WHO WE ARE
Grassroots Research and Advocacy Movement (GRAAM)
is a development research and public policy engagement initiative (think-and-act tank) in India. GRAAM’s extensive expertise spans over policy research, program evaluation, community engagement, policy engagement, impact consultation and academic engagements. GRAAM works in collaboration with all the four key stakeholders of development i.e. Government, Citizenry, Civil Society Organizations and Corporate. Complementing strengths of each sector is essential to achieve the development goals. GRAAM aims to ensure the ‘voices’ of the communities at the grassroots are significantly accounted for in the process of development.
GRAAM shall advance higher standard of living, civic empowerment, political participation, and social justice by working in the sectors of:
- Learning, Skill development & Livelihoods Health & Wellness
- Governance and Democratization
- Indigenous Community Development
To become the first-choice public policy think-tank in the social sector across India.
- Society first
- Honesty and transparency
- Integrity & Collaboration
- Continuous learning
- Innovation
Mission & Vision
GRAAM shall advance higher standard of living, civic empowerment, political participation, and social justice by working in the sectors of:
- Learning, Skill development & Livelihoods Health & Wellness
- Governance and Democratization
- Indigenous Community Development
To become the first-choice public policy think-tank in the social sector across India.
- Society first
- Honesty and transparency
- Integrity & Collaboration
- Continuous learning
- Innovation
Our Timeline
Sneak Peek of GRAAM & its development
- Universal Career Guidance Policy Engagement through ‘Voice of Student Conference’
- Initiated CSR MEAL certificate program with RV University
- MOU with Manipal (MAHE) University, Chanakya University, ISPP & ISDM for collaborative research & learning activities.
- Tally MSME Honours recognizing WEMILL project.
- Designation as National Coordination organization of G20 C20 DD WG
- Revision of Karnataka Skill Policy 2023-2030
- Extended Research Footprint to 04new states
- Study for National Commission for Scheduled Tribes on FRA & Livelihood
- Demonstrated Jan Bhagidari model in Jharkhand
- GRAAM inked a Statement of Intent with DMEO, NITI Aayog.
- Contributed to national level COVID-19 program
- GRAAM's policy engagement brought advancement in social security pension amount
- GRAAM inputs considered by the education department for the re-opening of schools during the pandemic
- Provided position paper for Vocational Education in Schools as part of the NPE Working Committee
- Museum of democracy for the Election Commission
- Creation of State of the 21st Century Skills Sector Report for UNICEF
- Assessed the implementation of AB- HWCs in 8 states of India
- Secured the first FCRA project and expanded GRAAM's footprint to Jharkhand.
- Entered into MoUs for mutual cooperation in education, training, consultation, research and establish framework for programmes of exchange with:
- Institute of Social and Economic Change (ISEC)
- Centre Food Technical Research Institute (CFTRI)
- Karnataka State Rural Development and Panchayat University (KSRDPU)
- RV University
- Awarded with the Guide Star India Transparency Key
- Listed as the global partner for Fourth Sector Group to collaborate in the process of working towards a for-benefit economy
- MoU with Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini for collaborative research and governance initiatives
- Extended Action Research project- Sugamya Shiksha from 11 Schools to 22 schools in four districts of Karnataka reaching 5000 children.
- MoU with McGill - The Max Bell School of Public Policy.
- Dr R Balasubramaniam delivered a talk 'Governance and Democracy in India' at the international seminar organized by India in Germany (Embassy of India, Berlin) and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).
- Launched 'Children's Parliament', an innovative program bringing all the executive arms of Govt. who matter for school development, and presided by the judiciary in collaboration with Karnataka State Legal Services Authority and District Administration.
- Signed MoU with DSERT, GOK for expanding the reach of Sugamya Shiksha
- Submitted the study report titled 'Roadmap of Social Enterprise ecosystem as a precursor for a viable Social Stock Exchange in India to NABARD, PMO and FMO
- Provided the concept paper for the No School Bag Day initiative of Government of Karnataka which was passed as an order to be practised in government schools of Karnataka.
- Partnered with WHO and expanded GRAAM's reach to Assam and Chattisgarh
- Signed an MoU with Quality Council of India for a capacity development initiative in understanding public policy
- Signed MoU with Mauritius Society Renewal
- Expanded the Action Research project Sugamya Shiksha to four more districts in Karnataka
- Expanded Board of Trustees with inclusion of three new members
- 2014 Authored Vision documents for the Karnataka government's 'Vision Karnataka 2025'
- Barefoot Research Conference, an annual program was launched for the teachers of primary and secondary government schools to present research papers in the presence of policy makers
- Empanelled as domain expert in Corporate Social Responsibility for NFSCR IICA
- Conferred with Global Communication Association's A.P. Chowdappa Memorial Award for recognising GRAAM's policy engagement efforts.
- Launched Workshop in collaboration with Cornell University
- Launched Sugamya Shiksha- an education related action research programme
- Empanelled by 3ie as an associate member
- Empanelled by UNICEF
- Empanelled by Karnataka Evaluation Authority
- Initiated research studies in Telangana
- Advocated successfully to ensure circular by GoK to accommodate Persons with Disabilities in MGNREGA
- Registration of GRAAM as an independent legal entity
- Constitution of Board of Trustees
- Revision of panel of Technical Advisors
- Contributed for State Human Development Reports and Preparation of two District Human Development Reports in Karnataka
- Drafted Policy for procurement of land for residential scheme in Karnataka
- Initiated annual advocacy event 'Ground Realities'
- Invitation to GRAAM Executive Director as a Fellow at EDI - Cornell University
- Initiation of GRAAM 12th Jan “2011’’
- Initiated first state level evaluation study - National Rural Livelihood Mission which subsequently contributed
- Constitution of Advisory Board
- Ventured out of Karnataka, a study on school sanitation in Andhra Pradesh
- Conferred with "2013 South Asia eNGO Challenge Award" by Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) for the use of ICT and digital media for good governance practices GRAAM stood as a winner among 340 NGO contenders across South Asia
- Featured on the cover page of Civil Society Magazine
- Strategic consultations for the Govt-Strategy Focus Document for Karnataka State Rural Livelihood Mission
- Key role in establishing Karnataka Evaluation Authority
- Empanelled for GPSA (Global Platform for Social Accountability), a World Bank initiative.
- Partnership with Cornell University
Our Team
The GRAAM team is enriched with an eclectic mix of dynamic people from diverse disciplines, all united for a common purpose ‘making programs and policies emulate people’s voice’. They all represent jigsaw blocks that GRAAM needs to bring together to further the movement of grassroots development. The team consists of scientists and scholars in the faculties of Public Policy, Development Studies, Political Science, Population Studies, Anthropology and Social Work, Public Health, Education, Development Economics, Statistics and Data Analysts, Human Development and Management.
At the top, we are guided by our Founder Dr. R. Balasubramaniam and Chairman Mr Arjun Ranga, Board of Trustees and Advisory Committee consisting of eminent personalities from varied backgrounds. They lend their experience and expertise in their respective fields as critical inputs to our cause of making development a community movement.
The GRAAM Team led by the Executive Director Dr Basavaraju R Shreshta is composed of dedicated people, again carefully selected with focus on diversity they bring to the table; a characteristic we consider essential to deal with development issues, which is consistent with our belief that development is multi-faceted.
OUR FOUNDER'S BLOG
Trustees
GRAAM would like to acknowledge with gratitude the support and contribution of a number of individuals and institutions that have helped it grow over the past year and with their continued support GRAAM can stride ahead with confidence. In alignment with our philosophy, we have engaged with institutions from different sectors – academic, government, NGO, private sector and, most importantly, communities.
She is a Member – Board of Directors at Tata AIG General Insurance Co. Ltd & Member of Audit Committee at Tata AIG....
She is currently working as a Professor in the Department of Pain and Palliative Medicine...
Tara Appachu Sharma is a successful strategic development professional with over 28 years of experience and a track record of leading, managing and...
Dr. Prakash Nair is a Leadership Development and Human Resource professional, and currently runs his own independent practice, Axon Consulting, based
Mr. Arjun Ranga is the Managing Director of M/s. N Ranga Rao and Sons Pvt Ltd, the makers of ‘Cycle Pure Agarbathies’. He has done his Bachelor of Engineering
Mr. J. Purushotham had been to Cornell University, US on an invitation to deliver a lecture on Labour Laws. Apart from his legal and academic career,
Dr R. Balasubramaniam (Balu) is a development activist, social innovator, writer and a leadership trainer.He is a medical doctor by training, with specialization in Public administration from Harvard University.
Advisory Team
GRAAM would like to acknowledge with gratitude the support and contribution of a number of individuals and institutions that have helped it grow over the past year and with their continued support GRAAM can stride ahead with confidence. In alignment with our philosophy, we have engaged with institutions from different sectors – academic, government, NGO, private sector and, most importantly, communities.
