Dr. N. Narayansamy has a rich academic background and has specialised in Agricultural Economics, Cooperation, and Financial Management. He has contributed over 60 papers in leading national and international journals. He has conducted and guided many research projects. He has conducted several training programmes and workshops on Participatory Rural Appraisal methods, and has been a Consultant Team Member to many departments of the Government, donors and NGOs. He is currently, Professor of Extension Education at the Gandhi gram Rural Institute. He is also Programme Coordinator of the PRA activities at this Institute. He has over 20 years of experience in teaching and research. His publications include: Repayment Ethic, Extension in University Curriculum, Participatory Rural Appraisal.
Dr. B. R. Dwaraki obtained his Master’s Degree in Anthropology from the Punjab University and his Ph.D from the Bangalore University. He spent three years in the United States at the invitation of a State University on Third World Development Issues. He has published several articles in national and international journals. He has been involved in the PRA efforts at the Gandhigram Rural Institute almost since beginning. He has been a prominent member of the PRA team in the grassroots level exercises as well as the training and consultancy programmes with a variety of agencies. Dr. Dwaraki is currently senior faculty member, teaching Rural Sociology. He is also Director of Information Development and Resource Agency for Nehru Yuva Kendras for South Zone.
Dr. M.P. Boraian obtained his Doctoral degree in Rural Development from Gandhigram Rural Development from Gandhigram Rural Institute and pre-doctoral degree in Rural development from National Institute of Rural Development. He studied the Status and Problems of Tribal Women for his Doctoral programme and was awarded with a Fellowship by the International Labour Organisation which he executed in the Philippines, Thailand and Singapore. He has published two books, contributed papers to nine books, six training manuals, 10 monographs and edited two books. He has prepared 20 research studies, and published 39 articles in national and international journals. He was associated with Research Projects sponsored by UNICEF, ILO, SIDA, SAREC, Planning Commission and ICSSR. He is a member of several regional, national and international professional bodies. Currently, he is Senior Lecturer at Gandhigram Rural Institute.
R. Ramesh obtained his Master’s Degree in Cooperative Management from the Gandhigram rural Institute, was working for a CCF funded project at Abhoy Ashram, Calcutta. Later served as a Training Coordinator at the International Federation of Plantation, Agricultural and Allied Workers (IRPAAW) at Trichy. He is currently working for a Ford Foundation funded project on Participatory Rural Appraisal at PRA-Unit of the Gandhigram Rural Institute. His papers (Many of them co-authored) have been published in national and international level journals. He is co-author of a book Participatory Rural Appraisal Methods (Tamil).