Our team

Ms. Renu Appachu

Founder & Executive Director

Jagruthi came into being in the year 1995 with a primary and preferential option of undertaking developmental interventions predominantly for the benefit of vulnerable women and children in the city of Bangalore. In the incipient phase, the major focus of the organization was to address the growing STD/STI/HIV/AIDS infections among children, women, transsexuals, transgender and bisexuals. As time passed by it was found that Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation of each segment of the population from sexual exploitation and empower to protect them from sexually transmitted infections became the major developmental agenda.

In the year 1994 she started her career as a Social worker with a NGO, whose main objective is “Intervention & Prevention” of STI and HIV among the marginalize communities in Bangalore. As part of prevention of STI and HIV programme, she was a coordinator of Education Programme in Prison, Sex workers, Garment factory employees and slum dwellers.

Having gained sufficient knowledge and experience, she started the organization “Jagruthi” in the year 1995 which was registered as a Trust in 1996. The three fold strategy of the organization is ‘Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation of vulnerable children & youth by reaching out in to the communities. The Aim of the organization is, “Prevention of Children and Young Women from Exploitation and Protect their Rights”. As on today Jagruthi is covering the entire city of Bangalore in a systematic way, touching the lives of thousands of children and youth under her guidance. She is also a recipient “Ashoka Fellow” and the work of Jagruthi was recognized and appreciated by the Government of Karnataka conferring the Governor’s Award.

Mr. Chandra Kumar

Secretary & Trustee

Mr. Chandra Kumar is a leading Chartered Accountant in Bangalore and he takes care of the financial audit of leading firms in Karnataka and a few institutions in North India. He has close association with most of the Catholic Church related organizations and educational institutions. He is an active trustee of Jagruthi and he guides the organization to handle the finances in a systematic way.. As far as Jagruthi is concerned, he is a resourceful person and a guide. He also functions as co signatory in all the bank transactions and helps the staff to tap the local resources.

Mrs. Usha Medina

Trustee

Usha Medina is the proprietor of Medina plastics, a leading plastic manufacturing firm based in Bangalore. This factory caters to the need of most of the top MNCs in India and abroad. She has passion for social work and she involves herself in various social work activities during her leisure time. She herself is s Rotarian and she is contributing a lot to the community people on humanitarian grounds through Rotary Club of Bangalore.. Her major contribution to the society is Women Empowerment Programme, Cancer screening camps, Eye Camps, Blood Donation camps . With this rich experience, she is also an active member of the Multiple Sclerosis Society which helps MS persons. She has been recognized as one of the best entrepreneur and social worker by the Government of Karnataka. She is great source of help to Jagruthi in fund raising campaign.

Dr. Sumitra

Dr. Sumitra is one of the Medical Officers in the Government Hospital at Ramanagara, Bangalore Rural District. In spite of her busy schedule she set apart time for her service among the rural communities and slum dwellers. She is a great source of help to Jagruthi as we work with children and young women in sex work. She extends her cooperation when they approach the Government Hospital for screening, testing and treatment. She gives direction to our field staff in the field of health and nutrition for the children and the beneficiaries.

Dr. Chandra Shekar Balachandra

Dr. Balachandran is a geographer with over 25 years of cumulative teaching experience in the U.S.A. and India, ranging from K-12 to post-graduate levels. He has worked extensively with K-12 geography teachers in the U.S.A. and India. He is based in Bangalore. He is actively promoting innovative geography education in the K-12 levels by active engagement with teachers and students in different syllabi in Kannada and English. He spearheads the GeoVidyaa Geography Centre of Excellence, a partnership with Army Public School, Bangalore, and other GeoVidyaa Geography Centres elsewhere. He is a great source of support to Jagruthi in our journey with the needy children and young women.

Br. Mani Karott

Br. Mani Karott is a graduate in Sociology from Mysore University and obtained Diploma in Special Education, Chennai. He has also secured a Post Graduate Degree in Sociology from the International Institute of Developmental Studies in France. He is a qualified counselor and a Psychotherapist. Br.Mani Karott is a member of an International Roman Catholic Order called “Little Brothers of Jesus” and is currently working as Counsellor of Post Graduate students in St. Joseph’s College of Commerce, Bangalore. With his rich experience in the field of counselling and psychotherapy he is contributing to Jagruthi through his professional caliber. He is renowned Art Therapist.

Br. Kumar

Br. Kumar is a Diploma holder in Community Health and in addition to that he has Bachelor degree in Theology. He is a member of an International Roman Catholic Order called “Little Brothers of Jesus”. He is a priest in the Roman Catholic Order and involves himself with all the social activities undertaken by the church. Presently he is working as an learning facilitator in Sochara since 2 years. He had the rich experiences of working in Samraksha for 9 years which caters to the needs of living with HIV/AIDS. He has lot of experience in working with Leprosy Patients and Mentally Challenged Children He is also taking active part in the work of Jagruthi as a honorary consultant and provides necessary guidance to the staff in their field work.

Homer Ephraim

Mr. Homer is a post graduate who hails from Tirunelvelli, Tamil Nadu. He started his career as a Warden in one of the boys’ hostels supported by KNH. Due to his sincere and hard work he was promoted as a Project Officer to CCCYC Central Office in Bangalore in the year 1982.. He was in-charge of Differently abled Children’s Projects and Projects for Children At Risk. After serving the Organisation for 33 years he retired and then he chose to work with Jagruthi in the capacity of a honorary consultant. With his rich experience he assists the Executive Director in systematic planning and implementation of Jagruth’s various Programmes.

Kannan R

Executive Trustee

Kannan is a graduate of commerce from Mysore University. He is one of the trustees of Jagruthi and he is responsible for the Administration of Jagruthi in all level. He takes care of the planning and implementation of programmes and the day to day activities of the organization. He joined the organization during the later part 1990s and with his vast experiences; he is able to extend his services to the staff, children and the beneficiaries. Apart from this he serves as liaison between Jagruthi and the Public and he is an expert in tapping locally available resources both kind and cash. He is thorough with the various Programmes of Jagruthi and guides all the administrative staff, key staff and the field staff.

Mr. Shivaprasad KS (Sharanu)

Finance Manger

Mr. Shivaprasad is a graduate from Mangalore University and he works as the financial controller and maintains the day to day income and expenditure of the organization. He draws the financial plan of Jagruthi through Activity Based Budget each year and takes responsibility of submitting quarterly financial statement and annual audited statements to all authorities, including, well wishers and donor agenesis. He is capable of maintain the accounts of Jagruthi in tact and in spite of the financial constrains he makes both the ends meet without deficit.

Mr. Nanjundaswamy LG

Programme Coordinator

Mr. Nanjundaswamy is a post graduate from Mysore University. He coordinates the various projects under the umbrella of Jagruthi. He prepares the Plan of Action every year towards the effective implementation of the various programmes under Jagruthi. He coordinates the work of the administrative staff, Home Care Centre Staff, field staff and plan for the regular staff meetings both in the office and in the communities. He is responsible for providing information about day to day activities of the organization. He prepares the annual report and quarterly reports to be submitted to all the concern authorities including the donor agenesis. He builds rapport with the like minded organizations, CWC, Child Line and even the Government.

Mrs. Bhagyalakshmi N

Administrative Assistant

Mrs. Bhagyalakshmi is a graduate from Bangalore University with basic computer training and tally. She is one of the senior most staff of Jagruthi. She takes care of the day to day activities of the Jagruthi contact office and co ordinate the work of the other office. Her main responsibility is documentation and maintenance of records, registers and files pertaining to Jagruthi. She has additional qualification in teaching sewing and embroidery technology and hence she is supervising the skill training programme under taken by Jagruthi for our beneficiaries and young women from the local community under integrated programme.