Arulraj Rajappa

I have been currently working for my Ph.D. research on Cultivation, Distribution, and Consumption of Cannabis in the State of Tamil Nadu. I had the privilege of completing my M.Sc. degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice Science, B.Sc. degree in Computer Science, and M.A. degree in Tamil at the prestigious University of Madras, Chennai, India.

 During my academic journey, I have been fortunate enough to be involved in various impactful projects and research initiatives that have shaped my passion for criminology and criminal justice-related issues. I would like to highlight some of my significant experiences that have honed my research, project management and organisational skills.

 i) As a Project Assistant for the "Juvenile Justice and Juvenile Psychology - 2022" project funded by UNICFE, I conducted extensive research to enhance child-care facilities for vulnerable children. Collected data from approximately 2905 (Casefiles & Children) at the Child Welfare Committee and conducting interviews across 18 districts has given me invaluable insights into the challenges faced by the children in need of care and protection.

ii) My role as a Research Assistant for the "Juvenile Justice and Juvenile Psychology - 2021" project funded by UNICEF allowed me to contribute to the training of District Child Protection Officers, Program Officers, and Program Managers in Juvenile Justice and Psychology. Additionally, conducting research on children in conflict with the law and perusing case files (1152) and interviewed (65) Children has deepened my understanding of the rehabilitation process.

iii) As a Project Coordinator for the "National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction - 2019-2020," funded by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, I actively participated in efforts to reduce drug abuse's adverse effects through education and rehabilitation. Training 200 professionals and conducting research on drug abuse among school-age and college students has further fuelled my determination to address the drug menace.

iv) My role as a Research Consultant for the "Building End to End Responses to Modern Slavery" project enabled me to engage with workers in the agriculture and garment sectors, providing valuable insights into human rights issues and the importance of fair labour practices. It is to be noted that this work has been funded by Monash University, Australia.

v) As a Field Investigator for the "Public's Perception of Police" study for the Tamil Nadu Police Commission, I gathered data from various stakeholders to understand public sentiment and foster better community-police relations.

vi) My contribution as a Field Assistant in the "Assessment of Children Affected by COVID-19 in Tamil Nadu" project allowed me to play a vital role in maintaining crucial datasets to deliver government assistance for the children who have lost their parents due to the pandemic.

vii) As an Assistant Professor at Sree Muthukumaraswamy College, I had an opportunity of imparting knowledge to undergraduate students in Criminology and Police Administration, nurturing the next generation of young professionals in the field.

viii) My tenure as a Project Fellow for the project titled "Juvenile Justice and Juvenile Psychology - 2019" allowed me to play a crucial role in maintaining the overall accounts of the project. My responsibilities involved creating financial statements, preparing covering letters, and diligently collecting original bills to be submitted to both the esteemed University of Madras and the funding agency, UNICEF. This experience honed my organisational and financial management abilities, which I believe will be instrumental in contributing to any project or team.

ix) Serving as a United Nations Online Volunteer in 2019 offered me an extraordinary opportunity to actively contribute to global efforts for Sustainable Development Goal Eight (SDG8). My role focused on drafting an e-book centred around SDG8 for the Association of African Entrepreneurs. This engagement further nurtured my communication skills and fostered a deep sense of commitment to driving positive change on a global scale.

x) I worked as a Consultant, conducting extensive fieldwork in the Erode region of Tamil Nadu and Gundulpet in Karnataka. This study centred on "Child Labour in Turmeric Cultivation in India" and was conducted under the aegis of the Global March Against Child Labour, New Delhi. My responsibilities encompassed conducting surveys, facilitating focus group discussions and interviews, as well as translating and compiling data for the assessment of child labour trends in Turmeric cultivation. This experience not only exposed me to the ground realities of social issues but also strengthened my research and analytical capabilities.

xi) My role as a Trainer for the Parade (March past) and cultural training classes for the Republic Day Parade Camp at the university and state level from 2016 to 2022, serving at the NSS Cell, University of Madras. It has been an immense pleasure to engage with NSS volunteers, providing them with comprehensive training and instilling in them a sense of responsibility towards society. Additionally, I have been actively involved in various social initiatives, including providing essential goods to Natural Disaster victims and creating awareness on social issues. The recognition I received with the National Service Scheme National Award (2016-2017) from the Hon’ble President of India, presented by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MoYAS), Government of India, is a testament to my commitment to community service. Additionally, I had the opportunity to visit Russia from 22nd to 28th October 2017 as part of the 19th World Festival Youth & Students. This trip was fully funded by the MoYAS. Lastly, as a Research Assistant for various Ph.D. theses, I had the opportunity to gather data from diverse sources, ranging from the general public to prison inmates, police officers, and students from colleges and universities supervised by the Department of Criminology.