Established in the year 1980, Peermade Development Society (PDS) is registered as a non governmental organization under the Travancore – Cochin literary and charitable societies act of 1955. Its formal launch was the culmination of life long interaction of its founder Bishop Mar Mathew Arackal, the present Bishop of the Catholic diocese of Kanjirappally with the rural and tribal people of the Idukki district. PDS aims the sustainable development of the tribals, rural poor, marginal farmers, women and children through developing various indigenous, community based and people participatory developmental programmes

Three decades of dedicated service of PDS in various developmental activities coin the field of organic farming, Ayurveda and Traditional medicine, Medicinal plants conservation, Tribal Development, Women’s Development,

Micro Enterprise development, watershed development programme, Family counseling programme, Biotechnology, Bio control agents, Organic ago products exports, Technology resource centre, Organic tea and spices, local innovation support, Research and documentation and consultancy services, has identified PDS as one of the largest NGO of South India. PDS received many recognitions and awards in length and breadth from the Ministry of Rural Development, Department of Science and Technology(DST), National Innovation Foundation(NIF), Food and Agricultural organization(FAO), Spices Board, Tea Board,NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development) UNDP (United Nations Development Programme),UNESCO, European Economic Community(EEC) and many other from state and central governments.

Sahyadri is the brand name for the activities of Peermade Development Society (PDS) related to Ayurveda and Traditional medicine. Sahyadri Ayurveda Division has formulated various activities to popularize the Science of Ayurveda and other traditional health care practices on a global perspective. The various initiatives of Sahyadri Ayurveda Division have got recognitions from AYUSH, Government of India, Kerala Tourism, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and Ministry of Envi- ron ment and Forest, Government of India.