1. GRAMEEN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
(GDS)
Head Office: B-1/84, Sector- B,
Aliganj, Lucknow- 226024 (U.P.)
Email: ho@gds.org.in

2.  Founded in 1993,by a group of development
professionals, academicians and NGO leaders
 Promoting and strengthening livelihoods for the
rural poor is the core thematic focus.
 Focuses on direct field implementation, through
working with poor communities in rural areas
 Also acting as a resource organization on
community based livelihoods promotion themes
 Humanitarian responses during disasters in GDS’s
own field areas.

3. “To create and strengthen sustainable livelihood
systems through community based
participatory approaches with techno-
managerial inputs to achieve economic and
social empowerment for poor and
disadvantaged sections focusing on women
living in areas of structural poverty with in
India”

4. State Districts
Bihar Muzaffarpur and Sitamarhi
Rajasthan Ajmer and Pali
Eastern Uttar Gorakhpur, Sant Kabir Nagar,
Pradesh Maharajganj, Basti, Siddharthnagar &
Lucknow (Urban),Hardoi
Bundelkhand Lalitpur
(U.P.)

6. GDS
Project
Area in
Sitama
rhi
Dum
ra
Tilaktajp
ur
Madha
ul
Program Area of GDS in
Runisaidpur

7. The target group focus of GDS is on the
women drawn from the poorest communities
and households. Specifically, it is
 by caste on the SC, ST and other backward and
marginal communities
 by class on those below the poverty line
 by occupation on the landless, artisans and
marginal and small farmers.

8. GDS had entered in Bihar in January 2007 . The current
direct coverage :
 Sitamarhi District–
 2 Blocks Runi saidpur & Belsand (45
Villages) Approx 3000 families
 Muzaffarpur District –
 2Blocks Muraul & Sakra (35 villages)
Approx. 2000 Families

9. Direct field intervention started in year 2007. The
thematic programs are as under:
 Agriculture Revival for food security and
poverty alleviation in Muzaffarpur
 Demonstration and stabilization of Stress
Tolerant crop varieties with IRRI.
 Promote adoption of Context specific package
of agriculture practices
 Vegetable growing on business lines (Cluster
development approach )
 Establish community based seed banks and
common equipment centers.

10.  Capacity building of farmers through training
and exposure. Familiarize them with
techniques and technologies for small &
marginal farmers.
 Promote and strengthen sustainable
institutions of farmers – Farmer’s Club,
Federation, Primary Producer Company (In
process)
 Linkage for inputs and credit

11. Women Empowerm ent & Disaster Risk Reduction
Program in Sitamarhi:
 Village level preparedness micro-planning and organize
Disaster Management Groups.
 Capacity building of community on life saving skills and
provide devices like life jacket, snake-bite kit, first Aid kits.
 Mock drills and awareness on relevant themes.
 Participatory infrastructure creation for flood period – Hand
pumps, toilets, bath rooms, boats, temporary shelters etc.
 Promotion of Climate change/Flood resilient cropping pattern
through demonstration of submergence tolerant rice
varieties.
 Promotion of pulses (green gram, lentil, & pea) in flood area
 Need based Flood Relief /Rehabilitation (Sitamarhi-2007 -09)

12. Continue…
 Women’s access to saving credit and insurance products
 Strengthening Women’s institutions like SHG, Village
Institutions and Federations for undertaking the issues
of common interests
 Rights based education on women rights and
entitlements. Organize interface with mainstream.
 Sensitization the women groups against domestic
violence and atrocities.
 Facilitate collective action for entitlement realization.
 Education on PRI system and ensure participation of
women on political processes.
 Enable women members engage in economic activities
for income enhancement
 Issue based sensitization on MNREGS, NRHM, RTI, and
mobilization for realization of these facilities.

13. Continue…
 Women Self Help groups – for small savings and credit
to ensure food security and empowering them to
access government welfare schemes as well their
rights and entitlement
 Village level Institutions – Organized Village Disaster
Management Group with required skills for flood
preparedness and mitigation as well as to relief &
rescue related responses.
 Apex Level Institution- works as support system for
credit facility, micro insurance, livelihood inputs,
disaster management, strengthen SHGs and collective
actions.

14. Following varieties were provided by Agriculture
institutions engaged in technology development on
stress tolerant varieties. These are:
◦ Submergence Tolerant Rice: Swarna Sub-1
(Improved versions released by IRRI Manila). This
variety gives good yield under normal conditions
and can tolerate submergence up to 12-14 days.
◦ Draught Tolerant Rice: Sahabhagi Dhan (IRRI),
Shuska Samrat (NDUAT Faizabad). Required
irrigation is lesser than normal varieties. Stress
causes less damage.

15.  Strong field presence and rapport in last
5 years
 Mobilized community base with greater
degree of mutual respect and Trust
 SHGs - 185
 Village Level Institution (with DMGs) - 30
 Apex Level Federation (Tirahut Vikas Trust) women-1
 Trained Volunteers – 208 (Relief-Rescue, First Aid,
Health Hygiene & Sanitation)
 Peer Educators (HIV/AIDS) –106 (66 female+40 Male)

16.  Sir Dorabjee Tata Trust, Mumbai
 Jamshetji Tata Trust
 Nawajbai Ratan Tata Trust
 Oxfam India
 UNICEF Bihar
 ITC Limited
 CRS Delhi
 International Rice Research Institute.
 Rajendra Agriculture University, PUSA
 ND Agriculture University, Faizabad
 GDS also works through field partners in
Madhubani, Sitamarhi, East Champaran and
West Champaran

17. Thank you