protect tribal producers from exploitation, SAKTI organized weighting balances (Dharmakata), ensuring fair trade practices in local markets.
Legal Advocacy: Through Public Interest Litigations (PILs), SAKTI successfully invoked the Forest Conservation Act (FC Act) and the Land Transfer Regulation (LTR) to prevent deforestation, halt illegal timber operations, and protect tribal lands from alienation.
Land Rights Movement: SAKTI played a pivotal role in addressing land issues by obtaining land records from the Sub-Collector of Rampachodavaram. These efforts culminated in a movement to restore tribal lands, with the state government distributing updated land records and verifying ownership through Gramasabhas.
Disaster Preparedness: SAKTI has been actively involved in disaster preparedness and relief activities, notably during the Godavari floods in 1987 and the cyclone in 1996.
Expanding Horizons
SAKTI extended its activities to the Chenchu Primitive Tribal Group (PVTG) in the Nallamala forests, part of which is a Wildlife Sanctuary. SAKTI’s efforts led to the enrollment of Chenchus as voters, fostering political leadership within the community. The organization also encouraged the Chenchus to transition from hunting and gathering to fishing, empowering them to manage local water bodies.
Documentation and Advocacy
SAKTI has documented traditional forest management systems, enabling Chenchu youth to participate knowledgeably in sanctuary management.
The organization has been involved in land restoration, securing titles to forest lands under cultivation and creating durable livelihood assets through the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS).
Collaborations and Research
SAKTI has collaborated with various institutions, including IWMI, NRSA, WWF ICRISAT, and CESS, on projects ranging from river linking studies to rehabilitation research.
The organization has published key documents, such as “Perspectives on Polavaram – A Multipurpose Irrigation Project,” and contributed technical expertise in mapping waste lands.
Looking Ahead
As SAKTI consolidates its ground-level activities, the organization aims to scale up its impact through national-level advocacy, ensuring that the voices of tribal communities are heard and their rights are protected.
