GRAVIS
Organization Details
GRAVIS in an NGO that is based in the Thar Desert, India. It works to achieve the integrated development of rural communities with programs focusing on food and water security, healthcare, education and training and capacity building. It covers a population of about 1.2 million people.
At GRAVIS, we believe that the means of rural development are just as important as the ends. Therefore, in all of our initiatives, we use methods that are fair and sustainable, preserving our commitment to Gandhian ethics. The six main elements of our methodology are:
- Participation
- Inclusion
- Capacity Building
- Blending science and tradition
- Self reliance
- Cooperation
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Impact Story
The Gandhian philosophy of Sarvodaya—all rising, but the last person first—is the basis of GRAVIS' strategy and approach. We work for the collective rise of men, women, and children, regardless of economic state, age, caste or religion. This philosophy is becoming increasingly pertinent as India's social incongruities widen the gap between rich and poor making the country’s shift into the modern age a bittersweet phenomenon.
To counter this, GRAVIS emphasizes the empowerment of rural communities, and adheres to another Gandhian notion, Gram Swarajya, or village self-rule. We work towards rehabilitation of the rural community, enabling villages to take ownership of their environment, institutions, and relations. We operate under the belief that self-reliance is necessary for survival. Thus, GRAVIS differs from other aid organizations as we seek to actively engage community members in our projects, rather than merely adding resources to a broken system. A range of community based organisations (CBO) therefore form the core element of GRAVIS' work.