P.Toba in orange saree along with her friend walking in light rain. The lady is carrying water in a can on her head but unlike her from the neighbouring village, women in Jaleripentho village don't have to spend hours filling and carrying water since they receive clean tap water in their homes due to the work of Gram Vikas.<br />
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Gram Vikasâ€™ founders came to Orissa in the early 1970s as student volunteers to serve victims of a devastating cyclone. Their extensive activism and relief work motivated them to form Gram Vikas, which was registered on January 22, 1979, and currently serves more than 3,89,333 people in 1196 habitations of 25 districts in Odisha. According to the census data available (2001) Orissa has a population of close to 37 million, of which 88% live in rural areas. Despite its natural advantages, average per capita income is only 73% of the national average, with 47% of the population, around 17.8 million people, living below the poverty line. Poverty is significantly worse in the western and southern districts of the state, which have a higher proportion of adivasis and dalits. Health and education facilities function poorly, communication and transport are underdeveloped.