The United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) congratulates Humphrey alumnus Dr. Prakash Tyagi for being recognized by the International Alliance of Women (TIAW) to receive the “2012 TIAW World of Difference 100 Awards.” TIAW, with its headquarters in Canada, is a growing organization of women’s networks from a multitude of countries on 6 continents representing over 35,000 women worldwide. USIEF nominated Dr. Tyagi for this award to acknowledge his remarkable efforts to advance the economic empowerment of women in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan.

Dr. Tyagi was a Humphrey fellow at the Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana during 2005-2006. After returning from the United States, Dr. Prakash Tyagi assumed responsibility as the Director of Gramin Vikas Vigyan Samiti (GRAVIS, http://www.gravis.org.in) – a not-for-profit organization based in the Thar Desert, Rajasthan. Dr. Tyagi, a medical doctor, has taken a lead role to reach out to over 50,000 pastoral families across 850 villages in Rajasthan. He organized wide range of vocational trainings to impart and increase skill development of women. In 2007, Dr. Tyagi launched a new venture ‘KRIYA’, to develop leadership and income generation capacities of women Self Help Groups (SHGs). The KRIYA project has supported women in the region to establish micro-businesses and provided women SHGs with direct access to local markets. Dr. Tyagi is working tirelessly to provide livelihood options to the women in a region which lacks basic infrastructure in education, health care and economic opportunities. Dr. Tyagi’s innovative microfinance schemes have enabled women SHGs to undertake several activities, such as tailoring, handicrafts and food processing. These initiatives have empowered over 13,000 women to become self-reliant through 1,100 SHGs.

Women at a vocational training camp organized by Gramin Vikas Vigyan Samiti (GRAVIS) in the Thar Desert, Rajasthan