Dr. Basavaraju R Shreshta, a Public Policy and Development Professional having diversified experience in Research and Evaluation, Teaching & Training, Strategic Consultation, Public Policy Development, Project Design & Implementation. He has an experience of working both at the grassroots and policy level, and with all the four sectors in Development i.e Community (citizenry), Government, Corporate, Civil Society Organizations. His primary Research Interest and Expertise: Learning (Education), Skill Development and Livelihood; Rural & Social Business, Employment of Persons with Disability, Corporate Social Responsibility, Governance and Youth Development. He is involved in various policy making and advisory committees formed by the Government and Corporate Organizations in India.

Dr Basavaraju played a key role in establishing Grassroots Research And Advocacy Movement (GRAAM) as a credible public policy research institute. GRAAM which was just an idea and initiated as an experiment, thrived under his leadership to become a national level organization having footprint in over 14 states. In the last 10 years, GRAAM handled over 70 research / consulting projects. Developed partnership with 10 international universities and institutions, and over 60 Indian Government, NGOs, Academic and Corporate organizations. He played a vital role in conceptualizing and implementing several academic and capacity development courses including Public Policy and Program Evaluation (3PE) Workshop implemented in collaboration with Cornell University.

• Member – South India Region Education, Skill and Employment Committee constituted by Confederation of Indian Industries for FOUR terms i.e. 2021-22, 2020-21, 2019-20 & 2018-19
• Advisor - Emerging Technologies Centre (ETC), Indian School of Business and Intel Initiative
• Member – National Education Policy Vocational Education Sub Group – Karnataka
• Member – Working Group for Framing Syllabus for Rural Development Course, Karnataka State Rural Development and Panchayat Raj University, Govt of Karnataka
• Member – Curricula Review Committee – Job Readiness Training and Soft Skill Training for it is, Government of Karnataka   
• Member – South India Region Water Task Force constituted by Confederation of Indian Industries (2017)
• Member – Karnataka Vision 2025 Sector Specialist Group and Authoring Skill Development and Employment Vision Document for the state (2017)
• Member – Core Team of Consultants to develop Skill Development Policy for Government of Karnataka and principle author of the policy draft (2017)
• Member – State Level Committee for revision of Child Labour Action Plan (2016)
• Fellow – Employment and Disability Institute, Cornell University, USA (2014-15)
• Member – Advisory Committee for Karnataka State Rural Livelihood Mission, Government of Karnataka (2012)
• Member – Drafting Committee of Karnataka Sanitation Facilities Guarantee Act (2014-15), Department of Rural Development and Panchayath Raj, Government of Karnataka   
• Member - Advisory Committee to draft Land Purchase Policy for Housing Schemes in Karnataka, Department of Housing, Govt of Karnataka (2014-15) 
• Convener – Advisory Committee for drafting revised action plan for the elimination of Child Labour in Karnataka, Government of Karnataka (2010-2011)
• Member – National Institute of Personnel Managers, Mysore Chapter

Dr. Basavaraju is currently serving as the Executive Director of GRAAM.  He was also a visiting fellow of Cornell University’s Employment and Disability Institute, USA.   Earlier he served as a Deputy Director of State Resource Centre on Child Labour, Department of Labour, Government of Karnataka. He developed the State Action Plan for the elimination of child labour. State Resource Centre was established to be a nodal agency to facilitate child labour elimination activities in collaboration with the International Labour Organization. He was Editor-in-Chief of bi-monthly newsletter on Child Labour ‘Balavani’, established Web Based Child Labour Tracking System and online Child Labour Complaint Registering Mechanism in the state.

As Head-Projects at V-LEAD (Unit of Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement) he played a key role in extending activities of the organization to Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh states in India. He led over 10 projects within the span of two years. His contributions were predominant in establishing V-LEAD as a credible training institute from inception. Over 25 training courses developed and implemented under his leadership.  

Basavaraju has done his Ph.D in Development Studies, Institute of Development Studies, University of Mysore  on Rural Livelihood Policies and Program. He is a post graduate in Business Administration and done a PG Diploma in Human Resource Management. His Bachelor’s Degree (Undergrad) was in Economics, Mathematics and Computer Science. His primary areas of interest are Education, Skill Development and Livelihood, Social Business, Public Health and Corporate Social Responsibility Consulting.