Partner with US
Grameena Abhivruddi Matthu Adhyayana Kendra, better known by its acronym GRAMA, is a not-for-profit Non-governmental Organisation (NGO) working in the development sector since its inception in 1989 by empowerment of rural women and structural alleviation of poverty in rural areas by building People’s Institutions.
Chief Functionary
Mr D M Sridhar, MA,.LLB,. A distinguished bureaucrat served as Additional Commissioner of Commercial Taxes from GOK. He has been associated with GRAMA since its inception and has been supporting the organisation in policy framing and steering the day-to-day operations.
Joined Commercial Tax Department in 1980 and held important positions in the Legal, Enforcement, Vigilance and the Industrial Policy Divisions before retiring from service as Addl.Commissioner of Commercial Taxes (Policy and Law) in February 2015. Member of Committee formed by the Government to prepare a training module for the Commercial Taxes Department to be used by Fiscal Policy Institute, Bangalore (2013-14) Member of Value Added Tax Cell to implement KVAT Act 2003 in Karnataka State (2002-2005).
Took active interest in development related issues and associated with GRAMA since its inception in 1989. Visited USA and The Netherlands as a personal visit as well as exposure to NOVIB (an International Development Organisation). Visited Bangladesh to study Developmental Organizations such as BRAC and Proshika. Attended Social Security Conference representing GRAMA in Berlin during January 2007 as a delegate.
Served as Treasurer in Association For Mentally Challenged (AMC-2016-19), Bangalore and as a member of Internal Complaints Committee(ICC-2016-20) at Christ University, Bangalore. Also was on the Board of Management Committee as Treasurer in Basava Samithi, a Social-Religious reformist organisation (2016-2021)
Trustee
Mrs. Saroj Rao is a B.Sc/B.Ed and has done Pre-Primary Teachers Training (PPTT). In addition she has also undergone the Instructor Training Program conducted by Karnataka Parents Association for Mentally Retarded Citizens (KPAMRC). She has 30 years of experience in the field of Education. She has worked with esteemed institutions in India and abroad, with children of age groups from 5 years to 16 years. She was the NRI Coordinator and Counselor for the students from abroad at Jain International Residential School, Bangalore. She proudly admits that was the most challenging assignment in her career, as she had to be the foster parent for the students from all over the world away from home. She is the Mentor of a preschool "Nakshatra-Early School for Twinklers" in Davangere and runs a library at her residential complex to encourage and inculcate in children the habit of reading.
She has huge respect towards Indian Culture. Hence, organises various cultural activities for the children and parents at her Residential Complex. She is a resource person at People First Leadership Academy, which caters to School curriculum and Teachers' training programs. She supports teachers through her ideas and Personality Development Programs online. She has written an article on “Importance of Preschool Education” for Mentor Magazine published by LXL ideas, Bangalore. Another article on “Do Schools Need to Translate Their Teaching Philosophy to Parents?” is yet to be published in Mentor Magazine She is passionate to be of help to women,educators, parents and children as she believes that “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” ― Malcolm.
Trustee
Dr.Majan Mulla M.A.Ph.D.
She is a retired Professor of German from Karnatak University, Dharwad. She served the University for 39 years in different capacities, as
1. Chairperson, Department of Studies in Foreign Languages, Karnatak University for 10 years.
2. Dean, Faculty of Arts, KUD
3. International Students’ Advisor,
4. Chairperson, Committee for Women against Sexual Harassment at Workplace
5. Member, Cell for Women’s Studies
6. Chairperson for 59 different Committees of the University.
7. Member of Syndicate and Academic Council of Karnataka University, Dharwad
8. Member, Board of Appointments for Central University for English & Foreign Languages, Hyderabad.
9. In-Charge Registrar, Karnatak University, Dharwad.
She had an illustrious academic career. National Merit Scholarship Holder, 5th Rank at P.U.C, 1st person to do B.A and M.A in German from Karnataka.
Her Ph.D thesis was on “ Comparative Study of Folktales in Kannada and Grimm’s German Fairytales”. This thesis written in German won the prestigious “Lutz Roerich International Award” in Germany in 1994 for being the best thesis on Folk-literature. She is the first Indian and the first woman to win this prize.
She has attended several seminars and conferences in India and abroad, published 14 research articles in national and international Journals.
She has been the Trust Board Member of GRAMA since its inception. She is involved in women’s economic and social upliftment through education, health-care, self-reliance etc. After her voluntary retirement in 2011, she spends most of her time along with her husband with her children’s families in India and England. Her hobbies include travelling, cooking, giving tuition to poor children , teaching illiterate maids to read and write.
Trustee
Dr. R. Shankar worked in the Marine Geology Faculty of Mangalore University for 37 years and retired in 2017. He is an M. Sc. and a Ph. D. from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. He was awarded the INSTITUTE MEDAL and the INSTITUTE NOTIONAL PRIZE for securing FIRST RANK in M. Sc. He is the recipient of the National Mineral Award (Government of India), the Sir C. V. Raman Award (Government of Karnataka), and the Young Scientist Award. He was a Commonwealth Fellow at Edinburgh University, Scotland. He has held important positions: Chair, International Geoscience Education Organisation; Chair, Advisory and Examination Boards and Member, Syllabus Commission for the International Earth Science Olympiad; Member and Newsletter Editor, International Union of Geological Sciences’ (IUGS) Commission on Geoscience Education and Training; Foreign Secretary, Geological Society of India.
Presently, he is Member, IUGS Commission on Education, Outreach & Technology Transfer (COGE) and holds other positions. He is Founder Research Co-ordinator, Ocean Science & Technology Cell established at Mangalore University by the Government of India. He has published > 75 research papers in peer-reviewed journals. He has visited 26 countries across six continents for research, training and Earth Science Olympiad-related activities. His research interests are: Past climate, Past oceanography, Environmental magnetism and Marine geochemistry. He has a flair for Earth Science education and popularization.
Trustee
Chandan is a Lead Solution Engineer @ Salesforce.com the world’s #1 CX Platform & Salesforce.com. Trainer @ #Tech4Good. Chandan is a focused, solution and outcome orientated professional. Capable of consolidating multiple inputs and perspectives he works collaboratively to drive results. Understand the in's and out's of the tech environment and who is not afraid to challenge us and guide us in the right direction. Chandan supports GRAMA in remote tracking and monitoring of on field activities and to effectively leverage captured data for continuous and efficient process improvement. Working to introduce transparency and on time reporting with feedback to the key stakeholders and gather data centrally for effective actionable insights to support the last mile transactions for the farmers.
Invitee
Ramana (68) has a BSc in Chemistry from University of Madras (Alma Mater - Loyola College)(1972) and an MBA from BITS, Pilani (1974). He is a Fellow Member of Institute of Directors, New Delhi. After a professional career spread over 34 years in Marketing (with GTC Industries, WIPRO Ltd) and Advertising (MAA Communications), Ramana set up his own Consulting Office in 2008 with blue chip clients. Ramana retired in 2014 and took up mentoring two start-ups, both of whom are now in a league of their own.
Invitee
A driven and resourceful mental health professional with over 15 years work experience as a Psychotherapist. Taught at College for Leadership and Human Resource Development, Mangalore, for 7 years. Worked as a Facilitator in conducting training programmes in Human Resource Development in various institutions and for different groups of professionals. Conceptualised, started and successfully helmed CANCERVICE, a charitable trust actively involved in mobilizing funds for children with cancer, for 15 years . Served as the President of Lioness Club of Mangalore and conducted social and cultural activities. Presently, works with Panchee Foundation – A registered trust that provides loans to marginalized rural women for micro-enterprises through NGO partners.
Late Mrs Indira Sridhar has a BSc. in Mathematics and Law degree from Bangalore University. She has specialised in monitoring Financial products in the stock market. Her legal background has been useful to GRAMA in taking appropriate decisions including staff recruitment, Service Contract Agreements and MOUs.
Dr Rajashekar is currently Director of ISEC, he was HAG Professor at the Centre for Decentralisation and Development at the Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bengaluru, India. He has worked extensively on decentralisation, delivery of public services, social protection, microfinance and local organisations. He has published 29 books/ monographs, and over 100 papers in various journals, as book chapters and working papers. He has served in policy bodies constituted by the governments of India and Karnataka.
Currently works as a Professor and Dean at the School of Social Sciences, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru, India. Anitha does research in Teacher Education, Education of the gifted and talented, women in STEM disciplines, Higher education, vocational education and Science Education. Their current project is 'Developing an identification protocol and mentoring model for gifted children in India'.
Was practitioner and promoter of indigenous medicine
Administrator and Educationist
Co-Ordinator Projects
Experience in financial management and general adminstration over 30+ years.
Project Co-Ordintor
He has 20+ years of experience in natural resource management and presently Team Leader for Katavanahally Tribal Development Project.
Project Co-Ordintor
Post Graduate in Mathematics. He has 20 years of experience in government projects and NABARD support projects for Women empowerment, Natural Resource Managemnt and Information Education.
Senior Consultant
Experience in Modern agricultural practices and organic farming.
| PROJECT | BENEFICIARIES |
|---|---|
| INSTITUTION BUILDING | 36787 |
| NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT | 15530 |
| MICRO FINANCE | 8620 |
| INFORMAL EDUCATION | 142 |
| HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT | 34716 |
| TOTAL | 95796 |
We, at GRAMA, thank you for offering to partner with us. Partnering with us gives you an unique opportunity to engage in a holistic transformation of womenfolk in rural Chitradurga district. With our interventions spread across Natural Resources Management, Water conservation & Watershed Management, Organic Farming, Informal Education Program and Financial Inclusion leading to Economic Development, you are sure to find synergy with your personal or CSR strategy. Believe in us and our goal to transform rural lives! Please take a minute to fill up the form below and we shall get back to you with a detailed Project Report, for some of the activities listed below, prepared by graduate students in the MBA program of S P Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai, at the earliest.
| Activity | Budget (tentative) |
|---|---|
| Natural Resources Management | Rs 12 lakhs for 50 acres |
| Watershed Management | Rs 15 lakhs for 45 village bunds |
| Organic Farming | Rs 10 lakh for 20 acres |
| Informal Education Program | Rs 10 lakhs for 3 years for 240 students |
| Skill Development Program | Rs 5 lakhs for a batch of 50 women |
| Financial Inclusion | GRAMA facilitates Banks/Trusts/MFIs to deploy upto Rs 10 crores revolving credit at attractive interest rates. |