About Sharana
Board & Team

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.

Board
Alo Sud
born 1972, Treasurer
at Sharana since 2015
  1. She is the treasurer of Sharana, a teacher and a current affairs enthusiast.
  2. She works closely with the donors of the organisation and also supports in the report-writing aspects of the on-going programs.
Dr Deepa Reddy
born 1972, Governing Body Member
at Sharana since 2012

She is a cultural anthropologist with the University of Houston and a member of the Governing Body, she participates in annual meetings of the board.

She also supports in several content writing tasks and in the consolidating of the annual report every year.

Dr Nalini Ranganathan
born 1967, Governing Body Member
at Sharana since 2015

Dr Nalini is a professor in the Pondicherry University, department of Social Work and head of Department of Women’s Studies- she works with the social workers, and helps them with difficult cases on the field. She also trains the social workers on acquiring various skills sets.

She is Sharana’s liaison for all research related programs with organisations and universities in India and abroad as well.

Murugan Sundarrassu
born 1968, Governing Body Member
at Sharana since 2012

He is a translator in the law department in Pondicherry Government and a member of the Governing Body. He participates in annual meetings of the board.

Rajkala Partha
born 1969, Founder/President
at Sharana since 2000

Rajkala is the founder and president of Sharana.

She has a masters degree in rural development and over 25 years of experience on the field.

She is presently in charge of all the activities and responsible for fundraising for all of Sharana’s programmes.

Sasi Somu
born 1966, Governing Body Member
at Sharana since 2012
  1. He is an Entrepreneur and member of the Governing Body.
  2. He participates in annual meetings of the board and is responsible for the orientation of foreign volunteers to the organisation.
Venkatrayan Aadhinarayanan
born 1961, Governing Body Member
at Sharana since 2012

He is an accountant employed at the Pondicherry Co-operative Sugar Mill. Ltd. Lingareddipalayam, Puducherry. and a member of the Governing Body. He participates in annual meetings of the board.

He assists Mr Murugaiyan in finalising the annual accounts of the association

 

Team
Aditi Mandali
born 2001, Communication Intern
at Sharana since 2024

Aditi works with the Operations Director  to oversee all reports and social media updates of Sharana. Additionally, she supports the organization’s ongoing projects in partnership with the French Consulate.

Anbazhagan Jayaraman
born 1978, Programme Manager
at Sharana since 2012

Anbazhagan is the Programme Manager of the Back to School program as well as the Community Development programs.

 

Bhavani Sambath
born 1993, Social Worker
at Sharana since 2013

Bhavani supports Anbu in the Seeds of Change- awareness through sports and games program.

Chandra Pazhaniraja
born 1981, Sanitary Assistant
at Sharana since 2019

Chandra helps with maintaining cleanliness of the premises.

Chandru Sendirassegarane
born 1995, Social worker
at Sharana since 2018

works as a social worker in the street and slum children program.

Ganga Mayavan
born 1991, Care taker
at Sharana since 2016

Ganga helps as a caretaker with the street and slum children, at the Gayatri House and also in the Evening homework help centre.

Gerard Susaimariyanathan
born 1974, Programme Assistant
at Sharana since 2000

With Sharana since its inception, Gerard is Sharana’s go-to person: office assistant, all-round handyman, and de facto social worker when necessary.

Govindammal Segar
born 1969, Creche Attender
at Sharana since 2002

Govindammal is working as a caretaker in the Angalakuppam creche since its inception in 2002, she also takes care of the maintenance of the premises.

I. Kalaivani
born 1986, Tuition Teacher
at Sharana since 2023

Kalaivani is a tuition teacher at our Evening Homework Help Centre, based at our Social Centre.

K. Kalaimathi
born 1995, Account Assistant
at Sharana since 2023

Kalaimathi assits in managing the accounts of the organisation, and helps Kaladevi maintain administrative files of the staff

Kaladevi Moorthee
born 1977, Cashier/ Account assistant
at Sharana since 2002

Kaladevi assists in managing the accounts of the organisation, she also helps maintain the administrative files of the staff.

Lakshmi Gnanapragasam
born 1982, Health worker
at Sharana since 2002

Lakshmi is the official health worker of the organisation.

She runs the dispensary at Angalakuppam, assists in coordinating medical and eye camps held at the village, and provides referral services so that villagers in need of care can obtain treatment at local hospitals.

She also does regular check ups of the children in the street and slum children centre.

M. Anitha
born 1994, Tuition Teacher
at Sharana since 2024

Anitha is a tuition teacher at our Evening Homework Help Centre, based at our Social Centre.

Manuel Theremand
born 1980, Programme Manager
at Sharana since 2012

Manuel is a Programme Manager in the vulnerable children’s program.

He is also the Art Therapist and the Child Protection Officer of the organisation.

Murugaiyan Masilamani
born 1966, Chief Finance Officer
at Sharana since 2000

Mr Murugaiyan is the CFO of the organisation. With a B.Sc. from Madras University, a B.Ed. from Annamalai University and 25 years of experience working with social organizations, Mr. Murugaiyan manages the finances of the organisation.

 

Nadhiya Raman
born 1986, Care Taker
at Sharana since 2023

Nadhiya manages the cleanliness of the building and assists with snack distribution for all the tuition children in the evening.

Nithya Ezhumalai
born 1997, Receptionist.
at Sharana since 2024

Nithya is working with us since July 2024 as a receptionist

Pandiyan Arumugam
born 1980, Driver
at Sharana since 2015

Pandiyan drives the bus in the street and slum children programs, at the Gayatri House.

Ponni Gunasekar
born 1975, Creche Cook
at Sharana since 2002

Ponni has been responsible for the Angalakuppam kitchen since the building was established in 2002. She makes the daily lunches and snacks for the creche children.

Prakash Arumugam
born 1983, Programme Manager
at Sharana since 2013

Prakash is a Programme Manager with the Women’s Social Entrepreneurship Programme.

He is also responsible for the Administration and Liason work at Sharana.

Rajalakshmi Ranjithkumar
born 1990, Sanitary Assistant
at Sharana since 2019

Rajalakshmi helps with maintaining cleanliness of the premises.

Rany Dominic
born 1968, Preschool Teacher
at Sharana since 2012

Rany is a preschool teacher with the Gayatri House Preschool program.

Ravi Anand Subramaniam
born 1968, Programme Manager
at Sharana since 2012

Ravi Anand is the Programme Manager of the Back to School program.

Ravichandran Kathavarayan
born 1971, Driver
at Sharana since 2011

Ravi drives Sharana’s vehicles.

Sahayam
born 1993, Care Taker
at Sharana since 2024

Sahayam assists with snack distribution for the Digital Lab students and the Drop-in Centre. She also helps prepare the mid-day meals Sharana provides to their Drop-in Centre children and Children that come for Holiday Camps, working alongside Chandra.

Sivagnanasoundhari Kumar
born 1986, Social worker
at Sharana since 2019

works as a social worker in the organisation.

Sophia Mary
born 1982, Tuition Teacher
at Sharana since 2022

Sophia is a tuition teacher at our Evening Homework Help Centre, which operates within our Social Centre.

Tamil Selvi Muthuvel
born 1982, Creche Teacher
at Sharana since 2002

Tamil Selvi has been the Angalakuppam creche teacher since 2002.

U. Sathya
born 1986, Tuition Teacher
at Sharana since 2022

Sathya is a tuition teacher at our Evening Homework Help Centre, which operates within our Social Centre.

Vadivu Rajendiran
born 1979, Social Worker
at Sharana since 2013

Vadivu is a Social worker with the street and slum programs.

Her strength lies in outreach work with the families and especially the women in the communities.

Vandana Shah
born 1985, Director- Operations
at Sharana since 2013

Vandana is the Director of Operations- she manages and oversees the activities and programs of Sharana. She regularly visits and streamlines the work with the social workers in the field. She has done her Masters in Sociology from the Pondicherry University.

Vijayalakshmi Sarathkumar
born 1992, Social Worker
at Sharana since 2013

Vijayalakshmi works as a social worker in the street and slum children program. She also works as an ad-hoc receptionist when required.

Y. Anbarasi
born 1982, Care Taker
at Sharana since 2023

Anbarasi manages the cleanliness of the building and assists with snack distribution for all the tuition children in the evening.

You can contribute!
Volunteer

Sharana receives several volunteers every year, particularly from Europe and the United States. Volunteers bring new energy and skill-sets to the organization, along with stories and experiences from other parts of the world.

 
Learn more about Sharana:
Board & Team
Publications
Supporters & Partners
Learn more about our programs:
Back to school
Village Crèche
Women’s Empowerment