Community Mobilization
Active community engagement has been at the very base of every project implemented by GRAVIS to ensure its sustainability and relevance. People’s Organizations, Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), or Community Collectives organized and facilitated by GRAVIS are at the forefront of all its interventions. It is only when these collectives get fully involved in deciding on their priorities, set goals, plan, mobilize internal resources, devise systems to achieve their goals, and evaluate, transformative and structural changes become possible.
GRAVIS ensures that apart from being people’s representatives, these CBOs are strengthened to promote equal participation of rural women in the collective decision-making process. It is mandatory to have 50% representation of women in these community-based organizations who are against the age-old customs and forced traditions then voice their thoughts and make decisions along with men from the community.
GRAVIS ensures that apart from being people’s representatives, these CBOs are strengthened to promote equal participation of rural women in the collective decision-making process. It is mandatory to have 50% representation of women in these community-based organizations who are against the age-old customs and forced traditions then voice their thoughts and make decisions along with men from the community.
To achieve this participation, over the years, CBOs established by GRAVIS have taken several forms and contributed phenomenally to the overarching objective of achieving self-reliance, community partnership and ownership. These are:
Empowering Women Through SHGs
GRAVIS thoroughly believes in the equality of the genders and recognizes that without women’s empowerment it is not possible to achieve sustainable development. Adopting a gender-inclusive approach, we attempt to address deeply entrenched patriarchal mindset and bigotries against women, that exclude them from decision making and resource ownership.
To give women more social and financial independence and respect within their community SHGs are formed. These groups carry out collective savings by contributing a fixed amount every month. The groups have their own rules for management of this fund and the members can access loan from it from time to time. The savings are also deposited in the bank which is used to secure micro- credit loans. We work with women of varied age groups and our broad focus areas are leadership development, vocational trainings, awareness about women’s rights, education, microfinance, and adolescent as well as reproductive health.
To give women more social and financial independence and respect within their community SHGs are formed. These groups carry out collective savings by contributing a fixed amount every month. The groups have their own rules for management of this fund and the members can access loan from it from time to time. The savings are also deposited in the bank which is used to secure micro- credit loans. We work with women of varied age groups and our broad focus areas are leadership development, vocational trainings, awareness about women’s rights, education, microfinance, and adolescent as well as reproductive health.
Ensuring inclusion and participation of elderly in community development processes
The Thar Desert has a large number of elderly people living constantly under the shadows of poverty, food and water insecurity and inadequate healthcare, especially when they need it the most. For older women who are widows particularly, life becomes even more difficult because of social customs and barriers impinged upon them since ages.
One of the key focus areas for GRAVIS work is to reach out to them, to support them and ensure their participation and leadership in the overall community development by collectivizing them in VOPAs. The programmes for the elderly range from capacity building to livelihood support and healthcare to research and advocacy on ageing related issues.
Building Capacities Of Farmers – Farmer Clubs And FIGs
Farmer Clubs and FIGs are informal networks of farmers from different backgrounds who are supported with the resources to help them imbibe drought-resilient farming techniques. They have monthly meetings to exchange knowledge as well as training and exposure visits to increase awareness on farming practices in arid regions. They also advocate collectively for better access to government schemes.
