Kumarswamy, the Head of Fundraising at Samarthanam organization is a seasoned fundraising professional with over 13 years of experience in the non-profit sector. Hailing from a corporate background, Kumar has a rich experience in networking, fundraising, and corporate relations.
Kumar is an articulate, dedicated, composed, and industrious individual whose fundraising ability has been a pillar of support to Samarthanam. He is famously called the ideal manager at Samarthanam for his analytical but amicable approach. His commitment is largely appreciated, and his vivid leadership skills help in incorporating orderliness in the organization’s structure and operations.
Kumar is known for his warm and engaging personality, always wearing a smile on his face. He possesses strong communication skills, both written and verbal, which enable him to articulate Samarthanam’s mission and goals to potential donors and sponsors. His proactive approach and strategic thinking have enabled him to build strong relationships with donors and partners, leading to sustainable and impactful fundraising campaigns.
As the Head of Fundraising, Kumar is responsible for developing and implementing fundraising strategies that support Samarthanam’s mission to create an inclusive society where people with disabilities can lead fulfilling lives. He leads a team of dedicated fundraising professionals who work tirelessly to ensure our programs and services reach those who need them the most.
Kumar is results-oriented and motivates his team to achieve fundraising targets and hold them accountable for meeting them. He is also a collaborative leader, working effectively with other departments within the organization, such as marketing and finance, to ensure that fundraising campaigns are aligned with the overall organizational strategy.
Kumar’s creativity is a key asset that enables him to develop innovative fundraising ideas and campaigns that capture the attention of potential donors and sponsors. His approach is always based on integrity, ensuring that all fundraising activities are conducted in an ethical and transparent manner.
We are proud to have Kumar leading our fundraising efforts and contributing to Samarthanam’s success. His passion for social causes and commitment to excellence have been instrumental in our organization’s growth and impact. Please feel free to connect with him ona
LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kumaraswamy-cr-2409371b
or drop an email to kumar@samarthanam.org to learn more about his work and the Samarthanam organization.

Mallikarjungouda is the Head of HR at Samarthanam, an organization he has been a part of for over twelve years. He is a dynamic and proactive leader who is passionate about promoting a positive and inclusive work culture. Mallikarjun is highly regarded for his impartiality and fairness in dealing with employees, and his commitment to creating a work environment that values diversity and encourages collaboration. His leadership style is focused on empowering employees to reach their full potential and contribute their best work towards the organization’s mission.
As the Head of HR, Mallikarjun is instrumental in developing and implementing HR policies and practices that support the professional development and well-being of Samarthanam’s employees. He is actively involved in promoting employee engagement, recognition, and retention initiatives. Mallikarjun’s dedication to creating a positive work culture has been a significant factor in Samarthanam’s growth and impact.
Mallikarjun leads the HR team at Samarthanam, which provides support across all centres pan India. He is a passionate individual who has been involved in social work for over a decade, working for organizations that serve society. Since 2010, Mallikarjun has been leading Samarthanam’s HR vertical, where he has restructured many processes for effectiveness and efficiency in operations. He also counsels and mentors individuals, both disabled and non-disabled, who are employed at Samarthanam.
Mallikarjun and his team present a work-friendly, inclusive, and stress-free ambiance and work experience for Samarthanam employees. The qualities of endurance, expertise, diligence, speed, and hard work help him manoeuvre the operations of such a mammoth organization. Samarthanam is proud to have Mallikarjun leading its HR team and contributing to its success. To learn more about Mallikarjun’s work and the Samarthanam organization, please feel free to connect with him on
LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/public-profile/settings?trk=d_flagship3_profile_self_view_public_profile
or drop an email to
mallikarjun@samarthanam.org.

Anjanappa Muthappa is the Accounts Lead at Samarthanam Trust, where he brings over 24 years of experience as an expert Tax Consultant and Auditor who has worked with over 80 NGOs.
Anjanappa is not only skilled in manoeuvring the organization’s finances but also takes an active role in training the team in understanding accounts and bookkeeping.
Anjanappa’s analytical thinking, communication skills, leadership, and problem-solving qualities make him the ideal lead, providing strategic and financial recommendations as needed by the organization. His financial planning competence is a significant asset that strengthens Samarthanam Trust’s ability to achieve its vision and mission.
Under Anjanappa’s leadership, Samarthanam Trust has made significant strides in achieving financial stability and growth. His expertise in financial planning and management has played a crucial role in helping the organization achieve its financial goals.
Samarthanam Trust has experienced a substantial increase in turnover and profitability, thanks to Anjanappa’s effective management of the organization’s finances, ensuring the efficient planning and operation of budgeting, forecasting, and negotiations. His ability to introduce guiding principles that promote transparency and accountability has also helped to increase donor trust and support, leading to further growth and success for the organization. Anjanappa’s dedication and commitment to excellence have undoubtedly contributed to Samarthanam Trust’s position as a leader in the non-profits sector.

Shivaram S Deshpande is the Head of Operations at Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled and is a committed professional with a passion for disability-inclusive development and rights. He has a Master’s degree in Sociology, a PGD in HRM, and a specialization in Basic Development Therapy for Neurological Disabilities, particularly Cerebral Palsy. He also received training on Community Based Inclusive Development (CBID) and has worked in the disability sector for over 30 years, with more than 21 years of experience in program development and management. He has held leadership positions at national and international levels, managing various disability and development programs across Asia.
Shivaram’s areas of expertise include inclusion and accessibility, disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction, assistive technologies, and support services. He has also worked as a developmental therapist for neurological disabilities and collaborated with 38 organizations across Asia to promote quality health care and education, disability-inclusive education, livelihood, advocacy, violence against women with disabilities, disaster management, and community-based inclusive development programs. He has sound expertise in strategic program management, partnership management with NGOs in South and East Asia, representation, public relations, proposal development, monitoring and evaluation, documentation, evidence building, research, team building, crisis management, strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and capacity building. He has also contributed to research on girls with disabilities and has been involved in promoting parent groups, children clubs, young adolescent groups, self-help groups, and disabled people federations to advocate for the right to education and employment for people with disabilities. He has successfully used evidence generated from the programs to advocate for more inclusive policies at district, state, and national levels.
Despite being visually impaired, Shivaram has travelled to over 16 countries and exposed himself to the disability sector in Asia and Africa. His work has been recognized by the United Nations as the Zero Project award for his innovative interventions in inclusive education and livelihood programs. Shivaram’s dedication, empathy, and leadership have made him an exceptional advocate for disability-inclusive development and rights.
Shivaram’s managerial and technical experiences range from conceptualization to designing, planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, documentation, budgeting, liaising with various Govt. departments and NGOs, capacity building of project team, preparation of resource materials/training manuals on the management of persons with multiple disabilities for low literate and non-literate care givers.

Chandrashekar, also fondly called Chandru is the Lead of Sports Initiatives at Samarthanam , was born in Kanakapura taluk in 1980 and grew up in a family of four siblings, with one brother and two sisters.
Chandru joined the Sri Ramana Maharishi Academy for the Blind in 1988 and discovered his love for sports, particularly cricket. In 1992, he started his cricket career by participating in the State Level Cricket Tournament for the Blind in Mysore, where he won the Best Bowler Award. From then on, Chandru played for the Karnataka state team for ten years, from 1993 to 2003, and led the team from 1996 to 2003.
In 1998, Chandru represented India in the first-ever World Cup for the Blind held in New Delhi, and in 2002, he participated in the second World Cup for the Blind in Chennai. He also had the opportunity to tour England with the Indian Blind Cricket Team in 1999 and to launch blind cricket in Bangladesh with three other cricketers.
In 2000, Chandru began his professional career as a Primary School Teacher in the Association for Rehabilitation of the Disabled in Gangavathi. He worked there for four years before joining Samarthanam as an Office Assistant in 2004. He briefly worked as a Telephone Operator at The Park Hotel before rejoining Samarthanam in 2005, where he was eventually promoted to Coordinator for the Sports Initiative.
Chandru has led several cricket and sports tournaments at different levels and has been leading the LRC (Livelihood Resource Centre) Vertical since July 2013. He also took on the responsibility of leading the Procurement Initiative of Samarthanam.
Throughout his career, Chandru has been motivated and inspired by Mr.Mahantesh, who has encouraged him to pursue his dreams and reach his full potential and has been his friend, philosopher and guide. Chandru is grateful for the support he has received from Samarthanam, which has transformed his life and the lives of countless individuals with disabilities and underprivileged individuals.

Gururaghavendra. C.E ; Lead- Education has over 27 years of experience as a social work professional and development practitioner. He has made a significant impact in the field of mental health. He worked as a medical social worker at NIMHANS for five years and then went on to become the Associate Director of Basic Needs India, a development organization working in the area of community mental health and development.
Gururaghavendra’s expertise lies in developing partnerships with grassroots organizations, capacity building, proposal writing and logical framework presentations, program planning and implementation, reviews, and evaluations. He is also a lay counsellor and practices counselling, which adds to his wealth of knowledge and experience in the mental health field.
Currently, as the Head of Education Program at Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, Gururaghavendra is dedicated to facilitating team building, quality education, and inclusive education for disabled students. He ensures equal opportunities for disabled and underserved students in the areas of education, arts, culture, sports, and co-curricular activities.
His extensive experience and expertise is a valuable asset to our leadership team and is beneficial in achieving our organization’s mission and goals.

The role of a Transportation and Infrastructure Manager in an organization is vital for ensuring efficient transportation and logistics operations. At Samarthanam Trust, Prasanna Kumar leads the Transportation and Infrastructure verticals. He is an Engineer with over 47 years of valuable experience across Production, Marketing, Maintenance, and Training divisions in the industry. Prasanna joined Samarthanam in 2008 to bring his expertise into the organization’s operations, holding the roles of Facility Manager, Transportation Coordinator, and Construction Projects In-charge.
Prasanna and his team administer the planning and infrastructure of all Samarthanam’s offices and training facilities across India, ensuring they are barrier-free, green buildings housing RO Water Plant, Solar Power Panels, Rain Water Harvesting unit, and Sewage Treatment Plant. Prasanna’s rich experience across diverse sectors enables him to undertake civil construction projects covering Digital Libraries, BPO, Work Stations, Vocational Training units, Schools, Hostels, Kitchen, and other facilities perfectly.
Under Prasanna’s leadership, his team has completed several projects, including Disabled-friendly school and hostel blocks covering an area of over 65,000 sft in HSR layout Bangalore, a Girls hostel covering 20,000 sft in J.P Nagar 2nd phase block, and Phase 1 and 2 hostel blocks with skill training and other facilities covering approximately 10,000 sft in Dharwad.
In addition, Prasanna and his team have developed the Kodikonda project and are currently working on a Disabled-friendly Art and Culture Block (Auditorium) Phase III project covering an area of approximately 29,000 sft in HSR layout, which is expected to be completed by January 2024. Several other projects in Mysore, Hoskote, Doddaballapur, and JP Nagar 3rd phase land are under planning for various facilities. Prasanna’s commitment and cool, calm, and collected personality have earned him high respect and regard on the leadership board.

Soumya Sunil, the Head of Communications at Samarthanam holds an MA in English from Jnana Bharathi, Bangalore University, and an MBA with a double Bachelors in Computer Science and Education.
Soumya’s career path includes a diversified portfolio of experiences that spans over 15 years of banking and corporate experience, as well as more than 14 years in the education sector. Soumya started her career as a counsellor before transitioning to a role in banking. Further to her experience in the financial sector, she has also taught undergraduate and pre-university courses in English and business communication and served as an editor for a college magazine. She has also worked as a English language tutor and as a certifier and trainer in the edtech industry.
In addition to her academic pursuits, Soumya is the director of a logistics company, which has given her a unique perspective on international business. Through this, she has built a vast network of associates across multiple countries, allowing her to interact with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds. These experiences have helped enhance her professional expertise and have provided her with valuable insights into different business practices. With her unique perspective on international business gained through her experience as a director of a logistics company with a broad network of associates in multiple countries, Soumya is well-equipped to manage and shape Samarthanam’s reputation and public image.
As the Head of Communications at Samarthanam, Soumya Sunil holds a critical role in managing and overseeing all aspects of the organization’s communication strategies and activities. She is responsible for crafting and delivering key messages to various media outlets, investors, customers, employees, and other stakeholders. She also manages the organization’s public relations efforts, including crisis management, reputation management, and stakeholder engagement, ensuring that Samarthanam’s public image is positive and aligned with its values, mission, and goals. In addition, she oversees the development of all communication materials, such as press releases, newsletters, social media posts, and other digital and print materials, as well as managing the organization’s marketing and advertising strategies.

Dhiraj Sequeira is the Lead of Sports Initiatives at Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled since 2021. Prior to this, he worked as a Programme Coordinator and also as a Lecturer for seven years. With his strong organizational skills, he was elected as the President of the Student Council at St Aloysius College Mangalore and as the General Secretary for the All College Union Mangalore University. As the Soft Skill facilitator for the Under Graduate and Post Graduate students at St Aloysius College, he also coordinated various extracurricular activities, including cultural fests for the Differently Abled and outreach programs for the differently challenged. Dhiraj holds an M.A. in English from St Aloysius College and has certification in Oral Communication and Written Communication.
Dhiraj has been leading the sports initiatives at Samarthanam with great enthusiasm and success. His impressive list of achievements includes the organization of the IndusInd Bank Nagesh Trophy – Fourth Edition, a Men’s National T20 Cricket Tournament for the Blind held in Delhi with a total of 24 teams and 384 players and officials. Dhiraj has also organized several webinars to help players maintain their fitness during the pandemic, featuring guest speakers such as Jemimah Jessica Rodrigues, Shreyas Gopal, and David Mathias.
Additionally, he led the organization of the IndusInd Bank India vs Bangladesh Men’s T20 and ODI bilateral cricket series for the blind, held in Bhopal Madhya Pradesh. Dhiraj also organized the IndusInd Bank Women’s National T20 Cricket Tournament for the Blind 2022, which was held in Bangalore, and the NTT DATA Men’s National Coaching Camp for the Blind 2022, which took place in Bangalore to select the best top 29 players. The top 29 players were provided with fitness monitoring and virtual practice sessions for five months, thanks to NTT DATA’s support.
Furthermore, Dhiraj initiated the project “Empowering and Transforming Blind Men Through Skilling and Cricket” with the support of Unisys India Pvt. Ltd, which reached out to 320 men cricketers in 8 states who underwent 15 days of skill-building sessions and 5 days of cricket coaching. He also oversaw the selection of the 17-member Indian squad for the 3rd T20 World Cup for the Blind and announced Yuvraj Singh as the brand ambassador for the tournament. In December 2022, India won the 3rd T20 World Cup Cricket for the Blind, beating Bangladesh by 120 runs at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. Dhiraj also organized the IndusInd Bank International Conclave in Delhi, which included the 6 participating countries of the World Cup, along with players from Delhi and Haryana.

Rama Rao VVK is the lead of the Information Technology division at Samarthanam. Rama Rao is a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer with a rich experience spanning 27 years in the field of IT. For the past two decades, he has been supporting the IT needs of the organization as a volunteer initially, and later in 2017, he joined Samarthanam as the IT Lead.
Samarthanam fosters innovation and employs the latest technology at every level. Every initiative at Samarthanam, especially the Skilling Centres, utilize the latest Information Technology and Assistive Software for the running of its programmes, making the facilities inclusive and accessible. Rama Rao and his team of IT champions ensure the smooth operation of all programmes at Samarthanam, making the workspace super tech and user-friendly. His 24-year experience working across various corporate help Rama Rao in planning and managing the IT infrastructure and ERP administration.
Rama Rao believes that by supporting the people with disabilities with adequate technological skills, and by training them in basic computers, it would aid in their socio-economic development and establish a sustainable livelihood. At the beginning of his career, Rama Rao worked as a Computer Faculty, training visually impaired students with the help of assistive software. He is an expert in Networking, Coding, and ERP. Based on his corporate experience Rama Rao plans and executes IT projects at Samarthanam, making sure that people with disabilities enjoy every inch of technology that will make them less dependent on scribes and self-sufficient.

Naveen, a Bangalore native and alumnus of St. Joseph’s College, imbibed the values of compassion, empathy, and service to humanity early in life. He spent over a decade in the IT sector before finding his calling at Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, where he now serves as the Volunteering Lead since 2018. His role has given him a unique opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the beneficiaries by providing career guidance, education, healthcare, and nutrition. For Naveen, the most rewarding part of his job is being a part of the change and witnessing the positive impact on people’s lives.
Naveen’s enthusiasm, passion, versatility, and commitment have earned him recognition, including the Situational Leadership Covid 19 crisis award from PRCI in 2021. According to him, volunteering is not just about giving, but it is a journey that transforms individuals and enriches their lives. Through his work, he has gained a deeper appreciation for the privileges that most of us take for granted. Naveen believes that volunteering is infectious and adds colour to one’s personality. He adds that the most significant lesson he has learned is to remain humble and appreciate every moment life offers. During the pandemic, Naveen found solace in serving the needy, which he describes as a gratifying experience.