Dr. Sunit Singh and friends founded the organization during 1985-1986. Dr. Singh was a social scientist and professor of Economics at Govind Ballabh Pant Social Science Institute. Died in 2020, he is known for his commendable efforts in the field of rural development in the state of Uttar Pradesh alongside his scholarly works. Particularly in Prayagraj, he has been the one who experimented with rights- based  developmental approach in the form of village organizations. MNREGA and PRIs are his expertise while education and entrepreneurship are his areas of interest. All his efforts on these are evident from PGS activities and success so far. Being a Gandhian, he loved peaceful yet proactive solutions of societal problems and belief on the power of united communities.  One of his exemplary work is a farmer producer company, owned collectively by hundreds of former bonded labourers and small farmers so they can market their organic produce to urban consumers in nearby Prayagraj. “Looking back when Pragati Gramodyog Sansthan (PGS) had started in the field of social development with the vision of ensuring freedom from fear of freedom for achieving a sustainable freedom for the marginalized community; especially the stone-breakers who have been serving as bonded labourers from generation to generation. I am very pleased with the progress we have made and also giving a meaning to life of these people who had not seen what the freedom is. Though we have been facing lot of challenges while carrying out our initiatives but my diligent team members did not look back and worked very hard to achieve each and every task entrusted on them.”