Joe Madiath is the Founder and Chairman of Gram Vikas. He has spent over 43 years working in the field of development among the poorest communities in Orissa, India. Drawn to Odisha in 1971 to help communities that had been ravaged by a cyclone and tidal wave, he stayed on as an activist focused on sustainable development. Founded in 1979, Gram Vikas utilizes a holistic model of development, based on Joe’s conviction that every family in a village needs to have healthy living practices for an improved quality of life. Gram Vikas works in the areas of renewable energy, especially biogas and solar energy. Totally inclusive water and sanitation is the flagship programme of Gram Vikas.
