Gram Vikas Seva Sansthan (GVSS) is a non-profitable, non-political and non-governmental organization working for the upliftment of marginalized communities. It is registered under the Rajasthan State Societies Act,1958 and is working for 26 years for the betterment of society.The organization was founded with the vision of building a caste and classless society with an exploitation-free social structure. The idea was conceived after the social services rendered by Shri M.L. Choudhary in the rural areas of Rajasthan.GVSS works towards improving the quality of life for disadvantaged communities through initiatives focused on education, health, livelihood development, and social empowerment.
Vision & Mission
GVSS envisions the formation of a society based on social justice and equity and the construction of an exploitation-free and equitable social structure. The mission of the organization is the empowerment of marginalized sections of society—especially women, children and Dalits—so that they can assert their rights and improve their standard of living. GVSS works for community upliftment through systematic interventions in areas such as health (including HIV/AIDS and RCH), Self Help Groups (SHG), social development and women empowerment, while seeking support from public and private institutions through grants, subscriptions and donations for human and social development.
Objectives
GVSS works with the following core objectives:
To elevate the educational status of disadvantaged children and increase awareness among target groups
To organize people for working on local issues
To sensitize men and women through capacity and perspective building exercises on different local issues
To enhance leadership qualities and skills of the people for advocacy
To establish liaison with government and non-government sectors
To reduce vulnerability during natural disasters such as drought and earthquakes
To promote livelihood opportunities by upgrading traditional knowledge and skills
To support environmental improvement and rural health and sanitation
To strengthen local governance and Panchayati Raj Institutions for transparency and accountability
To document grassroots experiences for sharing and publishing
To conduct participatory research on development issues
About the Organization
Gram Vikas Seva Sansthan (GVSS) is registered under the Rajasthan State Societies Act, 1958 and is also registered under FCRA, 12A and 80G. The organization has been working for more than 15 years in both rural and urban areas of Rajasthan. GVSS operates across seven districts of Rajasthan: Jodhpur, Jalore, Jaisalmer, Pali, Sirohi, Barmer and Nagaur, working in 311 villages across 16 Panchayat Samitis for the welfare and development of deprived communities. In Jodhpur district the organization works in 144 villages of Bhopalgarh, Bilada and Mandore Panchayat Samitis; in Barmer district it works in Siwana Panchayat Samiti covering 10 villages; in Jaisalmer district it works in Jaisalmer and Sam Panchayat Samitis covering 25 villages; in Pali district it works in Rohat Panchayat Samiti covering 20 villages; in Jalore district it works in Jalor Panchayat Samiti covering 10 villages; and in Nagaur district it works in Nagaur, Medata City and Didwana Panchayat Samitis covering 52 villages. The organization carries out activities focused on education for weaker sections, primary education for child labor, women and child health, agriculture, environment, watershed development, Self Help Groups, youth affairs, fundamental rights awareness, AIDS control and prevention programs, family counseling, shelter for girls and women, income generation, sanitation campaigns, environmental awareness and women empowerment initiatives. Through these initiatives, GVSS continuously works to strengthen community participation, promote sustainable development and improve access to essential resources for marginalized populations. The organization emphasizes grassroots involvement, awareness building and skill development to enable communities to actively participate in their own social and economic progress.
Supporting Agencies
GVSS collaborates with several government and institutional partners including:
Rajasthan State AIDS Control Society, Jaipur
Central Social Welfare Board, New Delhi
Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, New Delhi
State Social Welfare Board, Jaipur
NABARD, Jaipur
Department of Women & Child Development & Women Empowerment, Jaipur
CMHO & Directorate Health & Family Welfare Services, Jaipur
Zila Parishad, Churu
RNTCP, Jodhpur
NCRI, Hyderabad
Regional Context & Key Challenges
Rajasthan is the largest state in India in terms of land area and faces several environmental and socio-economic challenges due to its desert geography. The region is affected by desert expansion, reduction of forest areas, disappearance of medicinal plants and lack of environmental awareness, which has resulted in shortages of basic resources required for daily living. Rainfall in the region is limited and temperatures can rise up to 49°C during summer, making living conditions difficult for rural populations.
Communities in the areas where GVSS operates face multiple challenges that impact their social and economic well-being:
People live in small and remote villages where the situation of women’s education, women’s health and potable water is poor.
Due to lack of information, awareness and improper government arrangements, residents are often unable to access facilities and resources provided by government and other agencies.
Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Other Backward Class and minority communities often work under difficult conditions and many migrate in search of livelihood.
Income from agriculture is not sufficient due to the heavy dependence on rain-fed farming.
Social customs, debt burdens and conventional attitudes create additional financial pressure on lower-income communities.
Weak functioning of local institutions such as schools, health centres, post offices and water supply systems causes difficulties for residents.
Due to lack of stable income sources, many families allow children to work in risky activities to support household income.
A large number of people from SC and ST communities work in stone mines and often suffer from diseases such as asthma and tuberculosis at an early age.
According to surveys, children often consume 600–700 calories less than the required daily intake, leading to malnutrition.
Meet our Chairman
''GVSS has travelled a long way helping people to realize their strength for empowerment. Our activities are now spread over seven districts- Jodhpur, Pali, Jalore, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Sirohi & Nagaur. For effective monitoring, project offices are opened in each district. Organization has always been working with the downtrodden, with special emphasis on women and children and promotion of handicrafts(hand embroidery, applique art etc.) and the income that can be generated with it. Our strategy was to make them aware of their rights and throw light on various opportunities available for the poor to change their life for better. There were many challenges on the way, but our organization still managed to own countless achievements together with the population organization serve. We is continuing its efforts to broach upon issues like - Violence against Women, Poverty Alleviation, Discriminatory practices, Employment opportunities in Handicraft sector etc; and also to maximize human potential. Commitment of our staff and participation of the target population at all levels helps us to run high quality programmes. We have collaborated with some nationally & internationally acclaimed donor agencies to reach out to a large population in 7 districts of Rajasthan. Without their financial and technical support, organisation could not have achieved grassroots' progress. We strongly believe in integrated community development and therefore, we have carried out a number of livelihood generated and issue specific projects and activities addressing to varying needs of the deprived sections of 7 districts. The vision & aim of the organization is to build a social structure based on equilibrium and exploitation free society; accordingly the objectives and action plan of the organization is focused upon Women & Child health, awareness towards AIDS, Welfare of downtrodden, water campaign, Women Empowerment, Income opportunities in the Handicraft sector etc. Aiming towards the growth of poor and downtrodden people, and to linkup with the main stream development, the organization has made vigorous efforts to organize them and has consecutively formed self help groups. Professional training programs are being organized for the purpose of income generation. The success achieved at the primary stage is quite encouraging. We express our heartiest gratitude to the persons and institutions that had extended their cooperation directly or indirectly. We are thankful to NABARD Jaipur, Rajasthan State Social Welfare Board, Jaipur; Central Social Welfare Board, New Delhi; Rajasthan State AIDS Control Society, Development commissioner (Handicrafts); (Govt. of India) etc. who had supported the campaign financially and provided intensive cooperation and guidance without which it was impossible to execute the programmes effectively.''
Major Programmes
GVSS has implemented many development initiatives for deprived communities, including:
Income generation programs
Women and child development
Health initiatives
Education programs
Youth leadership development
Child labor rehabilitation
Water conservation
Agricultural awareness
Welfare programs for elderly citizens
Awareness on social issues such as female foeticide and domestic violence
Through these initiatives, 207,783 deprived individuals have benefited from 18 development programs and activities implemented by GVSS.
Self Help Groups (SHGs)
GVSS has worked vigorously to empower women and make them financially independent by facilitating the formation of Self Help Groups (SHGs) and establishing their bank linkages. Keeping in view the long-term financial needs of Dalit communities and mine laborers, the organization initiated income generation programs through the formation of SHGs.
Through these initiatives, women are encouraged to participate in collective savings, access financial resources and develop sustainable livelihood opportunities.
Achievements & Accomplishments
District Jodhpur: 164 SHGs were formed covering Bilada and Bhopalgrah blocks. The total number of beneficiaries in these groups is 1,806. These SHGs have taken 164 bank loans totaling Thirty Nine Lac Forty Five Thousand Rupees.
District Jaisalmer: 125 SHGs were formed covering Jaisalmer and Sam blocks. The total number of beneficiaries in these groups is 1,548. These SHGs have taken 65 bank loans totaling Thirty Seven Lac Twenty Four Thousand Rupees.
District Jalore: 53 SHGs were formed covering Jalor block. The total number of beneficiaries in these groups is 573. These SHGs have taken 33 bank loans totaling Six Lac Eighty Four Thousand Three Hundred Rupees by registering them under a cooperative association. These SHGs are known as Gajanand SHG and Jai Tulsi Ridhi Sidhi SHG. These groups will benefit under cooperative association schemes and will be allotted fair price shops.
50 artisan cards were issued to women of SHGs under the flagship of the District Industry Center (DIC).
50 health cards were issued for women under the Rajiv Gandhi Shilpi Health Insurance Scheme. Out of these 50 artisans, 10 card holders were allotted a bank loan of ₹25,000 each.
HIV and AIDS Study
With the rapid rise in the tourism industry in Jodhpur and Jaisalmer, the risk of HIV and AIDS is multiplying rapidly and unknowingly among the people of the district. The presence of high-risk groups such as sex workers, truckers and migrants, particularly in the context of Jodhpur, has further deepened the problem in these areas.Therefore, the organization has carried out need-based assessment studies in Jodhpur and started a prevention programme in the district of Jaisalmer to mitigate the impact of HIV and AIDS among vulnerable groups of society in these regions.
Youth Leadership Initiative
GVSS organized an Inter-State Youth Exchange Programme under the flagship of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India, New Delhi. The programme was conducted from 16 May 2010 to 30 May 2010.
During this exposure programme, youth participants visited five districts across five Indian states: Ahmedabad (Gujarat), Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), Gurgaon (Haryana), Jalandhar (Punjab) and Jaisalmer (Rajasthan). The initiative provided an opportunity for youth from these regions to interact and learn about the customs, lifestyles, heritage and environment of different communities.
Participants studied the historical and cultural values of various regions, including traditions, livelihoods, caste structures, food habits and social practices. Through this programme, youth groups also presented development perspectives of their respective regions using presentations, stage plays, puppet shows and music performances.
A total of 50 youth from five states actively participated in the programme, making it a dynamic platform for cultural exchange, learning and leadership development.
Impressive Need-Based Programs
GVSS has implemented several important programs including:
Watershed Development Programme to address water scarcity and promote water resource management.
Social Welfare Week, benefiting 390 people through health camps and free medicine distribution.
Agricultural Awareness Programme, educating farmers on modern techniques, improved seeds, soil testing and water-efficient crops.
A one-day Agricultural Awareness Workshop was organized by GVSS on 15 July 2010 in Pipadsahar, Jodhpur. In this workshop, farmers benefited by gaining awareness about the core aspects of agriculture.
These aspects included vegetable production, vermin compost, improved seeds, modern technical machines, soil testing, crops requiring less water and pest control. Farmers were also made aware about the Farmers Club initiative, which supports knowledge sharing and agricultural development.
At present, GVSS is running 7 Farmers Clubs to support farmers and promote improved agricultural practices.
Old Age Welfare Programme, providing health check-ups and awareness of government welfare schemes for elderly people.
The organization is running a Family Counseling Center in the district of Jaisalmer. Through the center, efforts are made to settle disputes among families by providing counseling separately and jointly, depending on the sensitivity of the disputed matters.
Through the mediation and counseling support of the center’s staff members, several family disputes have been resolved and settled successfully.
- Old Age Welfare Programme: GVSS conducted a survey in 30 villages of Bhopalgarh and Bilada with the objective of organizing welfare programmes for destitute, deprived and abandoned elderly people. Most of the identified individuals belonged to SC, ST and OBC communities.
A workshop was organized on 10th December 2010 at the GVSS Head Office in Pipadsahar, where elderly participants received medical check-ups and doctors’ advice. The programme also provided information about various government schemes available for the welfare of elderly citizens.
Future Action Plan
Gram Vikas Seva Sansthan (GVSS) is currently benefiting 187,783 deprived persons as direct beneficiaries and is actively working in 850 villages across 15 Panchayat Samitis in 7 districts of Rajasthan.
The organization aims to expand its working areas into new divisions by introducing innovative, need-based and scientific development initiatives. GVSS is committed to motivating weaker sections of society towards self-reliance and self-dependence through collective efforts and community participation.
Through large-scale awareness campaigns and capacity-building programs, GVSS works to bring communities together to address local challenges and create sustainable solutions.
Key Focus Areas for the Coming Year
Execution, care and support programs for HIV/AIDS
Promotion of science and technology in rural areas
Youth leadership development and employment generation
Education support for deaf and differently-abled children
Welfare initiatives for physically challenged and elderly people
Employment opportunities for women
Access to safe drinking water and sanitation.
Our Strategy
GVSS plans to expand its initiatives across more districts of Rajasthan as part of its long-term vision for rural and urban development. The organization will focus on awareness campaigns related to HIV/AIDS, trafficking, and rights of affected individuals, along with programs for women and children development.
It will also strengthen grassroots organizations by conducting training and workshops on capacity building, program management, advocacy, and proposal writing. GVSS will continue working on key areas such as social mobilization, gender issues, water conservation, and strengthening local governance (PRIs) to ensure sustainable development.