Anant S. Makh and Gaurav S. Bhongale completed a three weeks internship visiting seven GRAVIS field centers in remote areas of Jaisalmer and Jodhpur Districts. Keeping in mind their prospective careers as civil engineers, they were especially interested in project sites focusing on water security and agriculture, looking at water harvesting structures and agricultural techniques designed to increase villagers’ draught resistance. At the same time, they were given a comprehensive insight into ground-level development work. Visiting during the height of summer, they experienced firsthand how challenging traveling and working in the Desert can be. Here is their impression on their three weeks of learning through the Thar Desert.
First of all, we would like to thank the whole GRAVIS Team for giving us such an exciting opportunity to experience the Rajasthan culture and to see the work of GRAVIS for the empowerment of poor people. GRAVIS is an integral part of society in the Thar Desert.
When we came to GRAVIS, we first met with Rajendra Kumar, who is a senior programme coordinator at GRAVIS. We were very inspired by his outstanding and humble personality. From him, we learned about the importance of sharing and spreading knowledge freely.
Throughout the internship, we realize that wherever there the influence of GRAVIS reached, the land was transformed from yellow, sandy brown into beautiful greenish farmland. We also felt that the people of GRAVIS give 100 % for society. It is not just an organization; it is the family of thousands, standing with the weak and poor in society and giving them a chance to improve their lives.
For Rajasthani people villagers we want to share one line: “Village people are poor but so rich by heart’’.
Each of GRAVIS members seems very self-dependent. They work from the heart; they were not ashamed of any work. We also liked the holistic approach of GRAVIS. They try to engage the whole community in decision making, planning, and implementation in a wide range of issues and by using different approaches.
After visiting the Rajasthan, we both realized how lucky we are! In our life – food, water, education, clothes, etc., are so easily available to us. But in Rajasthan people are fighting for their most basic needs, and it makes us very humble.
On the last day, we met the most inspiring and grounded personality of GRAVIS, the Executive Director Dr. Prakash Tyagi. All in all, we feel very proud to have been associated with GRAVIS.
Written by Mr. Anant Shrikrishna Makh and Mr. Gaurav Sunil Bhongale. They are third-year students in the Department of Civil Engineering at the College of Engineering in Pune.
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