Dr. Rajiv Kumar
Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog
Dr. Rajiv Kumar has a wide experience of having worked in government, academia, industry as well as in multinational institutions. A founding director of Pahle India Foundation, Dr. Kumar was a Fellow at CPR and earlier the CEO of Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER). He has also been Chief Economist at CII and Secretary General of Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FICCI). He was a professor at Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) and serves as the Chancellor of Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune. In the government, he was Economic Advisor with Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of Finance and Bureau of Industrial Costs and Prices (BICP), Ministry of Industry. He was Principal Economist at Asian Development Bank, Manila where he spent 10 years. Prior to his appointment as Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog, he served on many Boards including that of RBI and SBI.
Dr. Rajesh Tandon
Founder & President Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA)
Dr Rajesh Tandon is founder-president of Society for Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA). He is also Co-Chair of the UNESCO Chair on Community Based Research and Social Responsibility in Higher Education since 2012. The UNESCO Chair grows out of and supports UNESCO’s global lead to play ‘a key role in assisting countries to build knowledge societies’. A pioneer of participatory research, Rajesh Tandon has given new meaning to academic research by redefining the relationship between the researcher and the researched. He has championed the cause of building organizations and capacities of the marginalized through their knowledge, learning and empowerment, contributing to the emergence of several local, national and international groups and initiatives to promote authentic and participatory development of societies. Dr Tandon has authored more than 100 articles, a dozen books and numerous training manuals. He was honoured with the prestigious Nehru Literacy Award for 2015 by the Indian Adult Education Association (IAEA).
Subroto Bagchi
CHAIRMAN-ODISHA SKILL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Shri Subroto Bagchi is the Chairman of Odisha Skill Development Authority. He was born at Patnagarh in Odisha and grown up in many tribal districts of the State. He studied in government schools and later, attended the BJB College, Bhubaneswar where he graduated with Political Science Honours. In 1976, he dropped out of post-graduate studies to seek work. In 1977, he joined the DCM Group as a Management Trainee and later, in 1981, switched over to the IT Industry which was at a nascent stage. Considered a pioneer in the sector, he set up operations of the Wipro in the USA. At Wipro, he rose to be the Chief Executive of Global R & D and then become Corporate Vice President. In the year of 1999, he co-founded Mindtree which is one of India’s most admired software service companies. Apart from this, Mr. Bagchi is a well-known writer and columnist. He authored books like The High Performance Entrepreneur, Go Kiss the World, MBA at 16, The Professional, Zen Garden and The Elephant Catchers. His work gives a human face to the world of business. Mr. Bagchi is also actively involved in causes like mental health, blindness, geriatric care and education.
Dr. Mrinal Chattejee
Head- IIMC, Dhenkanal
Mrinal Chatterjee is a media educator, author and trainer from Odisha, India and works as a professor and center head in the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal. He is the author of the book History of Journalism in Odisha, which is the first major publication on history of journalism in Odisha. He did his Masters in English and Public Administration from Utkal University. He did his Masters in JMC from G.J. University, Hisar. Beginning his career as journalist with SAMBAD, A leading Oriya daily, he worked for one and a half decade as practising journalist. Before he joined IIMC, Dhenkanla in 1999, he was Edition-in-charge of SAMBAD North Orissa edition.
Prof. (Dr.) A.B Ota, IAS
Director, SC ST Research & Training Institute
Prof. (Dr.) A. B. Ota is an anthropologist of international repute and currently working as Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) – cum- Director SC ST Research & Training Institute (SCSTRTI). Apart from that, he is also a 2000 batch IAS officer to whom Dr. Ota brings in a long experience with him as an ace administrator and an expert on rehabilitation and resettlement and on the aspect of Tribal Development as the Collector of Balasore district. He has also authored about 30 number of books based on his empirical studies and experience and contributed immensely towards the formulation of R&R policy for Odisha in 2006. Within his busy schedule he continues to take time out and guide his students.
Mr. Rakesh Sharma IAS (Retd.)
Former Principal Secretary, Tribal Welfare Dept., Govt. of Himachal Pradesh
Mr. Rakesh Sharma, an IAS officer (2003 Batch) of Himachal Pradesh Cadre has worked in the Tribal Development Department of Himachal Pradesh for more than a decade. Starting his career as an Assistant Professor (Economics) in Education Department of the State, he subsequently joined the Tribal Development Department in 1984 as the first regular Assistant Commissioner (TD) of the State. Afterwards, he joined Indian Defence Accounts Service (1985 – Batch) but decided to return to the State Administrative Service in 1988. From the very beginning, he has been associated in framing Policy for Tribal Development in Himachal Pradesh. He retired as an Additional Commissioner – Special Secretary (Tribal Development) to the Government of Himachal Pradesh in 2017.
Shri Parimal Singh, IAS
Deputy Secretary, Governor of Maharashtra
Parimal Singh (IAS), Deputy Secretary to the Governor of Maharashtra. He has worked extensively towards the tribal up-liftment in Gadchiroli area which has created a nation-wide recognition in providing an outstanding example on sustainable gainful livelihood and community empowerment.
Shri Umi Daniel
Regional Head, Migration thematic unit, South Asia Aide et Action
Umi Daniel, currently working in Aide et Action International as regional head for South Asia on migration. Mr. Daniel has two decades of experience working on a wide range of issues pertaining to tribal, dalit, unorganized workers and other excluded groups. He began his work from a grassroots NGO in KBK district of Odisha and later handled regional, national and international assignments in a INGO. His expertise includes participatory planning, social audit, internal migration, rural employment, bonded labour and food rights. Currently he is providing research & techno managerial support on rights and inclusion of internal migrants in India and South Asia.
Mr VK Madhavan
Chief Executive, WaterAid India
VK Madhavan is the Chief Executive of WaterAid India. Following a Master’s in International Politics from Jawaharlal Nehru University in 1991, he commenced working with the Urmul Rural Health Research and Development Trust in Bikaner district of Rajasthan where he worked in various capacities till 1998. Subsequently, Madhavan worked with Action Aid and The Hunger Project for four years. For eight years, commencing in 2004, Madhavan was the Executive Director of Central Himalayan Rural Action Group (Chirag) in Nainital District of Uttarakhand. In over two decades as a development professional, Madhavan has worked on an integrated approach to rural development – community health, primary education, natural resource management, on and off-farm livelihoods and investing in young people. Prior to assuming his role as Chief Executive of Water Aid India, Madhavan was Managing Director of Skills Education Private Limited, a company that provides youth with access to information, skills and opportunities leading to employment.
Prafulla Kumar Dhal
GM & State Head, CSR JK Paper Mills Ltd, Odisha
Mr Prafulla Kumar Dhal is a well known strategist and specialist on pubic polices in India spanning over 25 years. He is the General Manager & State Head, CSR of JK Group of companies in Odisha. He served as Sr. Consultant with E&Y for government advisory section. He led World Bank mission in Andhrapradesh & Telengana for AP Municipal Development Project (APDMP) to suggest reforms in municipal governance. At present he is leading the International Climate Change Reality project as a global mentor. He authored a number of research documents for agencies like UNDP, USAID (FIRE (D), UNFPA, Development Alternatives, IUCN, VV NLI, NIEPUA, ICCW and others. Mr Dhal is especially keen in developing strategies for youth employments in non-conventional areas. He is also a coordinator of River of the World Foundation, USA in India and working for water conservations. Mr Dhal was a taskforce member of Vision 2020 of Govt. of Odisha. Apart from this, Mr Dhal is a regular opinion maker in TV and newspapers on contemporary development subjects particularly on SDGs and has been advisor to many start-ups.
R Balakrishnan, IAS
Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary, Odisha
R Balakrishnan, IAS (RR-1984) is presentlyDevelopment Commissioner-cum- Additional Chief Secretary, Odisha.He is also appointed as Chairman of Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited (BSCL), Chairman, Rourkela Smart City Ltd., (RSCL) and Chairman, Odisha State Pollution Control Board (SPCB).
DR Palla Trinadha Rao
Consultant, Tribal Welfare Department Govt. of Andhrapradesh (AP)
Dr. Palla Trinadha Rao, is a tribal rights activist and lawyer supporting the cause of tribal. He has been involved in addressing issues of tribal land alienation, forest land and governance issues in both the states of Andhrapradesh and Telangana for last three decades. Subsequently, he is a Legal Consultant for Tribal Welfare Department under the Govt. of Andhra Pradesh and currently monitoring the implementation of Tribal Protective Land Transfer Regulations and PESA Act in the Scheduled Areas of AP. He is also a legal retainer to a non government organization, Laya based in Visakhapatnam. He is an independent and collaborative Researcher. His areas of interest in research are Scheduled Tribes, and Scheduled Areas. Apart from this, he authored a number of articles and couple of books on Adivasi issues in Telugu and English.
Dr. Aurobindo Behera
IAS (Retd.)
Dr Behera, an IAS officer has served the state of Odisha in various capacities as District Collector, Revenue Divisional Commissioner, and Secretary to Chief Minister, Secretary, Departments of Forest and Environment, ST and SC Development, Rural Development, Public Works Department, Water Resources Department etc. He was also Managing Director, Odisha State Disaster Management, Additional CMD, Industrial Development Corporation of Odisha and Member, Board of Revenue. He has a Ph.D. in Economics. He is associated with a number of civil society initiatives, especially in areas of Education, Tribal Development, and Sanitation etc.
Barsha Poricha
Programme Director, National Foundation for India (NFI)
Dr. Barsha Poricha is working with NFI since 1999. She works here as the Programme Director of the foundation. She is an Urban and Regional planner from CEPT, Ahmedabad, holds a Masters Degree from Delhi School of Economics and a PhD in Urban Human Ecology from Ambedkar University, Delhi. She is having over two decades of experience. She works on issues of governance, gender, urban poverty and youth in the development sector. Her core areas of interest and work are around facilitating pro poor and citizen centric participatory governance mechanisms and developing prototypes on decentralized water, sanitation and waste in urban and peri urban settlements. In the course of her work, she has worked closely with the not for profit sector, civil society organizations, academia, government, businesses and individuals.
Ashwini Kulkarni
Founder, Pragati Abhiyan
Ashwini Kulkarni is the founder of Pragati Abhiyan, based at Nashik Maharashtra. She has extensively worked on MGNREGA, working with the Community; working with Government at all levels from local administration to the ministry in Delhi and has also worked with renowned researchers to understand the program in the context of rural development. Working on rural livelihoods for a long time naturally led to exploring the issues of small and marginal farmers especially the rainfed. Public policies and public investments are the main drivers of development; hence studying policies of the Government has been important part of Pragati Abhiyan’s work. In addition to working with various stakeholders, she has been involved in occasionally writing for the media to supplement the discourse on various issues. She is closely associated with RRAN and NREGA consortium and is on the Board of Bharat Rural Livelihoods Foundation.
DR. Sruti Mohapatra
Founder & Chief Executive, Swabhiman, Odisha , India
Dr. Sruti Mohapatra is the founder of SWABHIMAN, which works towards empowering persons with disabilities. Her exceptional ability for innovation has resulted in conceptualising and conducting many innovative programmes. She initiated a Project called ANJALI in the field of Education where the main objective is to create a joyful and inclusive platform for children with disabilities which brought many accolades in national and international forums. Another worthy initiative of hers has been the creation of Odisha State Disability network (OSDN). OSDN is a network of organizations and individuals in Odisha promotes basically local advocacy groups and builds leadership in the disability sector; closely monitors and lobbies with the governments, corporate and other allied sectors to advocate the adoption and implementation of appropriate policies/legislations and builds a common cross-disability platform for sharing of concerns by disabled people from all the corners of the state. Apart from this, she is associated in various Committees and Forums. Of them, notable associations are Chairperson of OSCPCR (Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights), Member – State Coordination Committee on Disability; Member ZRUCC (East Coast Railways); Co-opted Member in Regional Spinal Cord Injury Centre, Cuttack; Member Ethics Committee; Doordarshan Advisory Committee, etc.
Dr. Amrita Patel
State Project Coordinator State Resource Centre for Women, Government of Odisha
Dr Amrita Patel is a Researcher, Teacher, Trainer of Women’s Studies and Gender since last 20 years. Presently she is the State Project Coordinator to Government of Odisha. She has been involved in Policy making with regard to Girls and Women; Anti Trafficking of Women & Children; Gender budgeting for the Government. She has conducted research work on land rights, displacement, migration, women self-help groups, declining child sex ratio, unorganised worker amongst various other subjects. She is a lead trainer and researcher on Gender Budgeting.
Mr. Samir Kumar Panda
Sanitation Expert – Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) Government of Odisha
Mr. Samir Kumar Panda has more than 12 years of experience in various sectorsin the field of Environmental Engineering such as water sustainability, urban sanitation, water and wastewater infrastructure, etc. in different capacities and leadership roles involving in framing strategy, cutting edge research, designing and implementation.He has done Masters in Environmental Engineering and Management from IIT Delhi and currently working as Sanitation Expert for Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban), Odisha.
Debiprasad Mishra
Head: Real Utopia – Re-imagining Institutions, Organizations and Practice, Bhubaneswar
Currently he is leading a new initiative, Real Utopia – Re-imagining Institutions, Organizations and Practice, based at Bhubaneswar. He is a Fellow of the IIM, Ahmedabad. He served as faculty at IRMA for 26 years. He was the coordinator, editor and lead author of two rounds of State of Panchayats Report – An Independent Assessment, published by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India. He had a two-year stint as the Executive Director of Gram Vikas, Odisha.
Er. Pramod Chandra Rath
Utility Management Expert Odisha Integrated Sanitation Improvement Project, JICA
He is currently working as Utility Management Expert for the JICA assisted Odisha Integrated Sanitation Improvement Project at Cuttack and Bhubaneswar. He served in the water sector under the Government of Odisha for three and half decades and superannuated in2005. During this, he served as Chief Engineer PH, Chief Engineer RWSS, Chief Engineer OWSSB andDirector, OSWSM. He also served under the Government of India as the Regional Chief, HUDCO for several years. He has been a consultant to The World Bank, USAID and JICA in various states includingOdisha
Chandra Ganapathy
Head of Knowledge Management WaterAid India
Chandra Ganapathy is the head of Knowledge Management in WaterAid India, has 25 years of experience in WASH sector. Since 1995 has been part of designing Hygiene promotion programmes and training NGOS and institutions in its implementation. Has been the key resource in development and roll out of monitoring and evaluation plans. Extensive experience in developing monitoring systems and tools in large WASH programmes. Good understanding of civil society organizations and training them in developing and implementing WASH programmes at scale.
Ms. Bishakha Bhanja
Regional Manager – East WaterAid India
Bishakha Bhanja is the Regional Manager for the WaterAid India east office. She joined the team in November 2012. She has 27 years of experience of working in the development sector mostly on gender and human rights issues. She is a post graduate in political science and holds a diploma in human rights from ISS, the Hague. Prior to joining WaterAid, she was the country head for DIAKONIA. Apart from her professional commitments, she loves reading and writes short stories and poems occasionally.
Dr. Birupakshya Dixit (Ph.D)
Programme Coordinator-India, Practical Action
Dr. Birupakshya Dixit is heading the India office of Practical Action, a UK based Charity. At present he provides leadership support to programmes in the areas of Urban WASH, Clean Energy, Climate change and market access. He has more than 14 years’ experience in development Sector where he worked with both grassroots as well as international Organizations in leadership positions. He along with his team has been awarded with Champions for Children Award from Child Fund International, USA. He has been awarded with Sunshine Citizen Journalist award for one of his essay on human rights in the year 2008.
Dr. Lakshmidhar Mishra, IAS (Retd.)
Senior Adviser (Independent), IJM, New Delhi
Dr. Lakshmidhar Mishra (70) is a retired member of Indian Administrative Service of 1964 batch allotted to Odisha Cadre. After a stint of about 14 years (1964-78) as Sub-Collector, ADM, Collector & DM, Labour Commissioner, Director, Export Promotion and Dy Secy to Govt., Chief Electoral Officer and Addl. Secretary (Home), Govt. of Odisha, he came on Central deputation as Central Provident Fund Commissioner in June 1979 and rose in due course to become Union Labour Secretary (1996-2000). He had a stint with the ILO (2000-2003) as its Senior Adviser, (the assignment came on an invitation from the then DG ILO-Mr. Juan Somavia), taught management in IMI, Qutab Institutional Area. He joined NCPCR as its Special Adviser w.e.f. 1.12.2011on the invitation of its Chairperson -Smt Shanta Sinha and was assigned the responsibility of monitoring protection of child rights in all the North Eastern States (8). On expiry of the term of the contract and on the invitation of the Ministry of Human Resource Development (Deptt. of School Education & Literacy) he joined as Chief Advisor to the Ministry on matters pertaining to research and evaluation under National Literacy Mission Authority w.e.f. 01.01.13. Currently, he is working as an independent Senior Adviser to IJM, New Delhi (a global NGO) and providing expert professional advice on a host of issues including bonded labour, child labour, child bonded labour, trafficking of women and children etc. to a number of other NGOs. He is also a member in the Core Group on Mental Health & Bonded Labour in NHRC.
Dr Kaustuv Kanti Bandyopadhyay
Director, Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA)
Dr Kaustuv Kanti Bandyopadhyay is the Director of Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA), India. He is an accomplished scholar, researcher and capacity building practitioner on urban governance, citizen participation, social accountability and civil society development. He has over three decades of professional experience with university, research institution and CSOs. He serves on the Steering Committee of Asia Democracy Research Networks (ADRN) and Asia Democracy Network (ADN). He has served as the Global Coordinator and Executive Member of LogoLink – a global network on citizen participation and local governance. He has managed the Global Secretariat of International Forum on Capacity Building (IFCB). He has travelled and worked in over 30 countries. He has authored several articles, papers, books and manuals/toolkits. He has a PhD in Anthropology for his work with Parhaiya tribes of Chotanagpur in India.
Dr. Asha Hans, PhD
Co-chair, Pakistan India People’s Forum for Peace and Democracy
Asha Hans, PhD, is former Professor of Political Science, and Founder Director, School of Women’s Studies, Utkal University, India. A leading campaigner of women’s rights, she has participated in the formulation of many conventions in the United Nations. She has been co-chair of the Pakistan India Peoples Forum for Peace and Democracy. Academically she has worked in the field of gender, refugees, peace education and disability. Her recent books are on women and Human security as well as on women, Climate Change and women and disability.
Dr (Mrs.) Pankaj Mittal
Additional Secretary University Grants Commission (UGC)
Dr (Mrs) Pankaj Mittal, Additional Secretary, UGC is a Fulbright Scholar and has been a topper in MSc and PhD in Agricultural Statistics from IARI, New Delhi. She has a wide ranging experience of about three decades in Higher Education in the fields of Policy Planning and Management of Higher Education including Promotion of Access, Equity, Relevance, Quality and Human Resource Management. Dr Mittal was appointed by the Government of Haryana as the first regular Vice Chancellor of Bhagat Phool Singh Mahila Vishwavidyalaya, the first rural Women University of North India, in 2008, at a young age of 44 years which was later extended for another term. Dr Mittal introduced a series of innovative practices and reforms as the Vice Chancellor of the only rural, residential, multi-faculty, women state university of the country which imparts education to 7000 girls from KG till PhD level in a holistic manner. She was also the proud recipient of Fulbright Nehru Scholarship grant for educational administrators and the President Award for Digital Initiatives in higher education.
Prof. Ila Patnaik
National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP) New Delhi
Dr Ila Patnaik serves as a professor at the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, New Delhi. Prior to this, she was the Principal Economic Advisor to the Government of India. Other former positions include Non-Resident Senior Associate at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and regular columnist at the Indian Express. She holds a BA (Economics) from Delhi University, an MA (Economics) from Jawaharlal Nehru University, and a Ph.D. (Economics) from the University of Surrey. Her research interests include international macroeconomics, finance and emerging economy business cycles. Her research on these topics has been published in scholarly journals such as the Journal of International Money and Finance, the World Bank Economic Review, International Finance, and in collected volumes. Dr Patnaik served on various working groups and task forces of the Ministry of Finance, such as those on taxation of financial products, and those to create agencies, including the independent Public Debt Management Agency, the Resolution Corporation, the Financial Redress Agency and the Financial Data Management Centre.
Reetika Khera
Associate Professor IIM, Ahmedabad
Reetika Khera is an associate professor (economics and public systems group) at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmadabad. She did her Ph.D at the Delhi School of Economics, her post-doctoral work at Princeton, and taught at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi before joining IIM Ahmadabad. She works on social policy and has published extensively on these issues in international peer reviewed journals, Indian journals as well as written for the popular press.”
Basanta Kumar Kar
Country Director, Project Concern International (PCI)
Basanta Kumar Kar is the recipient of prestigious ‘Global Transform Nutrition Champion’ award and ‘Odisha Living Legend ‘Award. Currently, he is working with Project Concern International (PCI) as Country Director and providing leadership and management oversight to its programs across India and Bangladesh. He was earlier associated with Coalition for Food and Nutrition Security; India’s largest food and nutrition coalition. Prior to that, Basanta worked with Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), CARE, ActionAid International and NDDB. Basanta has published numerous academic and research works as well as being the author of three collections of poems in English.
Ranglal Jamuda, I.A.S. (Retd.)
Chairperson, Odisha State Food Commission
Ranglal Jamuda is an I.A.S. (Retd.) officer of 1981 batch presently functioning as the Chairperson, Odisha State Food Commission after his superannuation as Secretary, Food Processing Industries, Govt. of India. During his long career, he has rendered remarkable services in sectors like Education, Revenue Administration, Agriculture, Tribal Welfare, Energy, Textiles and Food Processing, only to name a few. The Odisha State Food Commission has been established under his leadership and guidance, despite all odds. His vision has helped the Commission to have an exemplary model for the country in establishing it as a reviewing and monitoring body in ensuring better governance, transparency and public accountability for all the nutrition sensitive and nutrition specific interventions.
Dr. Lopamudra Baxipatra
Chairperson, State Commission for Women, Odisha
Dr. Lopamudra Baxipatra is the Chairperson of State Commission for Women. She works for the holistic development of women along with endeavours to provide them a safe environment for a life of dignity and integrity. She is familiar with politics and governance and has assumed responsibility of General Secretary, Zonal President and Vice-President of the State Biju Yuva Janta Dal in the past. With a hands-on experience in working for the economic upliftment of women during her tenure as the Chairperson of Mahila Vikas Samabaya Nigam she now strives to bring about social security of women in Odisha. Apart from the she is also associated with many social activities
Prof. Santosh Kumar Mehrotra
Professor of Economics, Jawaharlal Nehru University & Chairperson Centre for Labour Studies
Prof. Santosh Kumar Mehrotra is a human development economist, whose research and writings have had most influence in the areas of labour, employment, skill development, child poverty, and the economics of education. He was an economic adviser in the United Nations system in New York City, Italy, and Thailand (1991-2006), and technocrat in the government of India (2006-2014), apart from making contributions to academic research since the mid-1980s. He brings a combination of professional experience: with the Indian government as a policy maker and adviser, with international organisations as a technical expert, having lived on three continents and travelled to 63 countries providing technical advice to governments; and as an academic whose research work has been translated into French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and German. Dr Mehrotra has an MA in Economics from the New School for Social Research, New School University, New York (1981), and PhD in Economics in Cambridge (1985). From 1991 to 2006, he spent 15 years with two UN agencies – UNICEF and UNDP (Chief economist of UNDP’s global Human Development Report (2002-05), New York; led the research programme on developing countries at Unicef’s global research institute, the Innocenti Research Centre, Florence, Italy (1999-2002). He returned to India in September 2006 to head the Rural Development Division, and then head, Development Policy Division, Planning Commission (till August 2009). He was Director-General, National Institute of Labour Economics Research, Planning Commission (in the rank of Secretary, Government of India) till August 2014. He also held a three-year appointment as Parkin Visiting Professor at the Centre for International Development in the Faculty of Social Sciences, at the University of Bath, UK (2010–13).
Shri Suryamani Roul
Deputy Director,Techno Serve India
Shri Suryamani Roul has over 30 years of experience in building livelihood strategy, enterprise and entrepreneurship promotion and designing social development programs. He is currently working as Deputy Director at Techno Serve India, providing strategic leadership and overseeing projects that range from agri-business development and FPO capacity building to natural resource management and sustainable value chains. Previously, he served as Senior Vice President for ACCESS Development Services besides stints in CARE, CYSD and Institute of Entrepreneurship Development. He has led projects across India funded by international donors and apex Indian organizations including European Union, World Bank, BMGF, DFID, WFP, UNDP, NABARD and SIDBI among others. His key skill sets include stakeholder engagement and management, capacity assessment and monitoring, and design & evaluation of development programs. He holds an MA in Economics from Utkal University and a MBA from Calcutta University. He has received overseas training from Asian Institute of Technology, Coady International Institute, University of East Anglia and Yale School of Management on Global Social Entrepreneurship. He has authored and presented many thematic papers particularly on livelihoods and enterprise promotion, micro finance and women’s empowerment, youth and tribal policy and programme convergence. He was one of the co-authors of the annual State of India’s Livelihoods (SOIL) Reports for four years (2011-2014). He is a recipient of ASPIRE Circle Fellowship 2015-16.
Shri N. N. Rao
Chief Executive Officer, Skill Development Institute (SDI),Bhubaneswar
Shri N. N. Rao currently designated as CGM and deputed to SDI (An Indian Oil Managed Skill Institute) Bhubaneswar. As CEO he has been contributing at Indian Oil Corporation Ltd since last three Decades. He is holding rich experience in Oil Industry in various departments like operations and marketing. He has handled several assignments in various levels in public sector very effectively. He is holding a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) in Mechanical Engineering from Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, a Master of Business Administration (MBA-Marketing) from University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, a Post Graduate certificate course in Research & Analytics, from Mudra Institute of Communication, Ahmedabad and a Diploma in Training and Development, from Indian Society for Training & Development. Apart from this, he has an insatiable appetite for learning and a firm believer that there is no problem that cannot be solved and there is no job that cannot be learnt. His only goal is continued to learn, grow as a human being and add value to society and humanity.
Dr P Sivakumar
Assistant professor Department of Development Studies, Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development (RGNIYD)
Prof P. Sivakumar, faculty of the Department of Development Studies, RGNIYD is a Post-Doctoral Fellow (ICPR Fellowship) from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. He has obtained Ph.D. from Kerala University and holds Master’s Degree in Sociology and Philosophy. He has been associated with UNESCO-MGIEP, Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP) London, Centre for Development Studies (CDS) and Indian Council of Philosophical Research (ICPR) for various research projects. Dr Sivakumar was the coordinator of My Government – Citizen Engagement Platform at RGNIYD constituted by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India. He represented Government of India to prepare Action Plan for BRICS on Skill Development and Entrepreneurship during BRICS Youth Summit 2016. He also represented Government of India for preparation of SAARC Youth Charter and Action Plan in the year 2014. He was the member of the drafting committee on Tamil Nadu State Youth Policy. He also was an expert Group Member on Gender Youth and Migration, Sub Community of UN Solution Exchange. Being engaged as an academician, researcher and trainer for the past several years, he has published a number of papers in journals, books and Training Manuals. His recent book on “Youth Migration in Emerging India: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities “discusses the dynamics of migration, labour market and employability of Indian youth.
Ambika Prasad Mohanty
Programme Integrator Reliance Foundation Eastern states: Odisha, Jharkhand & Chhattisgarh
Ambika leads the Reliance Foundation Rural Transformation Programme in Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. Driven by his passion to make an impact on the lives of marginal farmers – especially those in the tribal heartlands of Odisha and Jharkhand – he mobilises communities through input provision, technical support, and post-harvest marketing support through self-reliant village institutions. A postgraduate in agriculture from the Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, he started his professional journey with PRADAN in 2001. Before joining Reliance Foundation in 2008, he worked with other leading development organisations such as BASIX on product development for Agriculture Business Development Services including sustainable agriculture practices. At present, he is leading the scaling up of Rural Transformation models for a wider set of audiences in the states of Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, influencing programmes helmed by the government and other developmental agencies.
Smt. Shanti Devi
Smt. Shanti Devi is a renowned social reformer. She was associated with the ‘Bhoodan’ movement and has worked with Acharya Vinobaji. In 1961, she became the Secretary of Utkal Navajeevan Mandal. In 1964, she founded ‘Seva Samaj’ in Rayagada for all round development of girls, especially for imparting education to tribal girls. She set up an Ashram at Gunpur for education, rehabilitation and vocational training of the tribal orphans and destitute children. She is also associated with a number of Gandhian Institutes. She has received the Jamanalal Bajaj Award in the year 1994 for Development and Welfare of Women and Children.
Mr. Tapan Kumar Padhi
Executive Director National Institute of Development
Mr. Tapan Kumar Padhi is currently working as the Executive Director of National Institute for Development (NID), a trust that is engaged in research, advocacy and networking in natural resources management and livelihood promotion. He has been extensively engaged in the water sector in general and drinking water sector in particular in Odisha. Currently he is spearheading the Odisha – Chhatishgarh Joint Civil Society Initiative on Mahanadi water dispute, as the Convener of ‘Odisha Nadi Surakhya Samukhya’. He is a prolific writer and researcher on water.
Mr. LibyT Johnson
Executive Director Gram Vikas
Liby Johnson is Executive Director of Gram Vikas. He is a Development Management specialist with 20 years of experience at grassroots and policy level work in areas of livelihoods, enterprise promotion and organisational development, in both the government and non-government sectors. He worked with the Kudumbashree- the Poverty Eradication Mission of the Government of Kerala in micro enterprises and urban poverty alleviation and COO of Kudumbashree-National Resource Organization supporting in the implementation of the National Rural Livelihoods Mission in 10 States of India.
Bimal Prasad Pandia
Sector Expert
Bimal Prasad Pandia has kept himself engaged in piloting micro-level intervention models, action researches, studies, writing, disseminating and advocating on water issues from a people and environment perspective since nearly two decades. He is one of the more proactive contributors, at the state and national level, to build a civil society campaign on ensuring drinking water quality. His critics of government’s policies and information have often initiated strong and reasoned debates and discussions.
Rabi Narayan Das, IAS(Retd.)
Adviser, State Planning Board, Govt. of Odisha
Rabi Narayan Das holds a Masters degree in Public Administration from Harvard University. He served in the Indian Administrative Service for 35 years, and retired in July 2006 from the post of Secretary, Food and Public Distribution Deptt., Ministry of Food and Consumer Affairs, Govt. of India. He has held several illustrious posts in his tenure including Chief Information Commissioner, Gujarat Information Commission from July 2006 to July 2011
Udita Dutta
Programme Officer Public Affairs Centre (PAC), Bangalore
Udita Dutta is a Programme Officer at Public Affairs Centre (PAC), Bangalore. She has co-authored the Public Affairs Index 2017(PAI 2017) and 2018 reports. She has experience in developing various indices for Governance and Human Rights. Her research interests include Development Economics with special focus on Education, Health, Nutrition and Children; Public Policy and Women Empowerment with emphasis on labour force participation and ‘missing women’.
Mr. Rajendra Bhise
Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action (YUVA) Mumbai
Mr. Rajendra Bhise is a Social Activist and Urbanisation Expert, working on housing, land rights, right to work and social security and urban governance since 25 years. He is closely associated with several social movements and campaigns.
Brishti Banerjee
Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action (YUVA) Delhi
Brishti Banerjee holds a Masters in Social Work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. She is a social work professional working with Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action (YUVA) on housing and access to livelihood and basic services of the urban poor.
Sri Satyajit Mohanty, IPS
Commissioner of Police, Cuttack & Bhubaneswar
Shri Satyajit Mohanty, an IPS officer (1988 batch) started his career as ASP, Jeypore in 1990. He served as Additional SP of Puri and as SP of Koraput, Rourkela, Cuttack and Balasore. He also served as SP, Vigilance and Additional Transport Commissioner of Odisha. As DIGP, he served at Northern Range, Sambalpur, Central range Cuttack and Western Range Rourkela. As IGP, he served at Western Range, Rourkela, and at Fire Service, Home Guards and Finance departments of Odisha. He is a guest resource person of National Police Academy, Hyderabad, Sri Sri University Cuttack and National Law School of India University, Bangalore. Shri Mohanty during his service career has received many commendations & rewards. Notable among them is the Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 2004. President’s Police Medal for Distinguished service in the year 2012 and Antarik Surakhya Seva Medal in the year 2016. Sri Mohanty has authored five books the latest being ‘Community Policing as ‘Public Policy’ published by Cambridge Scholars, UK. He taken keen interest on sports and games. He is the Vice president of Odisha Tennis Association and President of Youth association of India, Cuttack branch.
Padmashree Tulasi Munda
Padmashree Tulasi Munda is a noted social activist born in a poor tribal family in a remote and impoverished Serenda region from Odisha. She is the founder of Adivasi Vikas Samithi runs the school in Serenda and have 16 outreach centres in the villages of Keonjarh district and helps primary education accessible to the poor. She is known for her mission to spread literacy among the underprivileged. She has been awarded Odisha Living Legend Award for Excellence for her Social service in 2011.
Shri Surendra Prasad Das
Special Secretary, H & UD & Project Director-cum-Secretary & Mission Director State Urban Development Agency (SUDA)
Shri Surendra Prasad Das, OAS belongs to Balasore district. He completed his M. Phil from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He worked as Lecturer in Political Science at D.A.V. College, Koraput for two years. In the year 1988, Shri Das joined Odisha Administrative Service and continuing as such. He worked 16 years in KBK district and closely associated with Rural Development and Governance. Presently, Sri Das is working as Special Secretary to Govt. and Mission Director, NULM, SUDA under H & UD Department. He has expertise in Urban Governance, Livelihood activities of urban poor etc. associating with NGOs.
Dr. N Devadasan
Co-founder and Director Institute of Public Health (IPH) Bangaluru
Dr. N Devadasan started his career as a community health doctor in the forests of Nilgiris. He worked with the Adivasis of Gudalur for 10 years, building a comprehensive health system for them. Since then, he has worked with WHO Orissa and then with the WHO country office in Delhi as the NPO in-charge of communicable disease cluster and specializing in disease surveillance. In 2005, he founded IPH, Bengaluru and has been working closely in the area of health financing, access to health care and health systems management. He has completed his MPH and PhD from the famous Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium. He is also an adjunct faculty and teaches health financing at the masters level. Besides this, he has headed many research projects, including two large multi-country projects and is the author of many articles in peer-reviewed journals.
Dr. Lipika Nanda
Director, Indian Institute of Public Health (IIPH), Bhubaneswar
Dr. Lipika Nanda has a unique blend of strong managerial experience along with technical expertise primarily in health systems strengthening in India for the last 18 years. She brings in international expertise with a Master’s in Public Health from the Harvard University, USA and subsequently a doctorate in Health Systems Management. She also has an M. Phil in Human Development from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has been a technical adviser to the WHO for several years. Her experience spans the gamut of the Indian Government, US Government and British Government as well as local and international NGOs and Universities. She currently heads the Public Health Foundation of India’s program in Odisha as the Director of the Regional Institute – The Indian Institute of Public Health Bhubaneswar providing leadership oversight to several public health programs being implemented by IIPHB in Odisha, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal. Prior to this, she was a senior Director and Global HSS adviser to FHI 360, an International Public Health Organization and led on several health sector reform programs in Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. She also worked as a Health Policy Adviser with DFID and has led the design of health sector reform programs in Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.
Prof. K. Srinath Reddy
President Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI)
Prof. K. Srinath Reddy, President, Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) is currently health advisor to Government of Odisha. Prof. Reddy formerly headed the Department of Cardiology at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). He has served on many WHO expert panels and has been the President of the World Heart Federation. He chaired the Core Advisory Group on Health and Human Rights for the National Human Rights Commission of India for several years and was a member of the first National Science and Engineering Research Board of Government of India. He has also served as the President of the National Board of Examinations which deals with post-graduate medical education in India. He was appointed as the First Bernard Lown Visiting Professor of Cardiovascular Health at the Harvard School of Public Health in 2009. He is also an Adjunct Professor of the Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University and Honorary Professor of Medicine at the University of Sydney. Prof. Reddy has been involved in several major international and national research studies including the INTERSALT global study of blood pressure and electrolytes, INTERHEART global study on risk factors of myocardial infarction, national collaborative studies on epidemiology of coronary heart disease and community control of rheumatic heart disease. Prof. Reddy is also the recipient of prestigious civilian award Padma Bhusan.
Prof. (Dr.) Gouranga Charan Nanda
Former Professor & Head, Department of Education & Dean, School of Social Sciences Ravenshaw University, Cuttack
Dr. Gourang Charan Nanda has significant contribution in the field of teacher education during his tenure as Assistant Director, Directorate of Teacher Education and SCERT, Odisha; and Additional Director, Teacher Training, OPEPA, Govt. of Odisha. He was also instrumental in Curriculum Renewal activities at the Elementary Level and Curriculum Revision for Pre-service Teacher Education Programme of both elementary and secondary level in Odisha.
Dr. Mohit Mohan Mohanty
Former Director, State Institutes of Educational Management and Training, Odisha
Dr. Mohit Mohan Mohanty is the former Director of the State Institute of Educational Management and Training (SIEMAT), Odisha. He has also been a visiting professor of Education in Ravenshaw University, Cuttack and External Faculty for teaching scholars in Pre-Ph.D. Course, Utkal University. He has also served in the Government as the Additional Director (Teacher Training), Odisha Primary Education Programme Authority (OPEPA) and Assistant Director, Directorate of TE & SCERT. His areas of specialization include Educational Measurement, Quantitative and Qualitative Techniques, Mathematics Education, Elementary and Teacher Education.
Shri . Achyut Das
Director, AGRAGAMEE
Shri Achyut Das, a Development Activist, Ex-Member, State Planning Board in Odisha and a Joint Machinery set-up for coordination between voluntary agency and Govt. by Planning Commission India. He is the founder Director of AGRAGAMEE and the recipient of SARDA Equal Opportunities Award. He has completed special training on Human Rights (Law, development, Social Justice) in the Institute of Social Studies, The Hague, The Netherlands; special course on Rural Energy, Planning and Environment in Twente University, ENSCHEDE, The Netherlands; Special Certificate Course on Managing Sustainable Rural Development in University of Birmingham (UK).
Kasturi Mohapatra
Social and Political Activist
Kasturi Mohapatra is the founder of an organization Open Learning Systems (OLS). She has been serving for promotion and protection of rights of children, children/persons with disability and women. Ms Mohapatra is also the member of State Juvenile Advisory Cell, GoO and the President of Special Olympics, Bharat, Odisha. She has been member of different high level committee such as High Court Legal Service Committee and Juvenile Justice Board, Khordha, Odisha. She is one of the more proactive contributors in policy making at State and National level on children, women and disability related laws, rules and their implementation.
Shri Soumya Ranjan Patnaik
Hon’ble Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha)
Shri Soumya Ranjan Patnaik is currently acting as the Hon’ble Member of the Parliament (Rajya Sabha) from Odisha State. He is a household name in Odisha as the Editor of “The Sambad”. As a gold medalist from Banaras Hindu University (BHU), he became the youngest lecturer in Political Science in 1972 in the same university. An alumnus of some of the most illustrious centres of learning in India and abroad like Ravenshaw University, Banaras Hindu University, Oxford and London School of Economics; Shri Patnaik has a brilliant academic track record. Restless and bubbling with indomitable energy, he threw up a promising teaching career at the BHU to be the change agent in Odisha. He was elected to 11th Lok Sabha from Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha constituency and strengthened the voice of Odisha on the floor of the House, by arising many sensitive issues. Shri Patnaik possesses a natural ability to lead, combined with intellect, vision, amicable human heart and adequate spirit. Literally, he is a role model for the youth of Odisha. Shri Patnaik, an avid reader and writer, has authored ‘Ama Gharara Halchal’, a collection of writings on contemporary issues. His writings have won him encomiums from all quarters. He has also bagged number of honours and awards including Gandhi – Vinoba Peace Award-2010.
Shri Bipin Rai
Member, Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB)
Shri Bipin Rai is working as a Housing and Shelter Rights activist from last 15 years. He was part of several urban campaigns and movement leads to carry rights of urban poor and slum dwellers. He organized a nationwide campaign to ensure shelter rights for all city makers. He was also a part of Habitate-III from the perspective of local government. At present, he is working as Member of Urban Shelter Improvement Board, Govt. of Delhi.
Shri Ranjan Panda
Freelance researcher
Shri Ranjan Panda is a freelance researcher, writer, policy analyst, development consultant, journalist, photographer and campaigner on water, environment and climate change.
Shri Gadadhar Parida
I.A.S (Retd.), Ex-Secretary to State Farmer’s Commission Government of Odisha
Shri Gadadhar Parida, I.A.S (Retd.), is an Ex-Secretary to State Farmer’s Commission, Government of Odisha. He was also Director of Land Records, Government of Odisha. He is immensely knowledgeable regarding land issues related to entitlements and settlement. While in government being part of ST/SC dept his knowledge regarding Tribal Development especially in relation to land and natural resources is commendable. He identifies himself as a farmer and works at the community level appropriating land resources for tribal livelihoods and development.
Shri Biswar Nayak
Ex-Secretary, Board of Revenue, Government of Odisha
Shri Biswar Nayak, Ex-Secretary, Board of Revenue, Government of Odisha and Ex-Diretor SC/ST/RTI has worked extensively on survey and settlement processes and has immense knowledge on issues related to land tenure and land rights of marginalized communities
Ms. Swapnasri Sarangi
Team Leader, Foundation for Ecological Security (FES)
Ms. Swapnasri Sarangi, Team Leader, Foundation for Ecological Security has been engaged since last 18 years in developing strategies for better management and governance of the natural resources to restore the ecological security with rural communities
Dr. T. Haque
Chairman, Special Cell on Land Policies, NITI Aayog
Dr. T. Haque, Chairman, Special Cell on Land Policies, NITI Aayog, Govt. of India is a well known Agricultural Economist. He obtained his Ph.D. degree from Patna University (India) and Post-doctoral training from Lowa State University, Ames, U.S.A. Prior to joining the Council for Social Development, Dr. Haque served as Chairman, Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices, Government of India, ICAR National Fellow at the National Centre for Agricultural Economics and Policy Research, New Delhi. He also served as Director, Council for Social Development, New Delhi and Director, Centre for Agrarian Studies, NIRD, Hyderabad. He also served as consultant to several international organizations, including FAO, ILO and The World Bank. Besides this, Dr. Haque is author of six books and about 100 research papers and reports. His areas of specialization are land reform, food security and sustainable agriculture and rural development.
Dr. Maneesh Mishra
Advisor, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
Dr. Maneesh Mishra is the advisor to Ministry of Skill development and entrepreneurship. He also lead the World Bank supported Skill India Mission Operation (SANKALP) program. He had a long association with unique identification Authority of India (UIDAI) which runs world’s largest biometric identity program-AADHAAR. As a member of the core project team he helped design systems to provide unique identities to the billion plus people. He is also an impact measurement consultant and specializes in impact evaluation of non capital expenditures. He is a researcher and writer and speaks on wide-ranging issue
Nandita Pradhan Bhatt
Nandita Bhatt specializing in gender mainstreaming, gender sensitization and prevention of sexual harassment of women in the organized and unorganized sector in India. She leads Kadam Badhate Chalo, a programme designed to build youth leaders, both boys and girls, to campaign and end violence against women and girls in workplaces and in their communities. She is currently leading Martha Farrell Foundation in the capacity of Director (operations). She has a vast experience in setting up of CASH (Committees Against Sexual Harassment) in different organizations, developing Policies Against Sexual Harassment as well as Gender Policies. She is member on the committees of a number of organisations (both government and non-government) including of the General Administration Department of the Government of Delhi. She also represents the organisation in providing technical advice to the Government of Sikkim and Government of South East Delhi on the implementation of the sexual harassment of women at workplace (prevention, prohibition, redressal) Act, 2013. She is project in charge of initiatives to end violence against women in more than 12 states of India.
Dr Debal Deb
Researcher & Guest Faculty University of California
Dr Debal Deb, a Fulbright scholar, has done post-doctoral ecology work at the University of California at Berkeley. Dr Deb is engaged in working with traditional farmers in eastern India to conserve indigenous seed diversity.
Soma Kishore Parthasarathy
Researcher & Policy Analyst
Soma Kishore Parthasarathy has three decades of field and policy related experience in the areas of gender, poverty, development and livelihoods. She has sought to strengthen feminist approaches towards natural resources and to engender policy through her tenures with the GOI. She is associated with the Women farmers’ network (MAKAAM) and CAWL Rights Network. She was also a member of the National Advisory Group to Ministry of HRD Mahila Samakhya Programme and associated with WOCAN, AWID and ILC as resource person/researcher. She has conducted gender training for policy makers and planners and facilitated gender inclusive policy formulation and programme development. She actively supports several people’s movements and organisations and contributes to policy discourses on gender, development, natural resources and livelihoods, empowerment and micro finance. She has written several papers and reports on gender, empowerment of livelihoods and rights and has been a resource person on national and international committees. She was also the senior advisor for the Livelihoods Mission, UNDP India. She has completed her PhD from IIT-Bombay recently on gender and natural resource governance. She is also a very active member in Community Forest Rights-Learning and Advocacy (CFR-LA) and water conflict forum.
