Public policy

Public policy and political advisory

Poverty is not a standalone problem. It is the compound failure of every other system.

From the founder’s page at marpu.org

Raghu Vamsi Kadiri advises governments, public representatives, political parties and policy institutions on volunteering, youth engagement, CSR and social development. He works across the political spectrum, in his personal capacity, and keeps Marpu Foundation strictly nonpartisan.

Who he works with

Governments and departments

Design of volunteer programmes, youth engagement initiatives, district-level SDG work and the convergence of corporate CSR with public schemes. Training for officials on working with NGOs and volunteers.

Legislators and public representatives

Constituency service programmes that use volunteers well, youth outreach that is more than an event, and briefings on CSR, NGOs and volunteering.

Political parties

Advice on the social side of public life: youth and volunteer programmes, policy input on CSR, volunteering, youth and environment, and community service work that outlasts a campaign.

Commissions, committees and think tanks

Consultations, evidence, policy briefs and working-group membership on volunteering, CSR regulation and the nonprofit sector.

International and multilateral bodies

An Indian practitioner’s view on volunteer-led SDG localisation and civil society, for forums, reviews and programmes.

From the field to the policy room

Policy advice starts with what is seen on the ground: village lanes, government offices and city neighbourhoods.

Raghu Vamsi Kadiri in a meeting at a government office, with the Indian flag and an emblem behind
A meeting at a government office, 2023
Raghu Vamsi Kadiri talking with residents in a city neighbourhood, beside a bag that reads Paper Plastic Neither
A waste-awareness walk, 2025
Raghu Vamsi Kadiri in a mask, holding a young girl as children gather around him in a city neighbourhood
With children during the pandemic, 2021

Areas of expertise

Where his field experience is deepest.

Volunteer infrastructure

Standing volunteer networks for districts and cities: recruitment, training, deployment and recognition, including for disaster response.

Youth engagement

Getting young people from slogans to sustained civic work, through colleges, NSS and community programmes.

CSR convergence

Aligning corporate CSR with district development plans and public schemes, so money and volunteers reach the same priorities.

SDG localisation

Turning the 17 goals into district plans that communities and companies can act on and track.

Environment and water

Lakes, urban greening and afforestation done with citizens, so they are looked after once the ribbon is cut.

Ease of doing good

Registration, compliance and CSR rules for nonprofits, seen from the side that files the paperwork.

How he engages

  • Consultations, round tables and expert evidence.
  • Programme design, from a pilot in one district to a state-wide rollout.
  • Policy briefs and white papers grounded in field evidence.
  • Committee and working-group membership.
  • Training for officials, elected representatives and party workers on running community programmes.

Where he draws the line

Four principles, stated up front.

Across the spectrum

He is willing to work with representatives and parties of different views on the social side of policy.

Personal capacity

Political advisory is Raghu’s own work. Marpu Foundation, as a registered charity, does not take part in political activity, and its programmes serve everyone.

Evidence before slogans

Recommendations come from what works on the ground, and he will say when something will not.

No harm

He does not take on work that targets communities, spreads misinformation or works around the law.

His policy writing

Good to know

Can a political party work with Raghu Vamsi Kadiri?

Yes, for advisory work on youth engagement, volunteering, CSR and social development policy, in his personal capacity. He works with people across the political spectrum. Marpu Foundation stays nonpartisan and is not part of these engagements.

Can a government department invite him as a resource person or expert?

Yes: for consultations, training programmes, committees and working groups on volunteering, youth engagement, CSR convergence and the SDGs.

Does he comment on bills and proposed rules?

Yes, from a practitioner’s view. He has written, for example, about what the CSR changes proposed in the Corporate Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 would mean for NGOs, and is willing to give evidence to committees.

Is this paid work?

Consultations for government and public bodies are often pro bono or honorarium-based. Advisory projects for parties, representatives and institutions are scoped and agreed in writing.

Which languages?

English, Telugu and Hindi, for meetings, consultations and community programmes.

Working on a policy or programme? Tell Raghu what you are designing, who it serves and the timeline.