Our Trustees

Dr. Chinnaraj has been with CEDAR ever since its inception in 1994. A Development Sociologist by training, his theory of change is anchored in developing alternative pedagogical methods and in creating ‘agency’ in the children of the marginalized communities. Behind him is long years of experience as an academician, administrator and policy maker. He was formerly the Principal of the American College, Madurai. He had served several committees of the University Grants Commission of India (UGC). He also served the Governing Council of the National Assessment and Accreditation Commission (NAAC) for three years. He is also an avid promoter of media training and education and founded Madurai Media and Film Studies Academy (MMFSA). He is also a documentary filmmaker.

Dr. Gio is one of the founder-trustees of CEDAR. He is a practicing medical doctor who started his career in Sarvodaya, a national NGO outfit. He worked for their health education programme. Dr. Gio has specialised in Social and Preventive Medicine. He firmly believes in the educational empowerment of the marginalised children. CEDAR has greatly benefitted from his long years of service and counsel. He is a philanthropist in his own right trying to reach out to the poor and needy through his own medical trust.

Dr. Madhavan works as an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Law in SASTRA University. He is a product of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. Before joining SASTRA, Madhavan worked for Centre for Education and Communication, New Delhi. As a Sociologist he has considerable exposure to development policy discourse and research and his counsel is of great value to CEDAR in policy making.

Prof. Winfred is a Botanist by training and is a well known Environment Educator and Researcher. His noteworthy contribution is his arduous documentation of natural herbs native to Western Ghats over a period of five years. After his retirement from college teaching, Winfred is keen to promote alternative agricultural practices as a community enterprise. He is a great source of support for all innovative projects which harp on alternative knowledge building. He has been ardently committed to serving the cause of the poor.

Prof. Manikam had a long career teaching physics at a leading college at Madurai. As a socially committed teacher, Manikam spent long years organising National Service Scheme student volunteering programme. Presently he works for Aravind Eye Care System in the Community ophthalmology Division. He is an international trainer and visits African countries frequently. He believes in alternative education as a tool of change.

Dr. Navamani is a practicing medical doctor who has been working for the cause of the poor. She started her career actively fighting against female infanticide in Tamilnadu. She is also the visiting doctor to the Central Government run Kendra Vidyalaya school at Madurai extending medical and psychological counselling to children. She is of great support to our activities at our CRCs.

Mr. David practices criminal law both at the District Court and the High Court in Madurai. He is socially committed, and stands by many activist cause and public interest. He advises CEDAR on legal matters. David has amazing capacity for crisis management.