One Health Through
Agriculture, Food System & Nutrition

Mohandas V. U. is a Professional Social Worker and Founder & Chairman of Better Life Foundation India. With over two decades of experience in community development, social welfare, and capacity building, he has contributed extensively to education, public health, youth empowerment, and social justice initiatives.

His key engagements include serving as a Logistics Trainer for the Additional Skill Acquisition Program (ASAP), Govt. of Kerala, and concept developer & scriptwriter for public health, anti-drug initiatives, tuberculosis elimination, and electoral participation campaigns. He has previously held leadership roles with the Institute of Applied Dermatology (Kasaragod), Bharat Scouts and Guides, and Akhila Kerala Balajana Sakhyam (Malayala Manorama).

On international and national stages, he represented civil society at the World Social Forum 2024 (Nepal) contributing to discussions on Right to Education and Climate Justice, and participated in an interactive session with former President of India, Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.

A featured writer on All India Radio and published in major periodicals since 1998, he is the author of over 400 short stories, 50+ articles, and 7 published interviews.

Dr. Karthika M is a doctoral researcher at the Department of Public Health Sciences, Central University of Kerala. She holds a Bachelor of Ayurveda Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) and Master of Public Health (MPH). Alongside her doctoral research, she mentors postgraduate students in developing study protocols, conducting fieldwork and analysis, and publishing articles in peer-reviewed journals. She also serves as the Operations Advisor to support the activities of Better Life Foundation India and as an Academic Guide at the NGO to assist higher-education students through community engagements, research designs, and data collection frameworks.

Her research focuses on investigating high-risk behaviours in the community, particularly unhealthy diets, tobacco use, and physical inactivity. She is interested in assessing the distribution and management of lifestyle diseases such as hypertension and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) within Indian populations. She also examines the influence of socio-demographic, lifestyle, and cultural paradigms on chronic diseases. Currently, she works on exploring the utility, deployment, and scalability of mobile health (mHealth) applications for hypertension care by promoting a healthy diet, physical activity, and medication adherence.

She has qualified the National Eligibility Test (NET) for assistant professor positions in Indian universities. She serves as a reviewer for top public health journals and has contributed to three book chapters in Springer Nature. She has published seven journal articles in peer-reviewed international and national journals. Her scholarly work reflects her commitment to advancing public health research and supporting evidence-based healthcare practices.

Dr. Shruthi Pandith K (BAMS, MD, PGDCP) is the Health & Hygiene Head at Better Life Foundation India and Co-Founder of The NEST Post Natal Care (The Nest Prasavaraksa Kendram).

She is a Consultant Physician at Indian Ayurveda Pharmacy, Old Bus Stand, Kasaragod, delivering integrative medical care and maternal health support across the region.

She also serves as an Internal Complaint Committee Member for Open Prison & Correctional Home, Cheemeni & Special Sub Jail, Kasaragod, actively contributing to institutional wellness and community welfare.

Anagha M B is a Dietitian and Public Health Nutritionist specializing in nutritional assessment, personalized diet planning, and Medical Nutrition Therapy. She leads community nutrition programs and health-awareness initiatives at Better Life Foundation India, applying evidence-based practices to improve community health outcomes.

As a Certified Diabetes Educator, she supports preventive health, balanced nutrition, and lifestyle disease management through practical guidance for individuals and communities.

Dr. Jayalakshmi Rajeev is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences at the Central University of Kerala. She pursued Master of Public Health (MPH) and PhD from the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST), an Institution of National Importance.

Her research focuses on public health nutrition, women and child health, health inequities, with growing interests in artificial intelligence and data-driven approaches to public health research. She has made significant contributions to understanding child growth, malnutrition, and social determinants of health in India.

Her research extensively utilizes large national datasets, advanced epidemiological methods, and statistical models to address complex public health challenges. She has published in reputed peer-reviewed national and international journals, including eClinicalMedicine, BMC Breastfeeding, World Medical & Health Policy, and the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, has presented her work at national and international scientific forums, and actively mentors postgraduate students in public health research.