Organisation
Testimonial
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" AGRASRI is a unique Academy in the field of grassroots studies and governance, which provides a bridge between the elected representatives "
DR. MANMOHAN SINGH
Hon’ble Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and Former Prime Minister of India, New Delhi, 27 July, 2016.
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" I am glad that the Inaugural issue of The Grassroots Governance Journal is doing well in all respects. "
SHRI INDER KUMAR GUJRAL
Former Prime Minister of India, New Delhi,
October 21, 2003.
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" I hope that The Grassroots Governance Journal would go a long way so as to create an intellectual environment which would develop grassroots democratic institutions in contemporary rural India. "
SHRI RABI RAY
Former Speaker of Lok Sabha, New Delhi, October 23, 2003
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" I have gone through with interest the CV and Progress Report of AGRASRI and am appreciative of your efforts. "
SHRI T.N. CHATURVEDI
H.E., the then Governor of Karnataka and Chairman, Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi, March 12, 2007.
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" All the best for your future activities. Excellent Rajiv Gandhi Birthday function. Wish you all success. "
SHRI RAMESHWAR THAKUR
H.E., the then Governor of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad, August 20, 2006.
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" I am very happy to be here and attend the function of presentation of awards. They are doing great job. "
SHRI R. L. BHATIA
H.E., the then Governor of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, August 20, 2007.
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" I compliment the initiatives of the Academy of Grassroots Studies and Research of India, in association with the Rajiv Rural Development Foundation, "
SHRI SOMNATH CHATTERJEE
Hon’ble the then Speaker of Lok Sabha, New Delhi,
August 16, 2004.
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" I have known Dr. Sundar Ram since the establishment of the Academy and have been deeply impressed by the way in which "
SHRI MANI SHANKAR AIYAR
Hon’ble the then Union Minister for Panchayati Raj, Youth Affairs & Sports and Development of North-East Region
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" I have known Dr. D. Sundar Ram, Founder and Director of the Academy of Grassroots Studies and Research of India (AGRASRI) since the last several years. "
PROF. M.S. SWAMINATHAN
Founder Chairman, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai, March 9, 2007.
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" It was a great privilege to receive this great honour bestowed by this great Academy. The movement for ‘decentralised governance’ that has been landed is bound to succeed. "
DR. R. A. MASHELKAR
CSIR Bhatnagar Fellow, National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, August 20, 2007.
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" It was a great pleasure to participate in the convention organised by AGRASRI "
DR. C. RANGARAJAN
The then Chairman, Economic Advisory Council to Prime Minister of India, New Delhi, August 20, 2008.
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" As the Chief Organiser of Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Lecture and Rajiv Gandhi National Awards programmes every year, "
DR. Subhash C. Kashyap
Former Secretary-General of Lok Sabha,
New Delhi, February 25, 2009
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" I feel happy that this country’s democracy needs the kind of work AGRASRI is undertaking.. "
SHRI JUSTICE V.R. KRISHNA IYER
Former Judge, Supreme Court of India, New Delhi,
February 26, 2009.
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" It is a matter of great satisfaction that the Academy of Grassroots Studies and Research of India has an outstanding record of training, "
SHRI SALMAN KHURSHID
Hon’ble the then Union Minister for Law and Justice,
Govt. of India, New Delhi, 2 February, 2012
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" Organisations like AGRASRI can play a truly important role in supplementing governmental "
DR. N.N. VOHRA
His Excellency, the then Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, Jammu, 15 February, 2012.
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" I enjoyed the award function and thankful to Rajiv Gandhi Rural Development Foundation and Academy of Grassroots Studies and Research of India at Tirupati for the nice gesture. "
DR.G. MADHAVAN NAIR
The then Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation, Bangalore, August 20, 2009
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" Very good and dedicating work is being carried on by the Academy of Grassroots Studies and Research of India. "
DR.BAL RAM JAKHAR
Former Speaker of Lok Sabha, Former Governor, Former Union Agriculture Minister, New Delhi, 20 August, 2012
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" I appreciate the work done by the Academy of Grassroots Studies and Research of India "
PROF. SUKHADEO K. THORAT
The then Chairman, Indian Council of Social Science Research and Former Chairman, University Grants Commission, New Delhi, 20 August, 2014.
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" It is a privilege to be here in the midst of doers at the grassroots level. "
DR. RAJENDRA KUMAR PACHAURI
Noble Laureate in Peace and World renowned Environmentalist, New Delhi, 20 August, 2015.
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" AGRASRI is unique organisation with noble objectives and innovative approach. The approach of AGRASRI is commendable. "
PROF. V. R. PANCHAMUKHI
Former Chairman, Indian Council of Social Science Research, New Delhi, 20 August, 2015
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" The Academy of Grassroots Studies and Research of India is an autonomous, independent and non-political organisation and "
DR. HARSH VARDHAN
Hon’ble Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Govt. of India, New Delhi, 8 August, 2016.
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" Offering services in areas of panchayati raj, rural development, women empowerment, youth development and other allied fields of rural India for two decades by AGRASRI is appreciable. "
DR (MRS) TAMILISAI SOUNDARARAJAN
Her Excellency, the Governor of Telangana, Hyderabad, 23 October, 2020.
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" It is commendable that Academy of Grassroots Studies and Research of India has been offering various services in the areas of Panchayati Raj, Rural Development. "
SHRI ARIF MOHAMMAD KHAN
His Excellency, the Governor of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, 06 October, 2020.
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" The father of our Nation, Shri Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi had once said that the soul of India lives in its villages. "
SMT. REKHA SHARMA
Chairperson, National Commission for Women, New Delhi, 08 October, 2020.
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" I congratulate Academy of Grassroots Studies and Research of India (AGRASRI), Tirupati for conducting Symposium on Gram Swaraj and 75 Years of Rural India. "
SHRI BANDARU DATTATRAYA
His Excellency, the Governor of Haryana, Chandigarh, 17 June, 2022.
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" AGRASRI National Seminar is essential for addressing critical issues surrounding the role of women in decision-making processes across various levels of governance. "
ANANDIBEN PATEL
Her Excellency, the Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, 26 September, 2024.
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Announcements
Inviting Nominations for the Neelam Sanjiva Reddy State Awards
Inviting Nominations for the Rajiv Gandhi National Awards
Activities
Contact Us
DR. D. SUNDAR RAM
Founder and Director
Academy of Grassroots Studies and Research of India (AGRASRI)
# Plot No.11, Sri Venkata Sai Nilayam
Thummalagunta, S.V. University P.O.
Tirupati-517502, Andhra Pradesh. India
Mobile: +91-6302947338, +91-9441245085
E.mail: drsundarram@gmail.com | agrasridirector@gmail.com
Website: www.agrasri.org.in
DISTINGUISHED FELLOWS
The following senior policy makers, administrators and scholars have been associated with the Academy of Grassroots Studies and Research of India, as Hon. Distinguished Fellows of AGRASRI.
PROF. V.R. PANCHAMUKHIFormer Chairman, Indian Council of Social Science Research, Govt. of India, New Delhi
Prof. V.R. Panchamukhi is a renowned economist and former Chairman of the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), Ministry of Education, Government of India, New Delhi. He is also the former Director-General of the Research and Information System for the Non-Aligned and Other Developing Countries (RIS), New Delhi.
Prof. Panchamukhi served with distinction as the Chancellor of Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha (Deemed to be University), Tirupati, for a decade. He has the unique distinction of serving as President of The Indian Econometric Society for three consecutive years (1998, 1999 and 2000), a rare honour in the profession. He is also the Chairman of The Indian Econometric Society Trust.
He was conferred the Padma Shri Award, the fourth-highest civilian award of India, by the President of India in 2025. He has been honoured by several universities and academic institutions for his outstanding contributions to economics, education and public policy.
Prof. V.R. Panchamukhi is presently the Chancellor of Sri Gurusarvabhouma Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, Mantralayam, Andhra Pradesh. He served with distinction as the Chairman of the Hon. Board of Advisers (2018–2021) and Hon. Board of Governors (2021–2023) of AGRASRI, Tirupati.
Prof. V.R. Panchamukhi is the Hon. Distinguished Fellow of the Academy of Grassroots Studies and Research of India from 2024 onwards.
Former Chief Election Commissioner of India, Govt. of India, New Delhi
Shri T.S. Krishna Murthy is the Former Chief Election Commissioner of India, Government of India. He began his professional career with Bank of India Ltd. in 1961 after graduating from the University of Mysore with distinction, securing gold medals and cash prizes in all his optional subjects. He obtained a Law Degree from the University of Madras in 1969 and an M.Sc. in Fiscal Studies from the University of Bath (United Kingdom) in 1984 under the Colombo Plan.
He joined the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) in 1963 and held several important positions including Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai; Director General (Administration), New Delhi; Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, Mumbai; Additional Secretary (Expenditure); and Secretary, Department of Company Affairs, Government of India.
Shri Krishna Murthy was deputed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as Advisor to the Governments of Ethiopia and Georgia. In 2000, he was appointed as Election Commissioner of India and subsequently became the Chief Election Commissioner of India in 2004.
He successfully supervised the 2004 General Elections, during which Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were used nationwide for the first time in India's parliamentary elections. After retirement, he has served on the Boards of several companies, as Chairman of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Chennai, and on the governing bodies of various educational institutions.
He is the author of the books The Miracle of Democracy: India's Amazing Journey and Inside Global Democracies: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, besides contributing numerous articles on Indian democracy and the electoral system.
Shri T.S. Krishna Murthy is the Hon. Distinguished Fellow of the Academy of Grassroots Studies and Research of India from 2024 onwards.
Former Member, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, Govt. of India, New Delhi
Prof. M. Govinda Rao is a Councillor at the Takshashila Institution, Bengaluru. He is also a Member of the Advisory Board, Centre for Public Policy, Indian Institute of Management Bangalore.
His previous positions include Member, Fourteenth Finance Commission (2013–2014); Director, National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP), New Delhi (2003–2013); Director, Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bengaluru (1998–2002); and Fellow, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
Prof. Rao served as a Member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2013. His other important assignments include Chairman, Study Group on Taxation of Services, Government of India; Member, Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission (FSLRC); Member, High Level Expert Committee on Universal Health Coverage; Member, High Level Expert Committee on Efficient Management of Public Expenditure; and Member, Expert Group on Decentralised Planning.
He has published extensively in the fields of Public Finance, Fiscal Federalism and Public Policy. His recent book is Studies in Indian Public Finance, published by Oxford University Press in 2022. He is also the Founding Managing Editor of the online bi-monthly journal Indian Public Policy Review.
Prof. M. Govinda Rao is the Hon. Distinguished Fellow of the Academy of Grassroots Studies and Research of India from 2024 onwards.
Former Vice-Chancellor, Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi
Prof. M. Aslam is former Vice-Chancellor of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi, and Patron of Hope Foundation, Vadodara, Gujarat. He served IGNOU as Director, School of Continuing Education and Director, National Centre for Innovations in Distance Education. He was also Professor of Rural Development at IGNOU.
Earlier, Prof. Aslam served as Founder Director (Training) at the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and Pacific (CIRDAP), Dhaka, Bangladesh, for eight years. He was a Fellow of the Economic Development Institute of the World Bank and is internationally recognized as a trainer, educator and development professional.
He has authored several books, research papers and national as well as international reports. He is a Member of the Collegium of Eminent Social Scientists constituted by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), New Delhi.
Prof. Aslam possesses rich and diverse experience at both national and international levels in University Administration, Distance and Continuing Education, ICT, Communication and Extension, Multimedia in Distance Education, Training Skills and Transactional Analysis. His distinguished career spans more than 45 years, including about 31 years as Professor/Director at IGNOU and nearly 8 years on international assignments.
He has served as Visiting Faculty Member in nearly 20 institutions in India and abroad.
Prof. M. Aslam is the Hon. Distinguished Fellow of the Academy of Grassroots Studies and Research of India from 2017 onwards.
President, International Society for Noni Science, Chennai
Dr. P. Rethinam is the President of the International Society for Noni Science, Chennai. He is one of the eminent Agricultural Scientists in India and an internationally recognised Plantation Crops Management Specialist.
He formerly served as Executive Director of the Asian and Pacific Coconut Community (APCC), Jakarta, Indonesia; Chairman of the Coconut Development Board, Government of India, Kochi; Assistant Director-General (Plantation Crops), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR); and Director of the National Research Centre for Oil Palm, Pedavegi, Andhra Pradesh.
Dr. Rethinam has also served as President of the Indian Society for Plantation Crops (ISPC). He is the Founder President of the Society for Promotion of Oil Palm Research and Development (SOPOPRAD), Pedavegi; Chief Editor of the International Journal of Oil Palm; and President of the Confederation of Horticulture Associations of India (CHAI), Southern Region.
He has published 24 book chapters, more than 250 popular and technical articles, bulletins and edited 20 books. He has presented nearly 110 research papers at national and international conferences.
Dr. Rethinam played a pioneering role in the release of four coconut hybrids and varieties in 1985, a landmark achievement in the history of coconut research in India, which later paved the way for the release of several additional hybrids and varieties suitable for different agro-climatic regions.
He is a Life Member of several reputed professional institutions and has received numerous fellowships, honours and recognitions from prestigious organisations for his contributions to agricultural research and plantation crop development.
Dr. P. Rethinam is the Hon. Distinguished Fellow of the Academy of Grassroots Studies and Research of India from 2024 onwards.