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One was a teacher in a Government school and the other a mechanical engineer.  But both had the same dream of Gandhian development of villages with self-reliance and collectivism as its hallmarks.  So in 1999, K.C.Jose and T.D.Sabu started Gramaniketan, the organization dedicated to achieve the above ideals through wholesome and medicinal food.

Since then they have come a long way.  For the organisation that started with a single gas stove and a frying pan, has grown in strength to touch the lives of 1½-lakh women directly now.

Structurally, the organization is built up of about 50 academies.  These academies can be defined as big kitchens.  The women in the academy are divided into units of 10-12 members.  Each unit is entrusted with the task of producing an item.  They develop the recipe, prepare the item and pack it.  The members of Gramaniketan buy these items and use them in their daily lives.  Thus they experience and then promote the products.

Based on the job done by them, the women are assured of remuneration too.  And once a week, they meet together to keep up the sense of unity.  About 30 products manufactured in the academies include food items, health food, oils, tooth powder, face cream, ‘vegetarian’ soaps etc.

The organization helps the women to discover themselves and develop their potentials.  In addition to self development, it ensures economic security also.

2 years after starting Gramaniketan, Jose resigned from Ilanthoor Vocational Higher Secondary School where he was a teacher.  Though Sabu had learned mechanical engineering, his heart was in social work.  His involvement in an NGO dealing in micro-financing taught him how to model their organization in a different mould.  His knowledge of traditional healing too helped matters.

However, they give credit to the selfless work of the 'mothers' for the success of the organization.

Courtesy: Binoy K.Elias, Vanitha, July 1-14, 2005
Contributed by: Administrator 

"Prosperity makes friends and adversity tries them."