Gravis

Sarvodaya Sammelan in 2007

In 2007, GRAVIS hosted the Sarvodaya Sammelan of 2007 at its Kalron Center in Jodhpur District. Over 2,000 activists, philosophers and thinkers joined the event. The event provided a platform to discuss the development crisis, issues focusing on gender and equality, climate change and future dimensions of rural reconstruction. GRAVIS organized the entire event with the support of local communities and the people of the Thar Desert.

Flood in Thar in 2006

In 2006, the Thar Desert had to brace a severe flood. Downpour continuing over 100 hours caused wide scale destruction and loss. While peoples’ lives were at tremendous risk and many of them tried to escape the wrath of the nature by leaving their hamlets, there were scores of people stranded in a precarious state in different corners of the affected area. Property, livestock and rainwater harvesting structures were damaged by the floods.

Once the news of the floods reached GRAVIS, the GRAVIS team held a strategic meeting at its Gagadi field centre on August 21, 2006. An initial assessment of the situation was conducted by visiting the neighboring villages, and consulting with field staff and other acquaintances from GOs, NGOs, and the media. Looking at the magnitude of the situation and GRAVIS’ capacity, the team decided to offer flood relief services to 4 districts: Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Barmer, and Jhalore. Over the next one year, GRAVIS organized extensive flood relief and rehabilitation in several blocks including Osiyan block in Jodhpur ,  Shiv block in Barmer, Pokhran and Fathegarh in Jaisalmer and Aahore and Sachore blocks in Jalore district.