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Gravis

Gramin Vikas Vigyan Samiti

Founded on Gandhian  principles in 1983     by activists Laxmi C. Tyagi and his wife Shashi Tyagi  , Gramin Vikas Vigyan Samiti   (translated as ‘Centre of People’s Science for Rural Development’ ), now commonly known as GRAVIS  , is a voluntary organization headquartered in Jodhpur    , Rajasthan, India that is engaged in rural community development in five (2006) districts in Rajasthan. In 2014, Gravis was employing about 200 full-time and 400 part-time employees. The aspects of community development that Gravis addresses include drought mitigation, rain water harvesting   , healthcare , opium addiction rehabilitation , child education  , training and capacity building , horticulture , afforestation , animal husbandry , advocacy , women’s self-help groups (SHGs) , and training women to serve as village health workers (VHWs). Much of their health, advocacy, and capacity building work has assisted mine workers—including child laborers —since miners in the region frequently contract deathly occupational lung diseases such as silicosis and are subject to adverse working conditions. Gravis employs participatory rural appraisal (PRA) methodology in its work and encourages community participation by setting-up VDCs (Village Development Councils or Committees ) which are led by elected community members.

Gravis is also recognized for its leadership in the establishment of the Consortium for Health, Education and the Environment (HEDCON)—a consortium of Gandhian organizations in Rajasthan that plays an advocacy role with the government.

In 2016, Gravis was operating 15 field centers. The organization also runs Gravis Hospital in the Tinwari village of Jodhpur district.

Valuing Traditional Technologies and Agricultural Practices
Gravis has worked to revitalize the use of indigenous forms of natural resource management and agricultural techniques that have been traditionally used by desert communities for centuries. In particular, Gravis has worked to renovate and construct rain water harvesting structures: khadins, naadis, taankas, and beris. According to cofounder Shashi Tyagi, “GRAVIS believes that the eco-system of Thar Desert has the capacity to produce enough for the local communities to fulfill their basic needs provided, an eco-complimentary play focusing on the management of water & land resources using the native wisdom and technologies, is followed.” (Tyagi, Shashi Rainwater Harvesting—A step towards self-reliance). Gravis collaborated with CAZRI (the Central Arid Zone Research Institute), with the Indian Ministry of Rural Development, and with the United Nations Development Programme on a project in which a study of traditional natural resource management techniques and traditional agricultural practices was carried out at Gravis’ field centers in six areas: Baap, Jelu Gagadi, Kalron, Lawan, Makarana, and Shiv. The findings of the project were documented in Bharat Jhunjhunwala’s book Traditional Agricultural and Water Technologies of the Thar which was published in 2005 in India by Kalpaz Publications.

Values and Approach to Development Work
In the words of Mary C. Grey, an author, professor, theologian, and a founding trustee of Wells for India—a UK-based partner organization of Gravis since 1995, “Even though the major focus of Gravis’ work concentrates on drought mitigation, caused by the water shortage, the team still believes in an integrated approach to sustainable development, (holistic, in fact), working not only to enable a safe and secure source of water for drinking and irrigation, but also to transform lives through education, healthcare, microfinance and advocacy for the rights of the most vulnerable people in society.”  Grey explains that since Gravis’ establishment, sarvodaya and Gram Swaraj—both Gandhian ideas—have been two of its foundational principles10. She writes, “This has remained a keystone to Gravis – the idea that the most marginalized people should acquire their own voice and become responsible in achieving their own needs.” Gravis cofounder Shashi Tyagi, in her article, Rainwater Harvesting—A step towards self-reliance, published in 2006, states that the organization has helped 400 villages of 5 districts of Thar progress towards “self-reliance.” It is said that each of Gravis’ field centers has three posters of three role models: Gandhi, Vinoba Bhave, and Jayaprakesh Narayan.

Caste-related Attack (1991): The Burning of the Gagadi Field Center
In October 1991, the Gravis’ field center in Gagadi was burned down in an attack by about a hundred upper caste youths. The story of the attack has been told by Mary C. Grey in her essay ‘Living Without Dreams: Is There a Spirituality for Justice in Globalized World?’ and also by William Dalrymple in his book The Age of Kali. According to Grey’s personal conversation with L.C. Tyagi, the mob destroyed “all records and personal belongings” out of anger that Gravis’ efforts had focused on the most poor. In Dalrymple’s recording of Tyagi’s recollection, “three truck-loads” of “High-caste Rajput students from neighboring villages” burned clothes, cots, mattresses, video recorders, and slide projectors and broke chairs, fans, type-writers, and cupboards, among other things. According to Dalrymple, Tyagi said that the attackers beat with iron bars people that had dark skin while demanding to know, “Who is from the low castes?” Grey reports that Laxmi C. Tyagi and his wife Shashi argued with the police not to prosecute their attackers. Both authors, Grey and Dalrymple, attribute a peaceful reaction of the Tyagis to their Gandhian values.