Key Milestones
Establishment
- L.C. Tyagi and Shashi Tyagi founded GRAVIS.
- GRAVIS initiated its work in the Thar Desert, Rajasthan, and established ties with local communities.
- Forged the fundamental work philosophy to remain in direct contact with the community always.
- Focused on forming Community Based Organizations like Village Development Committees and Self-Help Groups organizing people to get involved in their own affairs.
- GRAVIS began working primarily on water and agricultural issues.
- Commenced health, education and gender equality interventions for the most vulnerable citizens of Thar.
- First field center of GRAVIS was established at Gagadi with the assistance of community members and local officials.
Consolidation
- GRAVIS strengthened its infrastructure and formed links with partners working in the area and beyond.
- Broadened the scope of its activities and spread its presence in various districts where the Thar desert is located.
- A number of field centers were set up to co-ordinate activities within communities.
- Became the founding member of Rajasthan Voluntary Health Association and deeply forayed into health initiatives by embedding network of Village Health Workers.
- GRAVIS hospital built and established to make healthcare accessible and affordable.
- Initiated working with the mineworkers of Rajasthan. Launched Mine Labor Protection Campaign (MLPC) and the first mine workers’ trade union in Jodhpur.
- Expanded assortment of training sessions, workshops and public events to spread knowledge about its work across India.
Expansion
- GRAVIS matured into a development organization with a robust network of support and remarkable gains in the areas of watershed development, natural resource management and people’s organization.
- Accounting, Information technology and telecommunications infrastructure strengthened.
- GRAVIS launched its website.
- Facilities in the Thar expanded. A museum, multi-functional educational center and a storage warehouse was established.
- Initiated documentation of traditional know-how of local communities on farming practices and water harvesting technologies in the Thar region of Rajasthan.
- 2003 - Millennium ICRISAT Science Award for Outstanding Partnership by International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics.
- 2005 - Community Welfare Award for Sustainable development, empowering women and child education by Indian Merchants’ Chamber.
- 2009 – 3rd Dalmiya Paryavaran Award for Best work on - Water and environment conservation by Ramkrishna Jaidayal Dalmia Seva Sansthan.
- 2011 - Sprit of Humanity Award for Best work on Women’s Health Category by AmeriCares INDIA.
Scale-up
- GRAVIS extended its operations to rural areas of Uttarakhand and Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh States of India.
- 2014 – 2017 – GRAVIS appointed as the Innovation and Knowledge Partner in disseminating rainwater harvesting techniques and sustainable agricultural practices in the East African Countries.
- 2017 – Jamnalal Bajaj Award for Outstanding Contribution in the Field of Constructive Work by Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation.
- 2022 - Rashtriya Mahatma Gandhi Samman 2021 for encouraging education, empowering women health and sanitation, harmony & culture, social inclusion, self-reliant community through Gandhian Philosophy by Government of Madhya Pradesh.
- GRAVIS’ community outreach efforts intensified in this phase. Touched lives of more than 1.8 million people, over 2,000 villages with the support of over 4,000 CBOs.
