Advisory Board 

Ramanathan is the co-founder of Payir Trust and also schoolmate and close friend of Senthil, Founder of Payir. Ramanathan held executive roles in the semiconductor (chip manufacturing) industry while working in both India and the US. Currently, he is an angel investor and advisor to many start ups in India. He strongly believes Rural Empowerment is important for a developed India.

Aravindan R is a software professional with a reputed MNC. He has been volunteering with non-profits like Association for India's Development, Payir for several years in the education domain. He is a co-founder of a non-profit called DoctorNet India with a mission to make healthcare accessible to the disadvantaged people across Tamil nadu. He has done Masters in Computer Applications, Masters in Social Work and completed a Community Health Learning Programme fellowship offered by SOCHARA. He writes at aravindanrajaram.wordpress.com

Guruprasad is an experienced management professional and developer with a track record in digital transformations. He is currently heading Kultivate, an organisation primarily building AGTech applications. His long-standing experience in different spheres of software development helped him with expertise in digital transformation. ​ Guruprasad is a dynamic and value-driven leader with 24+ years of experience in IT. He graduated in Computer Communication from Bharathiar University and started his career building digital transformation for tier-1 telecom industry players. ​ Following his passion for teaching and mentoring, Guru also works as a part-time teacher in a local school.

Santhosh has dedicated the last four years of his life to working with Payir Trust, specifically on their Education Guidance program. Santhosh and Senthil's paths crossed through their mutual friend Aravindan, which led to a fruitful collaboration. As a director with a small firm based in Florida, Santhosh spends most of his time working remotely from his home in Coimbatore. Santhosh's passion lies in working at the grassroots level and he strongly believes that rural empowerment and education are essential components for developing India into a higher state.

JLX – Jeevan L Xavier is an entrepreneur, a visionary textile / lifestyle-product designer and an artist based in Bangalore. Founder and creative head of JLX Studio, a consulting firm that is specialised in design, art, and research. Under this eponymous brand, the studio engages in documentation and research in areas of folklore and vernacular culture in Southern India, alongside commercial design projects for textile manufacturers, retailers, and brands across the globe.

Rajendran is a civil engineer and consultant with a passion for working at the grassroots level. He specializes in cost-effective technology and the conservation of old temples, churches, mosques, and heritage buildings. Rajendran S has also been actively involved in teaching as a visiting faculty at several institutions. He has received numerous awards and recognition for his contributions to the field.

Sudhir Kumar is a Principal Architect at Peoples Architecture Commonweal, based in Chennai, India. As an architect and teacher, he has been involved in reclaiming customary relations between humans and their landscapes through vernacular design and building practices. He is also an activist and rights campaigner, advocating for the preservation of communing and customary occupations against encroachment by urban expansion. Throughout his career, he has been engaged in various social and environmental causes, including supporting peasant and fishing communities, assisting farmers in resisting infrastructure projects, and documenting the impacts of floods and illegal sand mining. He has also been engaged in various research projects, lecturing, and teaching positions, contributing to the field of architecture and planning.