Eastern Uttar Pradesh is one of the most backward regions of Uttar Pradesh. Lack of industrialisation, lack of infrastructure and above all lack of entrepreneurship among the residents of this area are some of the reasons poor livelihood base of the area's people. The situation is worsened by recurring floods, which are annual feature in a large part of the area and diminishing agricultural returns.

GSS has since its beginning made efforts to build capacities of the people in various livelihood activities. It provided training to almost 200 youths in screen printing. Many of these youths have set up their screen printing units and grown their business.

To explore food processing and export possibilities, it organised block level seminars in Gorakhpur district.

Self help groups are a good mean towards financial self-reliance of the rural people. A large number of SHGs have been formed under Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana of the Central Government. Building capacity of these groups is necessary to enable them to take up meaningful employment generation activities. GSS provided training to over 3,000 SHG members in two blocks of Maharajganj district.

Recent efforts include promotion of alternative means of livelihood in flood prone areas.

A meeting of self help group in progress