GRAMIN VIKAS SAMITI

Gramin Vikas Samiti owes its existence to an incident at Chandapur village in Badlapur development block of Jaunpur district on March 14, 1999. On this day 15 women labourers, who were denied wages by the farm owner posing difficulties in meeting household expenses, stopped working on his farm and started working at the form another farm owner. Two days later the former gram pradhan called them to give wages. But instead of wages, he gave abuses and beat them up. When the women went to the police station to lodge first information report, they were not heard and shooed away.

This incident agitated the conscience of not only the villagers but also those residing in nearby villages. They deliberated at length and decided that they would not tolerate these things anymore. Seven men and two women of the area decided to form an organisation to ensure a life of honour without any kind of exploitation for the women. The organisation was named Gramin Vikas Samiti and registered as a society on December 18, 1999. Later it was registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act and relevant Sections of the Income Tax Act.

GVS is at present working in 27 villages of Badlapur development block and 30 villages of Khuthan development block of Jaunpur district. Additionally, it is also working in 15 villages of Robertsganj development block of Sonbhadra district and 15 villages of Aspur Devsara development block of Pratapgarh district. Its present work covers 1,311 families. Cumulatively, the work has covered 6,338 families.

The primary target of the work of GVS is women, with whom it is working through sustainable agriculture to improve their social and economic status in the society. It does so by promoting kitchen gradening and commercial farming. It seeks to improve soil fertility by promoting organic compost and organic production in this area.

GVS links women with various government schemes and programmes to ensure their rights, gender equality, leadership development, self-development, livelihood, health, education (by orienting parents and teachers about it). It intends to establish a better platform for everyone by converting exclusion to inclusion.  The organisation works for self-dependent, healthy and more confident women in the mainstream of the society.