‘A do-tank, not just a think-tank’

Abhishek is a Delhi native. His bachelor’s degree is in computer science. He worked at MAQ Software and Erricson before joining Indus Action. Reading, composing poetry, and exploring music are some of his interests.

Adrija graduated from NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad in 2016. Before joining Indus Action, she worked as a lawyer with Khaitan & Co., Mumbai and subsequently, joined Nyaaya a civic-tech initiative incubated at Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy. She loves exploring cities to know more about their histories and also enjoys going on long walks!’

Ajit is a software tester with seven years of experience in software testing, including functional and non-functional testing in the service and product base organization.

Aditya Sarangi has a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Ravenshaw University in Odisha and a Master’s degree in Sociology from the University of Hyderabad. He has worked in domains of Child Rights, Parliamentary functioning, and improving access to last-mile delivery welfare and livelihoods. Outside work, he loves reading, cycling, listening to podcasts, and Indian classical Music. Currently, he is learning to avoid disasters in the kitchen.

Amisha is from Banaras, where she completed her undergrad from Banaras Hindu University in Political Science. Early on she developed a deep love for the Humanities and found her calling in the social sector. As a Commonwealth Scholar, Amisha graduated from the Institute of Education, University College London with a specialization in Educational Planning, Economics, and International Development. On her return to India, she worked with the Health and Education Departments of the Delhi Government on high priority projects ranging from adolescent mental health, digitization of the healthcare system to Delhi’s first model virtual school. At Indus Action, Amisha is currently leading the Operations for the Care To Play and Community Leaders Program where she aims to invest her skills in creating a more equitable society.

I am a psychology graduate with a keen interest in gender studies, education, and social justice. I completed the Young India Fellowship in 2020, and am eager to explore opportunities that connect me to education, feminism, mental health, and more importantly, storytelling and community building. Besides these, I pursue music, journaling, and my passion for sketching and visual art.

Anjan has spent over a decade doing various things in the corporate & non-profit world, which has taught him that his heart is in brand building and high-impact messaging. His passion for effective communication is as infectious as his curiosity for the impact it can create, and he is eager to learn and contribute in any way he can. In his free time, he likes to read, listen to 90’s hip-hop and find novel ways to annoy his younger sister.

Ankit comes with extensive experience in technology and has also worked in the impact space. During his last 17 years of career, he has worked in different domains, spanning various technologies. At Indus Action, he is working as a fractal CTO and is taking care of tech strategy and technology-led projects. He also has co-founded an NGO – “Adopt a Family”, that focuses on providing ration to visually impaired families and on making them self-reliant.

Arunangshu Mondal holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) from Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan. Around 10 years of working with State Governments and Several donor-funded projects in the social and humanitarian sector across different states, mainly in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal. He is passionate about education, child rights and child protection, adolescents, and youth empowerment. He has worked with grassroots and national/international non-profit organizations such as Prayatn, Childline India Foundation, Save The Children, and Child Rights and You (CRY) in different capacities. His hobbies include cooking, traveling, and understanding new cultures.

She had more than 10 years of experience in the development sector in Maternal and Child health, disability, child rights, HIV, etc. Earlier she was associated with our Chhattisgarh team and now she has rejoined our Delhi team to support the mission. She likes traveling and cooking.

Archana is compelled by the idea that systems need to work in service of the most marginalised. She graduated with an M.A from the Institute of Education at UCL and having spent most of her career thinking about children’s learning, she is convinced that thinking critically about the ethics of care, gender relations and children’s well-being has wider applicability to shift existing social structures to being more just and equal. When not at work, Archana can be found in parks negotiating decisions with her pre-schooler or reading Nordic noir while eating cake.

Ashish is an enthusiastic bike rider, who aspires to travel the world and is keen on learning different cultures, meeting new people and imbibing their perspectives. With an attitude of hard work, and grit he looks forward to a great life and wellbeing for everyone around his.

Atul Deep was born and brought up in Patna, Bihar. He is passionate about exploring off-beat places and has a love for traveling. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Physics and a Master’s degree in Rural Development and Governance from Tata Institute of Social Sciences. His academic background has given him a unique perspective on the intersection of science and social development, and he is excited to bring this perspective to his work here. Apart from his academic pursuits, he has a deep appreciation for nature and cultural diversity. He believes that every place has its own charm, and he is always eager to learn about different cultures and traditions.

Basil was practising law before he joined Indus Action and was also a computing enthusiast. He chose to seek out a career in computing and has started his IT career with Indus Action. Basil obtained his LL.B. degree from the University of Kerala and LL.M. from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Basil, his wife Alfia, and their son Ezra hail from Kerala, but they currently reside in Tamil Nadu. Basil is interested in computing, law, and arts, and supports Arsenal F. C.

Bhupesh is a qualified Cost Accountant and prior to joining Indus Action, he was working in an MNC as a Tax Specialist. He likes learning new things constantly and outside of work, prefers to watch Wrestling, Cricket and spend time with his family.

Bibhuti Ranjan Das is a software developer who finds joy in both coding and music. When he is not immersed in lines of code, you’ll often find him lost in the world of music. He enjoys connecting with people and exchanging ideas. Fun fact: When he gets angry, he eats a lot

Chitra is a qualitative researcher who has worked on financial inclusion and migration, in addition to conducting independent research on vulnerability and marginalization among Nepalese migrant workers in India. Chitra‘s strong interest in applied research has materialized in her designing digital solutions within the civic tech ecosystem, where she aspires to grow. Outside of work, she enjoys learning the flute, reading books in translation, and staying biased toward folk and jazz music. She holds a Master’s in Development Studies from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai.

Chris’s passion for the social sector drew her to explore Make a Difference in college. Her thirst for knowledge grew stronger and pushed her to grab a Masters in Education from Finland after a short stint in the IT industry. Chris loves to travel and cook, and try out new recipes.

Deepak started working early in his life. Post-school hours were always kept for packing work. He loved reading, and whenever he could have some time to himself, he would read the books borrowed from Delhi Public Library. He started my journey as a Gandhi fellow, where he closely worked with teachers, community, and the local government. Since then he has contributed to the sector in different dimensions and capacities. Over time he has learned that often it is the simple solution that solves the complex issues. Also, that communication is a key to solving most of the challenges in life. He has a curious mind and he learns by asking, experimenting, and exploring. He loves Indian classical art forms and has started learning the vocals recently. You can find him attending some cultural program post-work.

Devaki was born and raised in Pune, Maharashtra, where she completed her schooling and graduated from. She has lived in different cities and travelled extensively across India for work. She has been engaged in the social impact space for the past 9 odd years in different roles. In her personal time, she enjoys reading, though the pace doesn’t match the ever-growing pile in the cabinet- thanks to the OTTs! She has also attempted writing poetry – emerging from her own experiences with love, grief and loss. She enjoys writing and has a micro-ambition of publishing a book. A newfound passion is that of adopting a more sustainable lifestyle. She tries to learn newer ways to reduce waste everyday.

Gautam is a qualified Chartered Accountant. He aims to focus his energies towards the social sector and be a part of a team creating an impact at any level whatsoever.He is an avid food enthusiast and loves to explore new places to find it. He is also a fitness enthusiast and loves distance running.

Hitesh has recently jumped ship from pursuing an academic interest in Sociology to working on school education and public policy. He has a keen interest in conversation on cinema, books and sports-related trivia. Otherwise, traveling, reading, writing and woodcraft keep him busy.

Jarif has more than 8 years’ of experience in the Social development sector, and 5 years of work experience in Urban Governance policy & advocacy in Sulochana Thapar Foundation as a Project Officer Governance & Urban Governance Fellow.. He was deputed at Directorate of Municipal Administration Ranchi, Jharkhand & leading the state level Project . He has done post graduation in social work from TMU Moradabad & has a bachelor degree from Jamia Hamdard , New Delhi. His hobbies are gardening, cooking, running and doing exercise.

Jaya is from Delhi and pursuing Master’s (M.com) through ODL while working full-time. She likes shopping, doodling art, music, and learning new things.

Jyoti is from Utter Pradesh. She has done her graduation from Veer Bahadur Singh Purvanchal University. She has knowledge in Nodejs, Mongodb, PostgrSql, JavaScript, Python, Html, CSS, Git and some other basic knowledge in other programming languages. Her hobbies are playing cricket, traveling, solving logical problems, and reading historical books, dancing & singing. She is a quick learner, a hardworking & self-motivated person, and confident with a positive attitude. She has worked with Social Bytes as a Python developer for a year. She has also worked in an organization named Milan Foundation, now an alumnus called Girl Icon. She belongs to a six-member family. Her short-term goal is to improve her skills and experience. Her long-term goal is to become a more knowledgeable personality in a respectable position.

Shreyas describes himself as a curious, funny, and energetic guy. He trained as a Bhumi Fellow working in a low-income private school in Chennai for two years. He is always up for a conversation on philosophy, cricket, and politics. You can find him at his happiest during his early morning run.

Kuni Mohanta belongs to Keonjhar, Odisha but she lives in Bhubaneswar. She has completed her post graduation from Utkal University in Anthropology. Previously, she has worked on RTE 12.1.C as an associate coordinator. Her hobbies include learning new technological discoveries , social media engagement and photography.

After pursuing Master’s in Physics from Kerala, Lakshmi decided to do the Teach for India Fellowship in Pune. The transition helped her realize her passion for policy formulation and sustainable development. She likes to explore places and listen to stories. You would find her humming an unknown song while doodling, writing poems, or petting a cat.

She has completed her B.E. in Information Technology from CSVTU Bhilai. She has previously worked in IBC 24 (CG Regional) as an IT developer. Her hobbies include sketching and listening to music. She is enthusiastic about doing something for socially and economically disadvantaged children, specifically for their education and health.

Madhuri is an educator and a policy enthusiast. She has pursued her Ed.M. in International Education Policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Her work is centered around system reform and ensuring vulnerable citizens have access to a high quality of life through policies grounded in research. Her past areas of experience include teaching, coding, consulting, work on diversity, gender, and inclusion, among others. She has worked extensively with children and believes in the power of arts to convey ideas.

Manab has spent his entire childhood in Shantiniketan (W.B.) and developed an immense love and affection for nature, music, drama, and sports. He loves to play musical instruments along with Rabindra Sangeet or folk music. As a development professional, he always seeks for assignments which amalgamate with his core personal believes; equity and justice for all. He is a food enthusiast and loves to cook for family and friends.

An educator and a nature enthusiast, Mansi has diverse experience, working in different educational settings. She recently completed her Master’s from University College London in Educational Planning, Economics and International Development. Her interest in policy implementation and data-driven practices brings her to Indus Action. She has previously worked with primary and secondary government schools as well as affordable private schools in Delhi and Uttarakhand. Her past areas of experience include teaching, teacher training, school improvement and curriculum design.

Masoom believes that child rights advocacy is important because children are vulnerable and must be empowered to become informed citizens. He is a law graduate from Jamia Millia Islamia, passionate about public policy and constitutional rights. He finds solace in non-fiction books and occasionally expresses himself through poetry. Roohafza and Chaai are his go-to companions for relaxation and contemplation.

I hold academic qualifications in architecture and urban planning, but my journey into the development sector started serendipitously and then continued as a deliberate career choice. Over these years, have worked in fields of sustainable development, disaster management, ICT4D and education in the past with various NGOs and private sector organisations in the development field. Aside from my professional commitments, I am a parent to a 12-year-old and in my free time, I love immersing myself in books, indulging in movies through the convenience of OTT platforms, and embarking on journeys with family.

Namrita has completed Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Development Management from NIRD, Hyderabad. Previously she had worked as Young Professional at Haryana State Rural Livelihoods Mission, Haryana wherein she was primarily responsible for managing Self Help Groups at Block Level and engaging with different stakeholders such as field staffs, block level staffs, district and state level functionaries. At Indus Action, she has joined as Young Professional and is associated with the PoWER project- PDHMA in Odisha under East Zone.

Natasha is committed to realising a world where all mothers feel empowered and supported and all children receive nurturing and responsive care, irrespective of their socio-economic status. She has volunteered and worked in the fields of education and gender justice for more than 15 years and firmly believes that high quality early childhood care and learning experiences play a pivotal role in fostering lifelong well-being for children, offering pathways out of intergenerational poverty. Natasha was a Chevening Scholar at UCL Institute of Education and is an alumna of the World Bank Early Years, Atlas Corps and StartingBloc fellowships. Natasha’s core values of compassion, gratitude, and curiosity guide her personal and professional endeavours. She derives immense joy from cultivating meaningful connections, immersing herself in nature, and caring for community animals. An enthusiastic traveler, birder, and wildlife photographer, her plans to visit her 27th country and observe her 257th bird species are momentarily on hold, as she navigates the fulfilling, exhausting, and transformative experience of new motherhood. She lives in Bangalore with her son, husband, and two cats, Bagheera and Nymeria.

Pankaj completed his Engineering in 2013 from CSVTU Bhilai. Currently, he is pursuing Masters’s in Social Work from IGNOU. He Paused his core sector journey in 2017. Then started my journey in the social development sector. He is passionate about working with socio-economic backward families, for their rights and empowerment. His hobbies are gardening, & watching cricket.

Rachit is a mechanical engineer and an MBA by training. He started his professional journey in the Oil & Gas industry and spent eight good years there. During his MBA, he got excited by the idea of creating social impact and spent the next two and half years in a non-profit social enterprise working towards rural development. He wishes he had any exciting hobbies to talk about, but he is extraordinarily ordinary here. He likes: watching movies/TV series, watched far too many, reading a bit (recently completed memoir by Amartya Sen), and playing/watching/talking about sports.

Sachin is from Uttarakhand. He completed his studies at H.N.B.G.U. His skills include Tally Prime, GST and Computer Concepts (CCC). He started his journey with Indus Action in 2020 and is working as an Operations Executive in the North Zone. Outside his work, he likes conversing about cinema, books and cricket. He also likes listening to songs and watching cricket.

Santosh graduated from Himalayan Garhwal University, Uttarakhand. Outside of work, he enjoys reading, listening to music and acting.

Sarbani received her PhD in Global Studies and International and Comparative Education (with specific focus on the Indian educational system) from the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, U.S. She has been a Postdoctoral Research Fellow and studied educational Public-Private Partnerships at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa. She also has a Master’s in Social Work with specialization in Urban and Rural Community Development from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, India; and has worked as Senior Social Worker in Singapore. She engages with the field of education from a multi-disciplinary perspective and researcher-practitioner standpoint. She critically examines the notion of educational privatization and deals with the complexity of the dichotomous narratives about public versus private schooling. She is interested in educational policy mobility and the sociology of educational policies, practices, and knowledge production.

Shuchi believes in embracing the simple joys of life and finding beauty in everyday moments. As an individual, she strives to approach life with humility, gratitude, and an open mind. She is passionate about working for people and with people. She finds immense joy in the process of learning and growing. In her free time, you’ll often find her binge-watching the show FRIENDS for the Nth time. She is excited to embark on this new experience and connect with inspiring individuals.

Siva Karthik Valaparla was a Prime Ministers’ Rural Development Fellow and worked with the Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi as Programme Officer in their Community Support Unit. His areas of interest include Education, Financial Literacy, Urban Livelihoods, Participatory planning, and Community outreach. Other than helping citizens address civic issues, he loves gardening, cycling, and also watching movies specially Gautham Vasudev Menon films.

Prior to joining Indus Action, Sonu worked in a partnership firm as an Account Assistant. He likes learning new things constantly and outside of work, prefers watching cricket.

Swati is a history undergrad with a degree in Liberal Studies and a love for public policy. If that wasn’t confusing enough – she loves ice cream, coffee, and working out every day! She has worked with Tata Trusts in the health vertical before this. She enjoys traveling, exploring new kinds of coffee, and reading quietly in the corner.

Tabassum has done her B.A, M.A and D. Ed in Special Education (Hearing Impairment) from AYJNIHH. She has also worked as an Interpreter & Job coach for PWD candidates. At Indus Action, she wishes to spread her wings to cover various aspects of Inclusive Education for underprivileged and disadvantaged children with the help of the team to make India Inclusive.

Being an Indian Naval kid Tanvii has spent her childhood in different parts of the country. Now based in Delhi she has been in the HR and Training field since 2012. She also has her own private practice as a Counselling Psychologist. Her goal is to influence everyone to live efficient, productive and joyful lives at work and home. Her hobbies include reading and travelling

Hello, I’m Tanvi Verma, a passionate individual with a journalism background. As a Program Coordinator at Indus Action, I bring grassroot experience and a commitment to improving children’s life chances through our Care2 Play project.

Tarun is your go-to person for ‘chai pe charcha’ about anything ranging from fiction, non-fiction to world affairs. He graduated with an MPA/ID from the Harvard Kennedy School and prior to his foray into ensuring access to quality education for all, he used to ensure access to quality ice cream and jams for all at Hindustan Unilever.

Umang is a History major with a concentration in Policy Studies from Grinnell College, USA. Aiming to building a career in the field of social research and public policy implementation, Umang aspires to utilise a systems-thinking approach to enact positive social change that is sustainable and grounded in lived experiences of vulnerable citizens. With an extensive background in research and writing across social science disciplines, he has been the recipient of multiple research awards and grants, including Baumann Essay Prize, Lura Camery Prize, and third position at Map the System 2022. In his free time, Umang enjoys playing the guitar and ukulele, cooking, baking, and video gaming.

Vikas joined us as a Consultant. His hobbies are to play cricket, basketball, and volleyball. He enjoy playing all varieties of games and making new friends. He also loves to travel and explore new places and learn new agricultural practices from there.

Vijay hails from Erode in Tamil Nadu. He finished his Master’s in Development and Labour Studies from JNU. Then, he was working with Peoples’ Action for Employment Guarantee for a year. After that he completed a certificate course in Advanced Research in Political Economy. He joined Indus Action after that. His core research interests mostly lie in the urban informal sector, migration, and urbanisation. He watches a lot of football and he is trying to learn to cook.

Vital is a Computer Science graduate. He started his career as a Software Engineer at TCS, Chennai. After working there for around 4 years, he took a break from an IT career to pursue UPSC civil service exam preparations. During the same time, he started an own ed-tech C2S foundation to mentor UPSC aspirants. Later he resumed his tech career as as a Data Analyst at MSU, a political consulting firm. He joined Indus Action after that. During his free time, he goes for a swim, plays tennis or follows cricket. He also likes watching funny videos of kids and pets.

Over the last 13 years, Yuvika has worked extensively in the domain of Talent Management, Organizational Structure and Development, Employee Engagement, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Benefits and Performance Management. Most recently, she was associated with Amazon, having previously worked with Snapdeal and CEB (now Gartner). Yuvika has earned her Master’s in Psychology with specialisation in Organizational Development and Behaviour, Counselling and Health Psychology from Punjab University, Chandigarh; MBA (HR) from Symbiosis International University, Pune and Master’s (International Business) from Leeds Beckett University, UK. On the personal front, she is married to a Naval officer. She enjoys reading non-fiction, discovering new destinations via slow travel and backpacking, and filling he home with soulful music by international artists and tunes he husband practices on his piano.

Vipin is from the city of Meerut, UP. He has joined Indus Action as a Technical Project Manager. He is passionate about technology, history, and spirituality. He has a BCA from SMU and has been in the industry for 13 years. You can find him hiking, travelling, or exploring new places when he is not working.