Gravis

The current year, 2009, is an important year for GRAVIS. A number of ongoing projects will continue in the year. GRAVIS will make new beginnings in several areas of the Thar Desert in remote parts of Jaisalmer, Badmer, Bikaner and Pali Districts with new programmes and partnerships. In the year 2009, new centers have been set up in Kunda, Osian and Balotra villages of the Thar Desert for effective implementation.

While keeping the Thar Desert its main focus of work, GRAVIS will partner with various organizations across the nation to implement programmes in other parts of the country. GRVIA will partner in Gujrat to support land reforms and in Bihar to organize flood relief. The research on older people’s health needs will take GRAVIS to various urban and slum locations of India.

GRAVIS and its partner organization L. C. Tyagi Memorial Trust will remain committed to promoting primary and higher levels of education in coming years. In coming year, the L. C. Tyagi Fellowship Award will continue and will expand the number awards given each year. The Trust will also focus on providing educational and capacity building opportunities to development professionals and activists.

GRAVIS hospital will expand its operations further in coming future. There is a thinking to link the hospital with multiple small-scale clinics and vision centers and to enhance the coverage of health services. GRAVIS’ efforts on health education and on partnering with the National rural Health Mission (NRHM) of government of India will continue further.
 
Research on emerging environmental and developmental issues will also be of great interest to GRAVIS. In 2009, GRAVIS will initiate two important research studies focusing on the prevalence of silico-tuberculosis and on functional modalities of Village Health Funds. The research on evaluating water quality will continue further. In addition, the organization also foresees the potential of researching the impact of climate change in Thar Desert especially in the context of frequency of droughts, changing rainfall patterns and desertification.