S. K. M. Maeilanandhan

Shri SKM Maeilanandhan, Executive Chairman of SKM Group of Companies, is an eminent entrepreneur, social and consumer activist. He was awarded India’s Highest Civilan Awards Padma Bhushan in 2026 and Padma Shri in 2013 for his exceptional contribution for Social work. 7th November 2025, he was given “Honoris Causa Doctorate” for his exceptional contributions to the Social Service, by SRM University, Sonepat, Delhi NCR.

Early life He was born on June 18, 1945 in a poor agricultural family in Erode District in Tamil Nadu, Shri Maeilanandhan pursued his education only till school final. He started the Poultry Farmers Welfare Association in 1983 and became its founder President, He pioneered a modern Rural Marketing Barter System which is being followed by the present traders. He pioneered for self-employment of the educated and uneducated people in the rural areas and provided job opportunities throughout the year. He organized more than 150 seminars and farmers meets to study and analyze their problems in the market & pricing and prevent emerging diseases of the poultry and educate the poultry farmers, He became the Editor and Publisher of a poultry monthly magazine "Kozhi Nanban"(Poultry Friend). He was instrumental in the inclusion of eggs in the Tamil Nadu Government Noon Meal Scheme to eradicate malnutrition among children.

Consumer Activism Shri Maeilanandhan is the President of Erode District "Consumer Protection Centre" (CPC) for the past 33 years, which has its Sub-centers in all the 299 Village Panchayats and Consumer Clubs in schools and colleges in Erode District. This centre has released books on “Citizen Charters”. In recognition of the services rendered by the Erode Consumer Protection Centre, the Govt. of India awarded "The National Best Consumer Protection Council Award" along with the prize money of Rs.50,000/- in 1993. He has been the Editor for Tamil monthly magazine "Nugharvore Khaavalan" (Consumer Protector) for 33 years.

Philanthropy Shri Maeilanandhan adopted two Dalit villages namely Rajiv Nagar and Gandhi Nagar, in 1999 at Saminathapuram and has been providing the basic needs such as food, clothes and shelter along with medical facilities free to the aged people and children of both the villages. He has also been providing necessary assistance to the people of the 2 Dalit colonies for their marriage, delivery and even funeral. He founded Sangamam Trust, which constructed a Gasifier crematorium for Rural public utilization.

Contribution to Swachh Bharat Mission- Green & Clean Environment & Tamil Fraternity

Shri Maeilanandhan founded “The Periyar Nagar Park Mainntenance Trust” in 1992 and constructed the Periyar Nagar Park, He pioneered the Clean & Green Project. For this, he was awarded “Environment Protector Award” by Tamilnadu Environment and Forest Department. He founded “The National Welfare Awareness Movement” (NWAM) in 1999 with the aim to develop national spirit, awareness, patriotism and to promote the concept of unity in diversity among the general public and the students. As the President of the NWAM, he has been rendering his services with full dedication since its inception. He organized seminars, awareness programmes, peace rallies and voters awareness movement. He contributed ₹2 Crores to the Tamil Nadu Government during the COVID-19 pandemic through WCSC. As the President of Tamil Ilakkiya Peravai Trust, he honoured Tamil scholars with SKM Literary Award with a cash prize of Rs.50000/-.

World Community Service Centre(WCSC) Shri Maeilanandhan is the President of The World Community Service Centre (WCSC) for the past 37 years, which has been spreading the value based cultural education among the general public and student community in the name of Yoga for Human Excellence (YHE) as Certificate, Diploma, UG, PG Courses, M.Phil and Ph.D. courses. For this, Vision for Wisdom, an Educational Wing of WCSC has been established by him, it is affiliated with 34 Universities. So far, around 2,51,410 students have undergone these courses. . He established around 2235 sub-centres and 404 affiliated trusts in India and Abroad for providing Yoga and spiritual Education. He introduced new scheme in which WCSC adopted 389 villages in Tamilnadu through “Village Service Project” (WCSC- VSP) with the aim to declare them as peaceful villages by giving Free education on Yoga, Meditation and Morality. So far 1.50 Lakh people benefitted through this scheme. For his dedicational service to Yoga and Meditation, he became the Chairman of the Indian Yoga Association – Tamilnadu State Chapter, Chennai.

Awards He was awarded Padma Bhushan in 2026 third highest civilian award and in 2013, he was awarded Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award by the Government of India for his contributions to social service .

He was honored with “Honoris Causa Doctorate” Degree for his exceptional contributions to the Social Service, by SRM University, Sonepat, Delhi NCR in 2025. Shri Maeilanandhan has received several awards and honours including National Productivity Awards (8 times); National Safety Awards (2 times); Agriculture & Processed Food Products Export Promotion Award (5 times): Outstanding Young Person A ward by Indian Jaycees in the National top ten category 1978, Lifetime Achiever Award in 2004 by the Rotary International and Best Income Tax Payer Award (2 times) under the Business Individual Category-Tamil Nadu.