Our Team
R M Dhawan
Mr. Dhawan is a MA, LLB, Retired Govt Officer. He joined the Art of Living in 2005. He was the Chairman of Vykati Vikas Kendra India from 2006 to 2009 and has been the trustee of SSRDP since 2009.
Mr. Dhawan has been our guide and mentor, who continues to push the initiative on use of bio-enzyme, manufactured by SSRDP, blessed by Gurudev as Jag Pavani. This enhances the yield in agriculture at minimal cost, removes foul smell and harmful chemicals in water bodies, garbage-dumps and STPs. All waste management projects are under his domain.
Air Cmde Rabindra Merani
Air Cmde Merani been a trustee since 2017 and is the current chairman of the board of SSRDP. He is an AOL teacher and has been with AOL since 2002.
An alumini of the National Defence Academy, he retired as an Air Commodore from the Indian Air Force, fighter aircraft stream.
He worked in the corporate world for 6 years after retirement, in the civil aviation sector.
As Chairman and the resident trustee at Bangalore Ashram, he maintains liaison with sister trusts and oversees finance, administration and personnel of the trust. He receives regular feedback from the CEO on all on-going projects of SSRDP. He is the link between our rural initiatives and VVKI and SSIAST to ensure farmers are happy and getting richer. He has worked closely with Mr. Ravi Bhushan on the Farmers Produce Marketing Project, in light of the new legislation, which aims to boost the incomes of Producer Companies and FPOs in favour of farmers, instead of middlemen, as has been the case until now.
Deepak Sharma
Mr. Deepak has been part of the Art of Living since 2004 as a full-time Sevak. He oversees the pan-India skill centres, our relationship with NSDC, Schneider, CSR and the Solar projects, including the North East states.
Along with these activities, he is also in-charge of initiatives in natural buildings, pottery, projects related to tribals and artisans.
Ravi Bhushan
Mr. Ravi has been conceptualizing and spearheading projects for alleviating farmer distress.
This includes federating Farmer Producer Companies and creating FPOs, for value addition to farm produce and taking maximum advantage of the recent ground breaking amendments to the Essential Commodities Act, APMC and Contract Farming rules, with a view to ensure that rural folk are better able to earn a livelihood and are not flocking to urban slums, to earn a living. With his experience as an advisor at NRLM and in contract farming, he guides SSRDP in setting up a structure that would be self-sustaining and self-funded.
Vijay Hakay
Mr. Vijay has the responsibility of linking YLTP/RHP/HP with all SSRDP project initiatives that involve people, be it rural training or skill training. He identifies honorary sevaks for appointment, for being in-charge at District and Taluk level. He vigorously expands the scope of the World Bank funded project on climate resilient agriculture. Mr. Vijay also guides and influences Sarpanch federations towards the betterment of farmer incomes and quality of life, through collective farming and appropriate marketing practices.
Indira Merani
Mrs. Merani has been looking after the Human Resources department in the SSRDP since the past 5 years. B Tech by education, she started her career with BHEL and had been in the teaching profession for almost 20 years. Her last assignment was as Professor at an Engineering College in Bangalore. At the age of 66 she continues to work along with being a home maker and an Art of Living teacher. She along with her family have been associated with the Art of Living since the past 19 years.