Samruddhi Foundation is a secular and non-profit trust created by a group of people with a dream of making this world a better place to live.
Our mission is to build capacities of individuals and groups deprived of resources required for leading empowered lives. Samruddhi Foundation functions as a centre for knowledge building, training and dissemination of information on issues of equity, social justice, and sustainable development with stakeholders such as communities, civil society/advocacy groups and policy makers.
SAMRUDDHI TEAM
Prof. R. Indira
R Indira, President of Samruddhi Foundation was formerly Chairperson of the Department of Sociology, Honorary Director, Centre for Women’s Studies, and Director of the International Center at the University of Mysore. A teacher, researcher, writer, and activist, in her university career spanning four decades she has lectured and written extensively on gender issues, girls’ education, and people-centric forest management. Indira has been a Fulbright Scholar twice, Shastri Fellow four times, and has also received a Senior Fellowship from the Indian Council of Social Science Research. She is closely associated with many national and state-level academic committees, professional bodies, and civil society groups. Her writings have been published as books, book chapters, columns, and journal articles. Dr. Indira is currently Visiting Professor, Dr. B.R.Ambedkar Chair at the University of Mysore.
Prof. R. Indira
R. Indira can be contacted at ramaraoindira@gmail.com +91-94480 51680
S K Lakshminarayana
S K Lakshminarayana, Vice - President of Samruddhi Foundation is a promoter of arts and a sports enthusiast. Popularly known as Babu, S K Lakshminarayana is an entrepreneur in IT-based printing. He is proactive in the cultural world of Mysuru as an organizer of classical music events and has created a number of opportunities for young artistes to showcase their talents. As an institution builder and promoter of young musical talent, Lakshminarayana has a vibrant network with artistes and institutions engaged in the conservation of performing arts all over the country. He was also actively involved in projects fostering academic collaborations between universities abroad and India by facilitating student and faculty exchange programmes when he was the Secretary of the National Institute of Engineering, Mysuru. The areas of his special focus are renewable energy and sustainable environment management.
S K Lakshminarayana can be contacted at babureadyprint@gmail.com
Dr. Shanthi. G
Shanthi, Secretary of Samruddhi Foundation is a Ph.D in Sociology from the University of Mysore. A proactive teacher who combines academics with activism, Shanthi has been teaching courses on social development, gender and third sector to university students for nearly two decades. She has worked with action oriented research projects addressing issues of gender equity, sustainable livelihoods, traditional health care practices and survival strategies of forest dependent communities. Shanthi who is actively involved in the autonomous women’s movement has wide experience in mobilizing rural and tribal women, students and members of civil society groups to campaign for their rights. Shanthi has been coordinating, designing and teaching Study-India Programs for international students, and supervising field based research. She was the General Secretary of Alumni Association, Department of Sociology, University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, Mysore
Shanthi G can be contacted at shanthi.vg@gmail.com +91-99012 61481
Dr.G Shanthi
Dr. Jayanand Derekar
Jayanand Derekar, Treasurer of Samruddhi Foundation grew up among the forests and hills of Western Ghats and has a profound knowledge of the rich biodiversity of the region and the changes that are occurring in the socio-cultural life of forest dependent communities. With masters & doctoral degrees in Sociology, he has gained wide experience in participatory research methodologies by associating himself with projects focusing on biodiversity and land use mapping, forest conservation, empowerment of women in forest communities, eco-tourism and preservation of indigenous knowledge. Jayanand has been awarded Ph.D for his thesis on Sociological Insights into People’s Participation in Forestry Programmes: A Study in Uttara Kannada District in the year 2018.
Jayanand Derekar can be contacted at jayanandderekar@rediffmail.com
Dr. Pushpa Kuttanna
Dr. Pushpa Kuttanna is a sociologist by education and training and, sportsperson who has played national and international Basketball events. She was the first woman from South India to represent India in Basketball and had captained Karnataka State Teams in Basketball Championships. She is an educational administrator and an eco-rights activist. After completing her schooling in Kodagu, she obtained her undergraduate, postgraduate, and Ph. D degrees from the University of Mysore. Dr. Pushpa was Principal of Field Marshal K M Cariappa College, Madikeri, Member of the Syndicate of Mangalore University, and Governing bodies of academic and sports institutions. She has received recognition and awards for her contributions to academic and sports fields, and also for her community engagement.
Dr. Kavya C N
Dr. Kavya C N is faculty at the Department of Sociology, Government First Grade College,Kaladgi, Bagalkot District. She obtained her undergraduate, postgraduate degrees from the University of Mysore, and Ph.D from Kuvempu University. An academic topper who has received medals, Dr. Kavya has participated in many capacity-building programmes, conferences both as a resource person and trainee, and published in national and international journals, Kavya holds an NCC ‘C’ certificate, has served NSS in different capacities, and is active in sports and cultural fields.
Dr. Kavya C N
Dr. Shruti I L
Shruti I L one of the founder trustees of Samruddhi Foundation is a media professional who specializes in print and electronic journalism. She has been writing on issues of gender, health, wholesome entertainment and social impact of media. Shruti has been writing scripts for documentaries with social orientation and documenting the experiences of proactive research initiatives through newsletters and other write ups. Herself an amateur theatre artiste, Shruti has acted in plays and movies focusing mainly on the hopes and frustrations of youth. She has been awarded Ph.D by the University of Mysore for her thesis on the role of media in empowering women in institutions of governance with a special thrust on rural local self-government. Shruti has established her own Production House called Sil Studios that makes Documentaries, Video productions and Web Series
Shruti IL can be contacted at shrutiorama@gmail.com
Aalaap I L
Aalaap I L , one of the founder trustees of Samruddhi Foundation is an engineering graduate, a Professional Golfer. He got interested in issues of social concern at a young age and has dreams of working with marginalized groups in their struggles for securing their entitlements. He has been playing golf since the age of 8 and is especially committed to helping deserving young sports talent from rural and economically disadvantaged groups by generating resources for realizing their sports dreams. Aalaap and his friends are networking with individuals and institutions to support this cause. He has represented India in International Golf Championships held at Thailand, Mexico and South Africa.
Aalaap I L can be contacted at aalaap_911@yahoo.co.in
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