Our first initiative was an intensive literacy campaign launched in 1986 titled, Operation 100%.  The goal of the campaign was to assist Perur’s population in the 15 -35 age groups to become literate.  Thanks to this innovative program, Perur attained close to 80% literacy rate, which is significantly higher than the national average.

Since this first step, the Ashram’s activities have expanded over the past two decades, now including eight program areas and over 30 projects and ongoing programs allowing for closer interactions with people, communities, institutions and Governments. The Ashram has now become a center for international development, learning and collaboration.

Sarvodaya, as articulated by Mahatma Gandhi, provides the vision for Shanti Ashram.  Through a commitment to constructive social action, the Ashram strives to serve as a catalyst to empower the different sections of rural communities in particular, and the society at large. The Ashram was founded in 1986 by Dr. M.  Aram and Mrs. Minoti Aram, along with fellow Gandhians. The principal feature of the Ashram’s activities has been the direct and proactive involvement of the village communities themselves in its people centered programs.

Shanti Ashram has adopted the ‘Service Area’ model wherein the village constitutes an individual service unit. A team of committed staff coordinates program implementation in each of the 40 service villages.  Complementing the work of the Ashram’s field staff are leaders and members of the community based organizations, including Women’s Self-help groups, Illainjer Mandrams (youth groups), Panchayat members (people’s elected representatives) and Farmers’ Associations.  The Ashram has consciously sought community participation from program conceptualization to evaluation.

A leading peace-worker committed to Truth and Non-violence Dr. M. Aram, hardly needs any introduction. For long he served as an untiring soldier for peace and stability in the highly strategic, charming, and resourceful region – Nagaland and was one of the principle architects of the Shillong Peace Accord. Since 1963 Dr. Aram was a prominent member of the peace movement in India. His services in the capacities of member in Delhi-Peking Peace March, Secretary of the Asian Regional Council of World Peace Brigade, Convener in Nagaland Peace Observers Team, and Director of Nagaland Peace Centre in Kohima, have all left an indelible impression on all understanding minds. He was closely associated with the Gandhi Peace Foundation in New Delhi.

In his first ten years of professional life beginning in 1950, he served as Professor of Education, Principal of Teachers Training College and Deputy Director of Rural Higher Institute, Coimbatore. From 1980 till 1986, Dr. Aram worked with distinction as Vice-Chancellor of Gandhigram Rural University near Madurai. He served later at the National level as Member of the University Grants Commission and Central Advisory Board on Education from 1988.

Dr. Aram served as President & Moderator of the World Conference of Religion and Peace (WCRP/ International). One of his memorable international assignments was his appointment to the team of international observers led by President Kaunda for the first Democratic Elections of South Africa. Dr. M. Aram was nominated to the Rajya Sabha (Upper-house of the Indian Parliament) in 1993 by the President of India, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the fields of education & peace.

Widely travelled, he was the Founder-President of Shanti Ashram, Coimbatore. He has been honoured with many International & National Awards, which include, the Padma Shri Award by the Government of India, the Niwano Peace Prize, the Mahatma Gandhi State Award of Meghalaya, the Defender of Peace award, by the Sarvodaya Movement and the Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy, from the NEHU University.

Born in 1927, he earned his M.A. degree from Madras University and Ph.D. from Ohio State University, U.S.A. Married to a much-loved Gandhian - Minoti Aram, he has two children. Dr.Aram in his five decades of life and work authored several widely read books and pamphlets on Education, Peace, and Sarvodaya.

Since its inception, the Ashram has initiated a number of innovative programs mainly for the holistic development of rural communities. The main feature of the Ashram’s activities has been the proactive involvement of people in the implementation and monitoring of our programs. This people centered approach has ensured successful programme execution on a sustainable basis.

The year 2008-09 witnessed the continuation and expansion of the various ongoing programs in a meaningful and purposeful manner. The program areas under which the programs were implemented include:   

• Bala Shanti for Children
• Community Health
• Environmental Restoration
• Panchayat Raj Research and Training
• Peace Education and Interfaith Collaboration
• Poverty Alleviation
• Women Development
• Youth Leadership

The highlights of the Environmental Restoration Program included the scaling up of the Carbon Mitigation Project. The Collaboration with UNDP & Centre for Environmental Education (CEE) continues to be strengthened with Shanti Ashram being part of its national initiative (multi-centered) for the ‘Production of Smokeless fuel from Agricultural waste’. Dr.S.R.Subramanian continues to serve on the expert panel of the State Planning Commission. The staff team also provided technical consultancy for the implementation of the joint Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Initiative of Larsen & Toubro (L&T) focusing on two Panchayats. The People’s initiative for Cleaner Perur has crossed 266 weeks combining with it the weekly inter-faith prayer at the Gandhi Samadhi on the banks of the river Noyyal. The Green Brigade students have also implemented village level children-led projects to improve the green cover by planting trees, organizing programmes for environmental advocacy and volunteering time for various environmental restoration activities.
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Shanti Ashram has nearly 300 active Women-led Self Help Groups.  Rs.46,98,930 lakhs was added to the earlier  savings base of 1.68 crores during the year 2008 -09. The Women’s Development Program also successfully reached out to nearly 7528 families below the poverty line through the eight public distribution shops they run. The annual Mahalir Mela 2009 brought together 300 women to mark the International Women’s Day for the 6th year in succession. Under the Poornam Initiative, a micro-finance fund for Food .Security titled ‘Akshayam’ was launched and the Poornam PLF Micro-finance fund was further strengthened with capital inputs. The Kasturba Gandhi Awards were instituted & first awarded to 10 successful women-led enterprises.  A field study of the Ashram’s women-led enterprises was conducted by the Amrita School of Business & a field paper commissioned on the opportunities & challenges that women-led Self Help groups have in impacting Food Security.
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Bala Shanti Program :  A total of 1180 children were served of whom 200 children were in the under 5 age group. The services were provided through the nine Kendras. The program continues to bring education, health & nutrition to the most vulnerable rural children since 1991. Mrs. Mythili Murthy continues to develop innovative programmes with her team of dedicated teachers, parents & alumni children. The involvement of parents & grandparents, the successful implementation of the Amutham Initiative, the organizing of the Children’s Collective in partnership with local media, the continuing work with local high schools to improve educational infrastructure, are some of the other highlights of the Bala Shanti programme.   The monthly children’s parliament ‘Ondru Seruvom’ brings together over 900 alumni children with an aim to build the leadership capacities of children themselves in changing their lives and that of their communities.
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The Community Health Program’s Extended Immunization project included two vaccines, MMR and Typhoid and covered children in our service villages. The Ashram also organized the Child-centered Initiative for Health promotion with the PSG Institute for Medical Sciences & the Course on Community Health in Rural Tamilnadu with Harvard University, for the 6th year in succession.  Udayam was also jointly implemented for the 2nd year with the Bala Shanti Programme with an aim to reverse malnutrition in the children enrolled under the programme. Thanks to the tremendous effort put in by Mrs. Parvathi Devaraj & her team, ratio reversed to a majority healthy (positive ratio) of 64 : 36.  Malarum Pavai reached out to Adolescent Rural girls from 28 villages, bringing to them  knowledge on Menstrual hygiene & life skills.  Dr. Kezevino Aram served as member of the Government of India’s Task force on Orphan & Vulnerable Children & continues to lead Public Health work with the Department of Community Medicine at the PSG Institute of Medical Sciences.
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Ensuring Human Development through Panchayat Raj Institutions: The State Planning Commission invited Shanti Ashram to study the gender impact of government programmes in 10 panchayats & 20 villages of Perur & Madukkarai Blocks. The study has been completed & draft report submitted. Working for women & children and the potential for creating Child friendly Panchayats has been part of the thematic discussion both within the Ashram and with our Panchayat representatives & this study found thematic convergence with that of the study.  Three new & eight already served Gram Panchayats participated in the different projects of the section The Planning commission, Government of India, L&T & Kumara Guru College of Technology, collaborated with us in implementing programs for the development of Panchayat Raj Institutions in the following areas:  leadership training, infrastructure building, education, environmental restoration, health & women’s empowerment. 
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The Youth Leadership program successfully hosted youth interns from national and international institutions. Thanks to the successful fund raising by the youth & contributions from committed donors, the number of children receiving educational scholarships has increased from 506 to 816 .  They successfully implemented an outreach programme for Orphan & Vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS covering the greater Coimbatore region & organized the Annual Coimbatore Peace Festival for the tenth year and bringing together over 500 young people. Mr. Parthipan continues to serve on the International Youth Committee of WCRP/ International and in this capacity; he attended the Asian Youth Summit, held in Singapore. A Revolving Fund named:  Aakshayam was established for the Youth Self-help groups. The section is also leading a committee of hosts to organize an Internal Congress of Young people & Children in August 2009. Nearly 600 participants from 20 countries and different parts of India are expected to be part of the event.
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The Ashram strengthened its work under the Peace Education & Interfaith Cooperation Program area by hosting the Sarvodaya-Focolare Round Tables, the Sarvodaya Fortnight Observance, the Gandhi Jayanthi Celebrations and collaborating with the World Conference on Religion and Peace & the Global Network of Religious Organizations for Children. Dr. Kezevino Aram continues to serve on the Executive Committee & of WCRP/ International and represented WCRP at various national & international events. Shanti Ashram has also been part of the preparatory work towards building of Inter-religious Council in India.

The ongoing work among the Inter-faith Ethics Education Council, GNRC South Asia of Arigato Foundation and Shanti Ashram, was strengthened by a range of joint programmes including regional consultations, & training workshops for young educators.  A country-wide event titled ‘Day for Prayer & Action for Children’ was organized with the support of Arigatou International GNRC, GNRC South Asia Secretariat & it brought together 10,200 children through 25 events. Mr. Vijayragavan also participated in the ‘Youth for Peace’ Workshop held in Geneva, along with a delegation of Indian children.
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The Poverty Alleviation efforts of the Ashram included interventions for families below poverty line, training of professionals both from academic & voluntary organizations, practicum’s & of the establishment of dedicated revolving funds for capacity building.

The Communication section continues to assist in the documentation, dissemination & publishing initiatives of the Ashram.

The Social Service Network of the Ashram has had a very rewarding year of building and strengthening partnerships. During the year, we have worked with over 100 organizations at the local, national & international levels and helped advance Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of Poorna Swaraj.

The Social Service Network of the Ashram has had a very rewarding year of building and strengthening partnerships. During the year, we have worked with over 100 organizations at the local, national & international levels and helped advance Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of Poorna Swaraj. prayers.

Comprehensive and integrated approaches to the various problems of rural development are adopted by the Ashram, as we believe that community development should begin at the level of a village.  Over the past two decade, the Ashram’s experience covering both micro level and macro level interventions has generated useful information and knowledge.