Ashirvadam is a not-for-profit charitable trust that was established in 2012. Over the last 12 years, under the leadership of trustees Ashok Soota and Davis Karedan, the organisation has taken firm steps towards providing assistance where it is needed the most.
Ashirvadam’s mission is twofold – to empower the underserved by providing aid for education, healthcare, skilling, and employment, and to ensure environmental conservation by supporting projects in the areas of wildlife protection, forest preservation and other stewardship initiatives.
We provide financial assistance and undertake projects in various capacities that align with our mission statement. Some of the areas that we have backed projects include:
a) Projects that focus on the protection and preservation of the environment, including forest conservation, tree plantation, waste disposal and recycling, setting up renewable sources of energy and educating the public about the importance of environmental conservation.
b) Projects that serve the deprived section of society in both urban and rural populations and address issues such as sanitation, family planning, medical relief and vocational training.
c) Projects that provide mid-day meal schemes to school children, assisting them to purchase books and uniforms, offering scholarships, and conducting health camps. We also assist in the renovation of school buildings, and homes for the homeless.
d) We offer scholarships to students from the weaker sections of society who showcase excellence in education and sports.
Ashok Soota is the founder, chairman and chief mentor of Happiest Minds and Happiest Health. Over an illustrious career spanning nearly 60 years, he has held the posts of executive chairman of Mindtree, president of Wipro’s IT business, and president of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Manufacturers Association for Information Technology (MAIT).
Ashok has also served on the advisory board of the World Intellectual Property Organization in Geneva and as a member of the board of governors at IIM Kozhikode. He is also a member of the board of governors of the Asian Institute of Management.
As a philanthropist, Ashok is committed to making a meaningful difference. He is the founder trustee of Ashirvadam and has been the founder sponsor of the Samarthanam Trust, a Bengaluru-based NGO that provides shelter and education to children.
Ashok is also the chairman and managing trustee of SKAN, a medical research trust with a mission to transform the future of medicine and impact millions of lives.
The primary areas of focus of Ashirvadam are supporting basic primary education, building a sustainable environment, and improving the lives of people with disabilities.
Davis Karedan, managing trustee of Ashirvadam, is an agriculturist, social worker and entrepreneur. He was the proprietor of Pace Services and served as the managing director of two firms – Thread Kraft and Kleen Safe. Davis has spent several years working in the social sector and has been associated with organisations such as Anugraha Sadan, a home for children with developmental disabilities from low-income backgrounds in Chalakudy in Kerala; Samarthanam Trust; and Baale Mane, a shelter for girls from socioeconomically disadvantaged communities.
The primary areas of focus of Ashirvadam are supporting basic primary education, building a sustainable environment, and improving the lives of people with disabilities.
Davis is co-chairman of Happiest Health and vice chairman and trustee of SKAN, a medical research trust with a mission to transform the future of medicine and impact millions of lives.
You can reach Davis at daviskaredan@ashirvadam.com
Gagan Kumar Pathik is an industrialist with over 32 years of experience in material and production management. Over the last 24 years, he has been involved with several charities and NGOs, including the Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Vidya Mandir Trust, where he served as general manager, Projects, and as chief coordinator for an Integrated Slum Development Project in Bengaluru, initiated by the Youth Leadership Training Program (YLTP) of Art of Living. As part of the latter project, Gagan’s guidance directly led to assisting 30 government schools located in slums, which provide quality education to more than 7,000 children. He has also helped start 10 vocational training centres and self-help groups for women across Bengaluru.
PV Menon is a chartered accountant by trade with over 48 years of experience. He is the founder and chairman of PV Menon and Associates, a CA firm in Bengaluru. His expertise lies in setting up and maintaining small and medium-sized enterprises, and he serves on the board of several firms. PV Menon has been associated with various charitable trusts as a financial adviser and auditor.
