Community-led change / Telangana, India
When communities
thrive, forests
have a future.
We work alongside tribal and forest-dependent communities to strengthen livelihoods, nurture local leadership and care for the resources that sustain us.
Rooted in community, since 200201 / Forests & livelihoods
A year of shared progress · 2025–26
326Wadis established by March 2026
500Medaram FPO farmer-members
120Women trained in beekeeping
125Youth & women trained in five trades
Our story
A forest is more
than trees.
It is a way of life.
For the communities we work with, forests, land and livelihoods are deeply connected. Our work begins with that relationship.
Founded in 2002, Vanasamakhya is a collective network of Village Forest Committees. We support participatory forest governance and equitable development, with tribal communities, women and marginalised groups at the centre.
The people and purpose behind our workOur programmes
Many pathways.
One shared future.
Practical, connected programmes that build on local knowledge, community institutions and the potential of every family.
01 / Land, water & livelihoods↗
NABARD TDF / Maa Thota
Orchard development, water resources and alternative livelihoods for tribal families.
02 / Forest communities↗
Forests & community governance
Strengthening Village Forest Committees and meaningful participation in natural resource management.
03 / Collective enterprise↗
Farmer producer organisations
Community-owned institutions that connect farmers and tribal products to markets.
04 / Farming & resilience↗
Natural farming
Supporting small and marginal farmers with improved farming practices and access to entitlements.
05 / Women’s livelihoods↗
Women & local enterprise
Beekeeping, honey collection, tribal products and pathways to enterprise finance.
06 / Skills & opportunity↗
Youth & skills
Hands-on training in five trades for youth and women in remote tribal mandals.
Learning that opens doorsPeople at the heart of progress
A new skill.
A new possibility.
For women and youth in remote tribal mandals, practical training can bring opportunity closer to home.
With CRPF 39th Battalion, 125 participants completed hands-on training in electrical work, solar installation, computer repair, mobile repair and tailoring.
Explore skills & livelihoodsNABARD Tribal Development Fund
From a small orchard,
a future takes root.
Maa Thota connects orchard development with water, intercropping, local institutions and livelihood support.
Inside our Maa Thota programme376of 450 Wadis established
Progress reported by October 2026. The 2025–26 year-end total was 326.
10villages in the Venkatapuram projectFrom the field
Small beginnings.
Meaningful change.
Land & livelihoods
Turning idle land into productive orchards
How collective effort and convergence helped bring forest rights land into cultivation at Abbayigudem.
Read the field note ↗Women & opportunity
Markets & enterprise · May 2026From Maa Thota orchards to Hyderabad
A two-day Mango Festival brought farmer-managed stalls and tribal products directly to customers.
Read the field note ↗Collaboration makes it possible
NABARDAzim Premji
FoundationCRPF
39th BattalionCommunity
institutions
Meet our programme partners FoundationCRPF
39th BattalionCommunity
institutions
Let’s work together
Good partnerships.
Lasting possibilities.
Explore collaboration in tribal livelihoods, community institutions and sustainable natural resource management.
Connect with Vanasamakhya