Narender Paul – COO, Chinmaya Organisation for Rural Development (CORD)
Champion of Rural Empowerment | Strategist | Thought Leader in Integrated Development
Narender’s journey began in 2002 as a volunteer at CORD (Chinmaya Organisation for Rural Development), inspired by the life and work of Padma Shri Dr. Kshama Metre. What started as an act of service quickly turned into a lifelong calling. A graduate in Occupational Therapy from the University of Delhi, Narender recognized early that true healing in rural India required more than medicine—it needed systems, structures, and empowerment at the grassroots level.
In a defining chapter of CORD’s journey, the organization was honored with the prestigious National Award by the President of India, recognized as the Best Institution for Holistic Disability Services. To deepen his impact, Narender immersed himself in multiple disciplines—Rural Development, Management, Disaster Response, Training & Development, Participatory Research, and Vedantic Philosophy, particularly the Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads, through the Chinmaya International Foundation, Kerala. These learnings enriched both his vision and execution in creating people-centric, sustainable models of change. Today, as Chief Operating Officer of CORD India, Narender oversees national programs focused on disability inclusion, women’s empowerment, rural livelihoods, health, and education—ensuring that integrated rural development is not just a theory, but a lived reality.
In 2020, Narender was selected for a PhD in Management at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi, bringing academic rigor to his already profound field expertise.
Awards & Recognitions Under His Leadership at CORD
2019 – Microsoft Equal Opportunity Technology Innovation Award by Nipman Foundation
2016 – Leonard Cheshire Disability Award by the Governors of Punjab & Haryana
2015 – 1st Prize by Global Development Network (GDN), Japan for the Most Innovative Development Project empowering small and marginal women farmers (Awarded in Morocco)
2017 – National Award by the President of India for Best Institution in Holistic Disability Services
2013 – Sulakshana Ram-Janam Pandey Award for excellence in rehabilitation
2006 – Nina Sibal Memorial Award for exemplary disability-focused interventions
Fellowships, Leadership Programs & Authorship
2014 – Sudhir Johari Inspired Leader Award during the Emerging Leader Booster Program by School of Inspired Leadership (SOIL)
2012 – Completed Dasra Social Impact (DSI) Cohort-6, focused on social entrepreneurship
2011 – Selected for Dr. Anil Agarwal South Asian Fellowship by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi
2014 – Co-authored the book “Chinmaya Seva” with Dr. Kshama Metre – a blueprint of CORD’s integrated rural development philosophy

Narender Paul