K.Govindaraju, SEVAI, a note

          K.Govindaraju, SEVAI

K. Govindaraju*  

_Founder & Director, SEVAI | Social Worker, Educationist, Farmer | Tiruchirappalli_

K. Govindaraju was born on _25th September 1952_ to Shri Krishna Reddiar and Smt. Polammal in _Melapatty Village, near Kulithalai_, into a farming family. He grew up with a younger brother and sister, both of whom are now settled.  

His early education reflects the simplicity of rural life. He completed his primary schooling in his native village, walked to middle school in _Panikampatty_, and finished high school at _Kulithalai Boys High School_ in the Tamil medium. He pursued his Pre-University at _Bishop Heber College_, graduated from _National College, Tiruchirappalli_, and earned his _B.Ed_ from _Siddhartha College of Education, Tumkur_. With a deep commitment to learning, he later completed _M.Sc., M.A.,  through distance education, and a _Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism_ from _Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan_.

In _1975_, he began his journey in social service with the _Village Reconstruction Organisation_ in Andhra Pradesh as Tamil Nadu Coordinator. During the _1977 floods in Tiruchirappalli_, he led emergency relief work and was instrumental in constructing solid homes in six villages. Over the next nine years, he implemented health, child care, and adult literacy projects.  

Driven by the vision of sustainable rural development, he registered _SEVAI_ in _1984_ as a charitable organization.

Under his leadership, SEVAI has delivered holistic development across _Tiruchirappalli, Karur, Nagapattinam, and Karaikal_. Major initiatives include the construction of over _4,000 permanent homes with sanitation_ for tsunami-affected families, watershed management, professional education for _around 2,000 women_, formation of women’s self-help groups, HIV intervention programs, care for differently-abled children, green energy projects including solar power, organic farming, running _three schools_, and climate change adaptation programs. Details of SEVAI’s ongoing work are available at _www.sevaingo.in_.

A writer and communicator, he also maintains the blog _newseq.blogspot.in_. He has undertaken social service study visits to _England and Germany_, and participated in international seminars in _France, Belgium, Denmark, Switzerland_, and neighboring countries.  

He served as _Chairman of the State Resource Centre for Continuing Education_ for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry under a Government of India program, and as an _Expert Committee Member_ of the Government of India’s Environment Committee for infrastructure projects across the country. He has been serving as _Treasurer of the Tiruchirappalli District Welfare Fund Committee_ for the past 26 years.

His contributions have been recognized with the _Bharat Sevak Award_ conferred by CNRI and blessed by the then Hon’ble President of India in _2007_, and an _Outstanding Service Award_ from the _Government of Tamil Nadu in 2025_.

In his personal life, his wife _Mrs. Padmini Govindaraju_ retired as Headmistress of Government Adi Dravida Higher Secondary School, Milaguparai, and passed away in _2025_ at the age of 70. He now lives in a joint family with his son, who is in business, his daughter-in-law who is a school teacher, and two grandsons. He continues to farm in _Sirugamani_, staying connected to his roots.

From a village student to a national social leader, _K.

 Govindaraju’s life stands as a testament to service, learning, and dedication to community_. 

16th August 2026.