A land that was once rich in natural resources and a people who once lived a sustainable lifestyle – this is the setting in which Sakhi works. The goal of this eight-year-old Bihar-based NGO is rural reconstruction. In this particular project they have taken on the task of revitalizing the socio-economic lives of the rural poor, especially tribal women of the Malha fishing community, in Madhubani district.

Andhrathari block in Madhubani has about 360 ponds over 1000 acres. The majority of these are government-owned, and would be leased out to the local landlords. This was actually to the disadvantage of the fishermen from the Malha community because they ended up as labourers wit h all the profits going to the landlords.

As a part of their long-term commitment to empower the socially disadvantaged, Sakhi has formed pond cooperatives. They are now working to ensure that the settlement of the ponds is in the name of the cooperatives. When this happens, all rights will go to the cooperative's members. The rights will also extend to the cultivation of makhana which is a water lily-like plant wit h high nutritive values and has been part of the age-old cultivation practices in Madhubani.

There is great potential for upscaling the project in large areas of north Bihar and therefore develop sustainable livelihoods through accessible resources and acceptable technology.

A grant of Rs. 3.39 million was sanctioned in 2006-2007, from the RD Tata Trust,over three years.