About Us
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
Vision Of The Academy
The Vision of Academy is to enhance the people's participation in development programmes and
sound management of rural local self-governments through grassroots democracy and process of
democratic decentralisation in the form of statutory Panchayati Raj Institutions, as self
sufficient Village Republics in India.
The major research thrust of Academy is in the areas of Grassroots Governance (Panchayati
Raj), Urban Governance (Nagar Palikas), Women Empowerment, Youth Development, Dalit
Leadership, Micro-planning, Local Democracy, Good Governance, Environment, Sustainable
Development, Natural Resources, Sanitation, Rural Health, Public Policy, Federalism, Nature
Farming, Gram Swaraj and allied subjects. The Academy shall strive to open new vistas of
development dialogue between the micro and macro approaches on the grassroots democracy
support initiatives for generating new ideas and dissemination of its knowledge for
fulfilling people's aspirations for genuine Village Republics in India, through research,
training, advocacy and awareness.
My idea of Village Swaraj is that it is a complete republic, independent of its neighbours for its own vital wants, and yet interdependent for many others in which dependence is a necessity. Thus every village's first concern will be to grow its own food crops and cotton for its cloth. It should have a reserve for its cattle, recreation and playground for adults and children. Then if there is more land available, it will grow useful money crops, thus excluding ganja, tobacco, opium and the like. The village will maintain a village theatre, school and public hall. It will have its own waterworks ensuring water supply. This can be done through controlled wells and tanks. Education will be compulsory up to the final basic course. As far as possible every activity will be conducted on the co-operative basis. There will be no castes such as we have today with their graded untouchability. Non-violence with its technique of Satyagraha and non-co- operation will be the sanction of the village community. There will be a compulsory service of village guards who will be selected by rotation from the register maintained by the village. The government of the village will be conducted by the Panchayat of five persons, annually elected by the adult villagers, male and female, possessing minimum prescribed qualifications. These will have all the authority and jurisdiction required. Since there will be no system of punishments in the accepted sense, this Panchayat will be the legislature, judiciary and executive combined to operate for its year of office.
— Mahatma Gandhi