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Board of Trustees
Our Board of Trustees is made up of passionate and knowledgeable individuals devoted to the well-being and advancement of tribal communities. With expertise in various critical sectors such as education, health, environmental protection, and women empowerment, they work collectively to create impactful and sustainable solutions. Their commitment ensures that every initiative we undertake is thoughtfully designed and effectively implemented, fostering long-term growth, resilience, and empowerment within the communities we serve.
Executive Committee
T. Kannan
President
Served as District Coordinator for MMSSS for over 20 years, focusing on Dalit community upliftment. In 2015, he founded SWEET Trust to support marginalized communities. Since 2017, he has been the President of ARUDECS, leading tribal development initiatives.
R. Raja
Secretary & Executive Director
Mr. Raja, a Social Work graduate, founded ARUDECS in 1999 to support tribal communities. He has worked on organic farming, climate change, and tribal rights advocacy with organizations like PEAL and Ekta Perished. He remains committed to empowering marginalized Scheduled Tribes in Theni District and is a founding member of CAFAT.
M. Chandrasekar
Treasurer
Mr. Chandrasekar, a Diploma holder specialized in photography, is an organic farming enthusiast in Bodinayakanur, Theni District. He has served as Treasurer of ARUDECS since 2015 and mentors local youth in photography. He also volunteers in ARUDECS’ tribal development initiatives, offering support and guidance.
S. Subramaniam Siva
EC Member
S. Maheswari
EC Member
Mrs. Maheswari, a development worker since 1999, worked with AWARD Trust for over a decade, empowering rural women in Theni District. She founded RDSS Trust in 2010 and serves as its Director, implementing welfare programs for rural women through Self-Help Groups. Since 2015, she has been a Board Member of ARUDECS, supporting tribal development programs.
P Krishnamurthi
EC Member
Mr. Krishnamurthi, a graduate in Agriculture and post-graduate in Psychology, worked for two decades with DHAN Foundation as Programme Leader, promoting communication for policy advocacy in areas like water, agriculture, and women empowerment. He has produced reports, audio-visual content, and established community radio stations for women and farmers. Currently, he is the Programme Director of Kalasam Livelihood Academy at CCD, Madurai.
R. Adhinarayanan
EC Member
Mr. Adhinarayanan, a graduate in Agriculture and a post-graduate in Environmental Science, began his career as an Agronomist at the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation. He spent over 20 years at DHAN Foundation as a Programme Leader, coordinating water conservation efforts and designing tank-based watershed development programs for the Andhra Pradesh Government. He also led climate change adaptation initiatives and the Agricultural Bio-diversity Community and served as Project Leader at PRADAN for community-based tank restoration in Tamil Nadu.