Mr. N. Muthu Velayutham is a professionally trained social worker with in-depth field knowledge on micro finance, community enterprise, medicinal plants conservation and local health (traditional) knowledge for primary health care. He has built several community based models for equitable & sustainable development of human and natural resources through the Covenant Centre for Development (CCD) and Community Enterprise Forum India (CEFI)
He did his graduation in Rural Development Science (B.Sc.,) & Post Graduation in Master of Social Work (M.S.W) with specialization in Community Development, a Post Graduate Diploma in Entrepreneurs Development (PGDED) and Master of Philosophy (M.Phil) in Social Work with specialization in Rural and Urban Community development
He is co-founder of NANBAN Trust, a center for dis-privileged children and founder president of CCD, a developmental organization for promoting community employment to reduce migration. He is founding Director of Grama Mooligai Company Ltd. (GMCL) owned by CBOs as medicinal plants enterprise.
Few programs coordinated by him include:
- Developing livelihood support system for CBOs on traditional crop based activities with Ford Foundation;
- Medicinal plants based activities with HIVOS;
- National Innovation Foundation (NIF), Ahmedabad documentation traditional knowledge and grass root innovations in Tamilnadu;
- Medicinal plants field study in 8 states and an International conference on medicinal plants supported by Oxfam GB;
- Coastal ecosystem program supported by Ford Foundation;
- Sacred Mountain conservation program of ATREE, Bangalore;
- Relief & rehabilitation in Tsunami affected areas supported by Ford Foundation, Oxfam GB and Misereor Germany.