It is the people who work in the organisation that make Sharana what it is!
Find details of our board and team members in the short descriptions below.
Rajkala Partha is the Founder and President of Sharana. With a Master’s degree in Rural Development and over 35 years of experience in social work, she guides the organisation’s strategic direction, programme implementation, and organisational development
Committed to standing alongside vulnerable communities, she also spearheads fundraising and partnerships, ensuring Sharana’s work remains grounded in dignity, empowerment, and lasting impact.
Dr. Deepa Reddy is a cultural anthropologist at the University of Houston and a long-standing member of Sharana’s Governing Body. She actively contributes to Board deliberations, offers strategic academic insight, and supports content development. She also plays a key role in consolidating Sharana’s Annual Report, ensuring clarity, rigour, and sensitivity in documenting the organisation’s work.
Dr. Nalini Ranganathan is a Professor of Social Work at Pondicherry University and former Head of the Department of Women’s Studies. With deep expertise in child rights, gender, and community development, she mentors Sharana’s social workers on complex cases, leads capacity-building initiatives, and serves as the organisation’s key liaison for research collaborations with universities and institutions in India and abroad.
Venkatrayan Aadhinarayanan is a retired accounting professional and a member of Sharana’s Governing Body. He actively participates in Board meetings and supports the accounts section in the preparation and finalisation of the Association’s annual accounts.
Mr. Murugaiyan serves as Chief Financial Officer of Sharana. With a B.Sc. from Madras University, a B.Ed. from Annamalai University, and over 30 years of experience in the social sector, he oversees all financial operations, ensuring transparency, compliance, and strong financial governance.
Vandana Shah, CEO of Sharana, leads the organisation’s strategic planning, partnerships, programme implementation, and organisational development. Working closely with the Founder and Governing Body, she ensures that Sharana’s vision is translated into meaningful and sustainable impact. She holds a Master’s degree in Sociology from Pondicherry University and has over 12 years of experience in the social development sector.
As Operations Director, Prakash leads the day-to-day operations of Sharana, ensuring programmes are implemented efficiently and organisational processes run seamlessly. Bringing over 13 years of experience and a Master’s degree in Applied Psychology, he oversees operational planning, team coordination, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement to support Sharana’s mission and impact.
- She is Sharana’s Health Worker, overseeing the dispensary at Angalakuppam and coordinating medical and eye camps in the village. She also facilitates referrals to local hospitals, ensuring that community members can access timely and appropriate healthcare.
