The activities of the Sangham are based on the vision of Dr. T. S. Soundaram, founder of Gandhigram Institutions, which was to create rural employment for the weaker sections of the society and to make quality and affordable Indian medicines available to the common people of the country.

The herbs are mostly collected through traditional herb collectors of Sirumalai hills on the Eastern side and Kodaikanal hills on the Western side. The unit provides employment to over 120 persons, mostly to women and particularly to widowed, destitute and physically challenged women in rural areas.

As an implementing agency of SFURTI, supported by Khadi and Village Industries Commission, Mumbai, and aided by Ford Foundation, New Delhi, the Sangham has got assistance to the tune of Rs.one crore for the uplift of rural artisans.  The traditional collectors of herbs, barks, seeds, roots, etc., mostly tribal people, will be the beneficiaries of this fund.

The Sangham has also received $50,000 (Rs. 2, 500, 000) from Ford Foundation to promote marketing in selected towns and rural areas.  This is being utilized for developing low cost advertisement and designing brand identity during the next ten months. Market Promotion Assistance from SFURTI has been utilized to renovate the Chennai Show Room of the Sangham at Purasaivakkam.

Exhibition and sales opportunities are being utilized by the Sangham to the fullest extent. Kodai Festival 2008, organised by the District Administration and Women Development Corporation, Dindigul, had the Sangham products displayed by volunteers of Kurinji SHG, Kamalapuram, together with leaflets explaining their contents and uses. Ayurvedic Doctors’ Meet at Bangaluru, organized by Sree Dhanvantari Association was also a display venue of Sangham’s products. Both the events were notable by the appreciation received and interest aroused.

Sales promotion camps under Ford Foundation are being organized at various places for medical practitioners.  Traditional Siddha and Ayurvedic practitioners are made aware of the identification, quality and quantity of the ingredients, methods and measures of medication, dietary restrictions and effects of the medicines.  The attendance was 59 at Madurai, 35 at Sivagangai and 25 at Ootty.