The Govind Gram Vikas Pratishthan (GOGVIP) was established by Mr. Gulabrao Kale, in August, 1998 in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra.  GOGVIP is non-profit making Non Government Organisation. It is an independent NGO and has a small team based in the field.

The one of the important objectives behind setting up GOGVIP was to make Indian farmers self sufficient through the rural development. Mr. Kale has a strong belief in Mahatma Gandhi and his philosophy about rural development. GOGVIP is rigorously working under the guidance of Mr. Gulabrao Kale in various fields for the social welfare for last nine years to help GOGVIP achieve its objective. In August 2008 GOGVIP will complete its successful ten years.

The journey to GOGVIP today was not an easy one. GOGVIP presently works in 14 talukas of 5 villages in the Ahmednagar district.When GOGVIP started working in Ahmednagar it was difficult convincing the farmers to adopt the suggested measures. The project area is supposedly arid land and therefore, growing crop of any kind is difficult. This, being the main reason for the poverty, of the farmers in the area. Constant counseling and untiring efforts of GOGVIP members lead to the mass plantation of Jatropha in this area. Plantation of Jatropha not only helped to raise the underground water level but also provided for replenishing the soil. In addition to this it has also helped to provide employment to the local farmers and as a share to national development it can also save some amount of cash that goes from the national treasury in buying diesel from other countries.            

Watershed Development Program (WDP) was introduced in the year 2001 under DPAP, in the Parner Taluka, in Ahmednagar. Ten watersheds in five villages are successfully functioning in this district. GOGVIP also has Self Help Groups and Chetna Centers working under its aegis. Study tours are also organized for the villagers. To reiterate the objective and to increase participation GOGVIP also organizes camps and workshops for the villagers.

GOGVIP plans to extend in the field of women and child development, education for all, tribal welfare, development of backwards class and rehabilitation. It plans to have substantive measures in health, such as HIV/ AIDS awareness, leprosy, public health and sanitation. In addition it has also taken initiatives through its programs to help lower the poverty levels by providing opportunities of employment.

Mr. Gulabrao Kale ( Founder & President )

Mr. Gulabrao Maruti Kale, who is the founder and President of Govind Gram Vikas Pratishthan, is a permanent resident of Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra(India) and has been into working for the welfare of the area for last 20 years. Primarily an agriculturist Mr. Kale has been in social work from the early years of his career. He has been the Director of ‘Ahmednagar Agricultural Produce Market Committee’ in 1980. In 1995 he held the office of ‘Siddheshwar Education Society’, Ahmednagar as its General Secretary and was appointed as President of ‘Indian National Trade Union Congress’ (INTUC) for Nagar Taluka, district Ahmednagar in 1997. He worked as Secretary of ‘Unorganized Workers and Farmer Association’ for the Ahmednagar district. Later he was nominated by the state government on ‘APMC’, Ahmednagar in March 2001. Mr. Kale has held important and contributing positions for several schools, organizations and committees. Interested deeply in the roots he did a lot of activities to organize farmers and to help them to be independent. For the same purpose he coordinated farmers at district level in ‘Maharashtra Krishak Samaj’ and ‘Kisan Jagran Manch’.            
            Camps for blood donation, tree plantation and for educating people about family planning and stopping dowry have also been organized under his guidance and leadership. To help curb the literacy drawbacks camps for literacy mission and family planning have also been organized. Sports and cultural competitions are also organized by him several times.

He has also initiated Watershed Development Program, formation of Self-Help Groups (SHG), Chetna Centre and study tours for the farmers under the umbrella of ‘Govind Gramin Vikas Pratishthan’(GOGVIP). GOGVIP has planted more than 20, 00,000 Jatropha with the help of farmers in Ahmednagar district.