Mr. Rakshit has over 20 years of experience teaching pre-university and undergraduate students English. He has made significant contributions to the academic community through his authorship of scholarly articles and his translation of literary works between Kannada and English. Additionally, he has demonstrated proficiency in editing and proofreading various essays, articles, and published materials. His expertise extends to preparing subtitles for art cinema and documentaries, and delivering radio talks and public lectures. As a trained artist in traditional Mridang, he brings valuable cultural insights to his endeavours. Presently, Mr. Rakshit serves as the President of ICRA.
Dr. Cavery Bopaiah is an architect with a PhD in Economics. She practised from 1972 to 1982, during which time she designed a diverse range of projects, including residential homes, a factory, interior spaces, exhibitions, retail interiors, low-cost housing, and housing in an Adivasi village. A participatory approach has been a cornerstone of her methodology for rural projects. Furthermore, Dr. Cavery was tasked with reviewing a government initiative to conduct a comprehensive assessment of villages in Karnataka, which sought to manage their bovine population. In addition, she examined the cotton value chain to identify strategies for increasing farmers' incomes. Her academic contributions include teaching economics at various institutions in the United States and India, focusing on research related to loans for small businesses. Dr. Cavery currently serves as the Vice President of ICRA.
Mahesh Lobo, with over 40 years of experience in the NGO sector, has held various leadership roles, including Trainer, Program Evaluator, and Executive Director. His career spans work with marginalised communities, notably tribals and Dalits, with organisations like ICRA and FEDINA (1983–2003). He later joined Habitat for Humanity International, serving as Regional Program Advisor for India, Nepal, and Bangladesh, and Director of Programs in India (2003–2006). After retirement, Mahesh continued as a Senior Consultant until 2011. He volunteers ICRA and the Pontifical Mission Organisation, a National Body of the Catholic Church, based in Bengaluru, especially in its work with publications. Mahesh is the Treasurer of ICRA.
Babu P. has played a crucial role in pioneering sustainable organic farming practices, particularly focusing on small rain-fed farmers through his work at ICRA. He leverages his expertise to advocate for sustainable and organic agricultural methods and has been involved with sustainable agriculture, organic agriculture, and the biodynamic movement in Karnataka and India. Currently, he serves as the secretary of ICRA, where he continues to drive initiatives that support environmentally friendly farming and empower local farmers.
K. Sathya Shankar Ithal brings over three decades of experience in the voluntary sector, with a background in law. For over twenty years, he worked with vulnerable groups, including women, children, and fisheries workers. As part of ICRA, he supported small and marginal rainfed farmers in adopting sustainable agriculture practices. Since 2016, Shankar has worked as a wellness coach, promoting healthy lifestyles and drug-free living. He currently serves on ICRA's managing committee.
Sharada Gopal is a freelance journalist and activist with extensive experience in rural development across Karnataka. Her notable works include authoring books on rural development and translating influential titles such as David Werner's "Where There Is No Doctor" into Kannada and "Ecology and Equity" by Prof. Madhav Gadgil and Ramachandra Guha. Her articles on social issues have been published in newspapers and compiled into two books. Sharada volunteers with Jagruti, an NGO advocating for rural rights, focusing on MNREGA in Belgaum district. Her work promotes the Right to Food, Health, and Employment for rural labourers. She also serves on the ICRA managing committee.
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