About Us

Our Story

Words are a powerful mode of communication at the same time language is for communication and 10 words echoed in the mind of our founder. Shashank’s journey started as a Fellow with SBI Fellowship placed with Barefoot College Tilonia, Rajasthan. In the initial days of the Fellowship when he was trying to understand how he could make himself useful to the cause he met the community and was trying to understand the ground realities. When he met a woman who said “Agar kuch karna hi hai, to paani ke liye karo” those 10 words etched in his mind and those simple yet powerful words became his motivation to keep going. Post his Fellowship, the urge to do more stayed strong.

This powerful conviction raised curiosity in Shashank to commence an epic journey on his motorcycle, traversing 13 states on a mission he named “Harvesting the Heaven.” He visited villages, schools, NGOs, and civil societies; learning from the wisdom of the community and enforcing the common idea of the importance of rainwater harvesting as one of the solutions to water issues scarcity across geographies. The journey tested him, challenged him, and ultimately shaped his dream: to bring sustainable water management to every corner of the nation. Which led to the birth of GRAM (Groundwater & Reforestation Adaptive Management) Association, 2019 with a simple idea that real change starts within the community.

GRAM started as an organisation focused on water and environment conservation. However, as GRAM grew and its roots deepened within various communities, a vital truth became abundantly clear, the development sector is not a collection of isolated issues, but a cross cutting tapestry. Water scarcity, for instance, isn't just an environmental problem; it impacts women who walk miles to fetch it, children whose education suffers due to waterborne illnesses, and livelihoods dependent on agriculture.

Over the years, as passionate individuals with diverse expertise joined hands with Shashank, GRAM's vision naturally expanded. What started as a dedicated effort in water and environmental conservation has organically evolved into a more holistic approach to community well-being. This growth wasn't a deviation from our core, but rather a realization that true, sustainable impact requires addressing the interconnected needs of a community.

About GRAM logo

This logo visually represents a comprehensive approach to environmental and social sustainability. The four individual icons symbolize key areas: Sustainable Living, Reforestation, Rural Welfare, and Water Conservation. When combined, these elements form a unified emblem, illustrating that these interconnected initiatives contribute to a holistic and thriving future.

Our Team