About Us

From a humble beginning in 2002 to becoming a driving force in grassroots conservation, Arulagam has consistently dedicated itself to safeguarding fragile ecosystems.   

Who We Are

Our story

Arulagam is a non-profit, independent conservation organisation established in 2002 by Mr. Bharathidasan Subbaiah. Headquartered in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, we work at the grassroots level to resolve environmental and conservation issues — combining rigorous field science with deep, inclusive community participation.

We focus especially on little-known, threatened, and neglected species of flora, fauna, and ecosystems, with a deliberate emphasis on creating regional and local impact in south-western Tamil Nadu and across South India.

About Us

A grassroots conservation organisation championing threatened species, neglected ecosystems, and tribal communities across South India — through robust science and inclusive community participation.

‘Arulagam’ in Tamil translates to “Sanctuary of compassion for all life forms” — named in tribute to Mr. Arulmozhi, a passionate environmentalist whose legacy this organisation was founded to honour.

What we do

  • Arulagam endeavors to conserve flora and fauna – particularly endangered, neglected, less charismatic, and lesser-known species and their habitats in India, especially in Tamil Nadu. 
Arulagam emphasizes robust science to address environmental issues and serves as a voice for the voiceless. We believe in a participatory approach to nature conservation, through inclusive partnership and capacity development of our various stakeholders so as to create an ecologically conscious citizenry and a culture of appreciation and good will towards our land, water and environment.

Empower

Conservation Action

Protecting wildlife, restoring habitats, and empowering communities to create a sustainable future for nature and people.

Vulture conservation

Long-term field research, radio telemetry, habitat studies, and advocacy for conserving threatened vultures: White-rumped, Indian, Red-headed, and Egyptian.

Sand-dune conservation

Protecting unique Rameshwaram sand dunes threatened by illegal mining through stakeholder partnerships and community-led conservation.

Neglected species

Conserving overlooked but threatened fauna such as Hyenas and Tarantulas, ensuring that species outside the mainstream receive the scientific attention they deserve.

Native plant nursery

A self-sustaining nursery of indigenous trees and plants, run by local community members - generating livelihoods while deepening people's connection to their natural heritage.

Community & Livelihoods

People at the centre

All our projects deliberately employ native communities. We work closely with tribal communities to create stable income opportunities and reduce dependence on wildlife for sustenance.

Kattunaika tribe
Irula tribe
Soliga tribe
Kuruba tribe
Narikuravar tribe, Tirunelveli

SIVAG

Flagship Initiative

Arulagam is working to establish the South India Vulture Action Group (SIVAG) — a conservation partnership network of research institutes, NGOs, conservationists, and scientists to enable holistic, coordinated vulture conservation across the region.

Meet Our Team

Our executive committee

Bharathidasan Subbaiah
Mr. Bharathidasan Subbaiah
Founder
Mr. Bharathidasan Subbaiah
Founder
Headquartered in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu · Working across South India since 2002.
Bharathidasan Subbaiah is one of the founders of the organization. He is a nature enthusiast and freelance writer. He is one of the fifteen recipients of the 'Biodiversity Hotspot Hero' award by Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) in 2016 at the IUCN World Conservation Conference. He also received the Biodiversity award in 2015 from Auroville Foundation.
Mr. Karthika Rajkumar
Mr. Karthika Rajkumar
President
Mr. Karthika Rajkumar
President
Karthika Rajkumar is an accomplished writer with a career spanning over 30 years. His prolific literary body includes a novel, a novella collection, a play anthology, and a translated research paper, alongside six short story and two poetry collections. His acclaimed short stories have earned prestigious Ilakkiya Chinthanai and Ilakkiya Veethi awards. Internationally recognized, his work appears in English and Hindi anthologies.
Joseph Melkis Raja
Mr. Melkis Raja
Joint Secretary
Mr. Joseph Melkis Raja
Joint Secretary
Joe M. Raja is a seasoned computer professional and successful entrepreneur, bringing valuable technical and administrative acumen to the operations. Beyond his professional career, Joe is an avid bird watcher and dedicated wildlife photographer with a deep-seated passion for documenting biodiversity, bridging the gap between modern technology and conservation.
Amirthalingam
Mr. Amirthalingam
Treasurer
Mr. Amirthalingam
Treasurer
A postgraduate in Botany, he has over 25 years of experience working as an officer implementing various government flagship programmes. He has also served as an Entrepreneurship Trainer and as a Monitoring and Evaluation Officer for government schemes. In addition, he possesses extensive expertise in nursery development and plant propagation.

Our Team

Mr. Bharathidasan S
Mr. Bharathidasan S
Secretary
Mr. Bharathidasan S
Secretary
Ms. Nilitha
Ms. Nilitha
Admin Associate
Ms. Nilitha
Admin Associate
Nilitha serves as the admin and operational functions, ensuring seamless coordination across programs, teams, and stakeholders. She oversees organizational compliance, documentation, reporting systems, communications, and day-to-day administrative processes that support the effective implementation of conservation and community development initiatives. She plays a key role in coordinating with project teams, donors, corporate partners, and government stakeholders, while also supporting organizational planning, event management, and progress monitoring. Her attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and ability to manage multiple responsibilities help maintain operational efficiency and accountability across the organization. Through her dedication and commitment, Nilitha contributes significantly to strengthening Arulagam’s institutional systems and enhancing the impact of its programs.
Mrs. Veeralakshmi
Mrs. Veeralakshmi
Programme Manager
Mrs. Veeralakshmi
Programme Manager
Currently serving as Programme Manager at Arulagam, Coimbatore, with expertise in Programme Management, Business Development, Operations, Monitoring & Evaluation, and Partnership Building. Experienced in managing projects from design to implementation, strengthening institutional linkages, donor engagement, and stakeholder coordination. Skilled in capacity building for NGOs, FPOs, SHGs, and farmer communities, having trained over 500 FPO members across multiple districts. Proven track record in resource mobilization, government convergence, reporting, documentation, and operational management.
Mrs. Kavitha Bharathidasan
Mrs. Kavitha Bharathidasan
Nursery Supervisor
Mrs. Kavitha Bharathidasan
Nursery Supervisor
Mr. Saravanan
Mr. Saravanan
Accounts Manager
Mr. Saravanan
Accounts Manager
Ms. Lavanya
Ms. Lavanya
Accountant
Ms. Lavanya
Accountant
Ms. Sundari
Ms. Sundari
Biologist
Ms. Sundari
Biologist
I’m Sundari R, a Zoology postgraduate with a strong passion for wildlife conservation. I have one year of field experience in vulture conservation with Arulagam and have worked closely with tribal communities through household surveys. I’ve completed training in Quality Planting Material Production (IFGTB), Vulture Survey Techniques, Vermicomposting, and Animal Welfare Acts. I love fieldwork, connecting with communities, and continuously learning about nature and conservation practices.
Ms. Revathi
Ms. Revathi
Socialogist
Ms. Revathi
Socialogist
I am S. Revathi, an environmental and community development professional from Thalavadi, Erode. With a post-graduation in Economics and hands-on experience in vulture conservation, tribal outreach, and socio-economic surveys, I am committed to biodiversity protection and sustainable livelihoods. I’m especially passionate about promoting value-added NTFPs and traditional bamboo crafts for rural empowerment.
Mr. Santhosh
Mr. Santhosh
Artist
Mr. Santhosh
Artist
My name is Santhosh. I am studying SSLC. I am an artist and I work with Arulagam, an organisation that works for wildlife conservation. I love creating art and I teach drawing and painting to children. I enjoy learning new art skills and sharing my knowledge with others. My dream is to become a great artist and support nature conservation through my artwork.
Mr. John Jabez
Mr. John Jabez
Over All Coordinator
Mr. John Jabez
Over All Coordinator
Mr. Natarajan Ponnusamy
Mr. Natarajan Ponnusamy
Subject Expert
Mr. Natarajan Ponnusamy
Subject Expert
Sobha Madhan
Ms. Sobha Madhan
Project Manager
Ms. Sobha Madhan
Project Manager
Mr. Satheesh Maran
Mr. Satheesh Maran
Field Office Manager
Mr. Satheesh Maran
Field Office Manager
Mr. Mathan
Mr. Mathan
Field Coordinator
Mr. Mathan
Field Coordinator
Ms. Shobhana
Ms. Shobhana
Accounts Manager
Ms. Shobhana
Accounts Manager
Ms. Geetha
Ms. Geetha
Accountant
Ms. Geetha
Accountant