Purvanchal Gramin Seva Samiti (PGSS) was established in the year 1986 under the leadership of Most Rev. Dominic Kokkat, Emeritus Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Gorakhpur. With a humble beginning from a few villages of Deoria district, the organization now makes its presence felt in 53 development blocks in sixteen districts of Eastern Uttar Pradesh. Registered as a non-profitable, apolitical voluntary organization under Societies Registration Act, 1860, the organization is headed by Most Reverend Dr. Matthew Nellikunnel CST, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Gorakhpur as the President of Governing Body. The inclusive and gender-just governing body draws members from the different sectors of the society.

Inspired and ignited by the overwhelming desire for just and thriving communities in the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh, Purvanchal Gramin Seva Samiti (PGSS) was established in the year 1986 under the
leadership of Most Rev. Dominic Kokkat, Emeritus Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Gorakhpur.With a very humble beginning by addressing the issues of maternal & child health, girl child education
and women empowerment in the remotest villages of Desai Deoria Block of Deoria District in Uttar Pradesh, the Organization now makes its presence felt in 1074 villages reaching out to more than 65000 families of eastern Uttar Pradesh covering seven civil districts of Gorakhpur-Basti Divisions. Registered as a non-profitable, apolitical voluntary organization under Societies Registration Act, 1860, the organization is headed by Most Reverend Dr. Matthew Nellikunnel CST, honourable Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Gorakhpur as the President of the Governing Body. The inclusive and gender-just governing body draws members from the different sectors of the society. Since our inception, we have been working for the mainstreaming and empowerment of the marginalized and excluded sections of the society in 07 backwards districts of Gorakhpur-Basti divisions (namely the districts of Doeria, Kushinagar,
Maharajganj, Gorakhpur, Sant Kabir Nagar, Basti and Sidharthnagar).