At CIRHEP, we are driven by passionate individuals dedicated to sustainable development, environmental conservation, and community empowerment. Meet the people who guide our mission

Ms. Pandiammal – Treasurer

Ms. Pandiammal serves as the Treasurer of the Organisation and is a dedicated community leader and active member of the Centre for Improved Rural Health and Environmental Protection (CIRHEP). As part of CIRHEP’s strong women leadership, she contributes significantly to organisational governance and community development initiatives. She brings extensive experience working with rural women and Indigenous communities, with a deep commitment to women’s empowerment, sustainable agriculture, and environmental protection. Through her grassroots engagement, she promotes rights awareness, strengthens collective action, and supports women’s leadership in advancing sustainable and inclusive community development.

Mr. P.M. Mohan – Executive Committee Member

Mr. P.M. Mohan brings over 20 years of experience in community development and plays an important role in strengthening CIRHEP’s programmes and institutional growth. He has extensive expertise in community organization, tribal development, sustainable livelihoods, and natural resource management. He actively supports initiatives related to environmental conservation, climate adaptation, and organic agriculture, promoting sustainable and eco-friendly practices among rural and Indigenous communities. His guidance contributes to advancing rights-based development and strengthening community resilience.

Ms. E. Chinnathai – Joint Secretary

Ms. E. Chinnathai serves as the Joint Secretary of CIRHEP and is a committed community leader with strong experience in tribal rights, women empowerment, and community health programmes. She actively supports health camps, awareness initiatives, and outreach activities, while also promoting environmental conservation, climate adaptation, and renewable energy solutions in tribal communities. Her work strengthens access to rights, health services, and sustainable development opportunities for marginalized populations.

Ms. P. Rajathi – Vice President

With a background in sociology, Ms. P. Rajathi serves as the Vice President of CIRHEP and plays an important role in strengthening the organisation as a women-led initiative committed to tribal rights and women empowerment. She actively works with Self-Help Groups (SHGs), promotes adolescent health awareness, and supports community programmes focused on health, environmental protection, and sustainable development. Her close engagement with rural and tribal communities makes her a strong advocate for women’s leadership, rights, and social empowerment.

Mr. P. Jeyakumar – Executive Committee Member

Mr. P. Jeyakumar is an Executive Committee Member of CIRHEP and plays a key role in designing and supporting programmes for tribal and rural communities in Tamil Nadu. He has extensive experience in tribal rights, women empowerment, adolescent development, community health, sustainable livelihoods, and rights-based development. He actively contributes to project planning, donor engagement, and implementation of initiatives related to environmental protection, climate change adaptation, renewable energy, and organic agriculture. Through his leadership and grassroots engagement, he strengthens community institutions, promotes social justice, and advances sustainable and inclusive development through CIRHEP’s programmes.

Mr. A. Vengadachalapathy – President

Mr. A. Vengadachalapathy, an experienced sociologist, serves as the President of CIRHEP and provides strategic leadership in advancing sustainable rural and tribal development. He actively supports organic farmers, strengthens producer collectives, and addresses market access challenges to improve livelihoods and economic resilience. With his deep understanding of rural and Indigenous communities, he promotes sustainable agriculture, environmental protection, and rights-based development. His leadership helps bridge community needs with sustainable economic opportunities, strengthening CIRHEP’s mission to empower marginalized communities.

Mr. M. Pitchai – Secretary

Mr. M. Pitchai serves as the Secretary of CIRHEP and plays a vital role in strengthening community engagement and programme implementation. He works closely with organic farmers, tribal communities, youth groups, and producer collectives, supporting sustainable livelihoods and market access. He actively contributes to initiatives related to tribal rights, environmental conservation, climate adaptation, and sustainable agriculture. His strong grassroots engagement and communication skills help advance CIRHEP’s mission of inclusive, rights-based, and sustainable development.

                                                                                 Our Experienced and Dedicated Team

Our Team Expertise and Experience

CIRHEP is supported by a dedicated and highly experienced multidisciplinary team committed to advancing tribal rights, women empowerment, adolescent development, environmental protection, climate adaptation, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and community health. Our team members bring extensive grassroots experience, technical knowledge, and deep engagement with marginalized tribal communities in the Kodaikanal Hills and surrounding regions.

Leadership and Management Team

Ms. Gangadevi – Project Manager (10 years experience)
Ms. Gangadevi has over a decade of experience in managing community development and tribal rights programmes. She has successfully led projects focusing on women empowerment, adolescent rights, environmental conservation, climate adaptation, and sustainable livelihood initiatives. She specializes in programme coordination, community mobilization, and project implementation.

Ms. Sujithra – Project Manager (10 years experience)
Ms. Sujithra has extensive experience in managing development programmes related to tribal welfare, women empowerment, health research, and climate resilience. She plays a key role in strategic planning, programme execution, and strengthening community-based systems.

Mr. Chinnathambi – Project Coordinator (15 years experience)
Mr. Chinnathambi has significant experience coordinating tribal development programmes, environmental conservation initiatives, renewable energy promotion, and sustainable livelihood programmes. He ensures effective programme implementation, stakeholder coordination, and field-level supervision.

Finance and Administration

Mr. Vasanthakumar – Accounts and Finance Manager (15 years experience)
Mr. Vasanthakumar oversees financial management, grant administration, compliance, budgeting, and reporting. He has extensive experience managing donor-funded projects and ensuring financial transparency and accountability.

Programme and Community Resource Team

Ms. Sugapriya – Women Empowerment and Environmental Programme Specialist (5 years experience)
Ms. Sugapriya has strong experience in women empowerment, tribal rights advocacy, environmental biodiversity conservation, organic agriculture promotion, climate adaptation, and renewable energy awareness. She works closely with tribal women to strengthen leadership and sustainable livelihoods.

Ms. Sangeetha – Community Resource Person (4 years experience)
Ms. Sangeetha works directly with tribal communities, supporting women’s rights programmes, adolescent empowerment, health awareness, and climate resilience initiatives.

Ms. Ponnammal – Community Resource Person (4 years experience)
Ms. Ponnammal focuses on tribal rights promotion, women’s empowerment, environmental awareness, and community mobilization for sustainable development programmes.

Ms. Geetha – Community Resource Person (4 years experience)
Ms. Geetha supports implementation of health programmes, adolescent rights education, women empowerment initiatives, and environmental protection activities.

Ms. Jenifer – Community Resource Person (3 years experience)
Ms. Jenifer works with tribal youth and women on education access, adolescent rights, climate awareness, and community development programmes.

Training and Capacity Building Team

Mr. Paraman – Assistant Trainer (18 years experience)
Mr. Paraman has extensive experience providing training on tribal rights, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, environmental conservation, and livelihood strengthening.

Mr. Pandi – Assistant Trainer (14 years experience)
Mr. Pandi supports training programmes related to organic agriculture, climate adaptation, renewable energy, and community capacity building.

Community Health Team

Ms. Sudha – Health Programme Specialist (14 years experience)
Ms. Sudha has extensive experience in tribal health programmes, maternal and child health, adolescent health, and health research initiatives.

Ms. Kaliammal – Health Programme Specialist (13 years experience)
Ms. Kaliammal works closely with tribal communities on health awareness, nutrition programmes, women’s health, and preventive healthcare.

Organizational Strength

Our team collectively brings over 130+ years of combined experience in:

  • Tribal Rights and Indigenous Community Development

  • Women Empowerment and Gender Equality

  • Adolescent Rights and Youth Development

  • Community Health and Health Research

  • Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation

  • Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience

  • Renewable Energy and Solar Energy Promotion

  • Organic Agriculture and Sustainable Livelihoods

  • Community Capacity Building and Training

Our team’s deep grassroots presence, technical expertise, and commitment to social justice enable CIRHEP to deliver impactful, sustainable, and community-driven development programmes.