Co-Founder of a not for profit, Avantika Foundation, working in the areas of decentralized public governance and heritage preservation. Advisor to the Accountability initiative, of the Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi. Consultant in decentralization, anti-corruption and heritage conservation. Formerly in the Indian Administrative Service; served as Joint Secretary Government of India, Ministry of Panchayati Raj (Rural local governments, 2004-2009) and Secretary Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Karnataka State (2001-2004). Current assignments include advisor to Login Asia, a network of practitioners in Decentralisation from 11 countries in South, Central and South-East Asia, supported by the Swiss Cooperation Office, Embassy of Switzerland, member of the Local Bodies Commission Kerala State and member of the Working Group on Decentralisation, West Bengal Government. Works in several Indian States directly with Panchayats and their advocacy associations. Other recent assignments include Consultant with the UNDP office in Timor Leste, Consultant to the World Bank on Centrally Sponsored Scheme reforms, Governance Advisor with UNDP – India office, member of the Committee on Decentralisation, Government of Karnataka, member of the State Planning Board, Karnataka and Consultant and advisor to several Expert Committees constituted by the Government of India, on decentralized public governance. Headed and ran the ipaidabribe.com initiative (2010-2011), which crowd-sources reports on corruption from citizens. Model maker, steam railway enthusiast and classic automobile restorer. Avantika Foundation is setting up a rural museum for children, named the Museum of Movement, to celebrate the romance of transportation in India, while also working with Panchayats in Karnataka state to improve their organizational effectiveness.

Mr. T.R. Raghunandan
Rtd. Bureaucrat