Prasanna Saligram, an engineer by training, joined AID Chennai as a volunteer in 1998, helped organize the first AID India conference in 1999, and has been involved with AID ever since. He also volunteers with the Hundred Block Plan (HBP) in Tamil Nadu.

After a brief stint in Germany, where he got his MBA, he returned to India and engaged in full time community work with the People’s Health Movement, a global alliance of health networks and activists, which works to promote health and health rights of the people. He served as the Communications Officer with the movement. Since October 2005, Prasanna has been an AID Saathi. He works in three areas:

1. Campaign for rejuvenation of primary health care in Karnataka: As a steering committee member of the Karnataka wing of the People’s Health Movement, he is involved in mobilizing communities in 18 districts on Health and Health Rights.

2. Mainstreaming Sustainable Agriculture: Prasanna has been working on utilizing government employment programs such as NREGA in the villages to mainstream sustainable agriculture practices and bring farmers out of their present crisis of high inputs.

3. Globalization, Trade and Health:  During 2004 and 2005, Prasanna campaigned to oppose amendments to the Indian Patent Act. Since then has been looking closely on the impacts of globalization on Health and Agriculture.. 

Sunita Mani, a marketing specialist in Dallas, serves on the Executive Board of AID, coordinating support to AID Saathis and Long Term Partners.