A village cannot achieve self-reliance unless the management and leadership for their efforts is coming from within the community. GRAVIS entrusts the growth of new initiatives, the direction of programs, and all major community decisions to the people and facilitates the establishment of a range of people's organizations for this purpose. The people's organizations are democratic and engage people from all sections of the community to manage the development efforts, as well as figure out how to obtain the resources needed, locally if possible. The communities are thus endowed to carry on the development initiatives without further assistance from GRAVIS - and are able to attain self-reliance. The types of people's organizations developed and established by GRAVIS are detailed below.

Village Development Committees (VDCs)

GRAVIS has facilitated the establishment of a Village Development Committee (VDC) in each village that it works in. The VDC acts as an intermediary between GRAVIS and the rural community, and is responsible for the formation and preservation of village funds, the selection and prioritization of prospective development initiatives, the implementation and supervision of projects, and the allocation of wages or materials. Moreover, the VDCs are platforms for villagers to voice individual and collective concerns to each other, as well as to GRAVIS. VDCs also work as pressure groups for proper implementation of government funded programs run by village panchayats. The VDC is made up of representatives, democratically elected during the gram sabha (village meeting), with an equal representation of women and all castes. GRAVIS has formed 414 VDCs till date.

Self Help Groups (SHGs)

GRAVIS forms self-help groups (SHGs) to further the socio-economic empowerment of women. SHGs provide platforms through which women can acquire new information and skills, as well as discuss pertinent women's issues. Through their new-found strength in unity, subsequent increase in self-esteem and economic empowerment, the women members of the SHG are able to move together toward self-reliance. GRAVIS has facilitated the establishment of 410 SHGs and the collective savings of the SHGs is over Rs. 4 million.

Village Education Committees

These village-based organizations are formed in villages where GRAVIS runs schools and are made up of representatives from the community who are especially concerned with children's education. Over half of the representatives are women and parents. The education committee closely monitors the day to day activities of the schools; manage the community's education fund and the school's teachers, oversee the distribution of teacher's salaries, and secure food and other materials needed for the schools. Decisions relating to the future plans of the school such as links to government funds and programs, as well as educational topics and approaches, are all made by the education committee.

Village Old People's Associations (VOPAs)

GRAVIS has formed Village Old People's Associations in 18 villages where the development activities focuses on the empowerment of the elderly. These VOPAs basically act like VDCs, but are comprised entirely of people over the age of 60. In addition, 72 Sub-committees of older people have also been formed.

Mineworkers Trade Unions

GRAVIS has facilitated the establishment of 4 mineworkers unions  - with a total of over 4,500 members. These organizations have brought the mineworkers together and with union support, the mineworkers have been able to address government organizations and officials on the injustices they have faced. The mineworkers unions have also been involved in bringing worker's compensation lawsuits on behalf of disabled mineworkers against mine owners.

Village Eye Care Committees (VECCs) 

Eye care is an important area of GRAVIS work. To ensure the sustainability of GRAVIS eye care work, the organizatyion has promoted the formation of over 60 VECCs. The VECCs help in organizing eye care activities in their villages.