Our Team

Syed Kashif Raza

Associate

Accounts

Syed Kashif Raza is a postgraduate from Aligarh Muslim University and has over 10 years of experience in accounting, auditing, taxation and payroll both in India and places abroad. He has worked with manufacturing companies, trading companies and NGOs and has currently joined CfP as an Accountant.

Vasant Saberwal

Director

Administration

Vasant Saberwal did a master’s degree in wildlife biology from the Wildlife Institute of India and his PhD on the politics of shepherd access to grazing resources in the Himalaya from Yale University. Between 1999 and 2004 he was part of Moving Images, where he co-directed a series of films on a range of environmental issues. Between 2004 and 2014 he worked at the Ford Foundation where he oversaw work on rainfed agriculture, pastoralism and the Forest Rights Act. He was the founding editor of the journal Conservation and Society. His publications include Pastoral Politics; People, Parks and Wildlife; Battles over Nature; and Democratizing Nature. He is the director of CfP, and anchors its research agenda.

Madhu Ramaswamy

Communications Consultant

Communications

Madhu Ramaswamy is a communications expert with three decades of experience as a documentary script writer, researcher, print media writer, designer and graphic artist working on a wide range of issues including ecology, sustainable livelihoods, climate change, social justice and environmental and rural governance. He is the author of Sahjeevan’s Metamorphosis Report and is currently a part of CfP’s Communication’s team.

Sarita Sundar

Communications

For the past 30 years, Sarita Sundar has worked as a graphic artist and design historian, primarily in the fields of archives and heritage interpretation and runs a consultancy called www.hanno.in. She oversees, guides and supports CfP - Sahjeevan’s communications team to develop and implement an effective communications strategy that aims to add clarity on target audiences and messaging. Sarita also works with the Living Lightly team to integrate CfP’s long term vision and goals.

Amanat Ali

Fellow

FRA

Amanat Ali is a member of the Van Gujjar community and has been actively involved in Haridwar to expedite the FRA process & is also involved in the work with the Animal Husbandry Department, Uttarakhand.

Amit Rathi

Coordinator - Uttarakhand

FRA

Amit Rathi completed his Master’s in Law with a focus on Access to Justice from TISS, Mumbai in 2015. Since then he has worked with the Van Gujjar semi-nomadic pastoral community in Uttarakhand. He joined the Centre for Pastoralism in 2018, where he currently anchors the Centre’s work with the Van Gujjars, focused specifically on using the Forest Rights Act towards securing herder rights to summer and winter grazing.

Meer Hamja

Fellow

FRA

Meer Hamja is a member of the Van Gujjar community. He has an interest in pastoralists' rights and the FRA. Hamja has been actively involved in Uttarakhand for many years to expedite the FRA process, and works on issues of the Van Gujjar community, assisting them with legal processes. He is the state president of Van Gujjar Yuva Tribal Sangathan. He has a BA in History, Political Science and Sociology from Dev Suman University, Tehri Garhwal, and is now pursuing a Masters in Social Work in Uttarakhand Open University, Haldwani.

Mohammad Shamshad

Fellow

FRA

Mohammad Shamshad is a member of the Van Gujjar community and has been involved in Dehradun, Tehri & Pauri to expedite the FRA process.

Ramesh Bhatti

Advisor

FRA

Ramesh Bhatti studied Sociology and Rural Development. He has been a part of Sahjeevan since 2000. Over this time, he has led the organization’s work on pastoralism, including the revival of a livestock-based livelihood in Kutch, institution-building among pastoralist communities in the region, and facilitating the submission of a community’s claim to manage the Banni Grasslands, under the Forest Rights Act. Ramesh anchors CfP’s work on breeds.

Rituja Mitra

FRA National Coordinator

FRA

Rituja Mitra has a double Master's in development from Azim Premji University & Masters in Corporate communications management from Banaras Hindu University. She has been the state coordinator in Gujarat for the implementation of the Forest Rights Act for the OTFD communities in Kachchh and in the districts of Saurashtra, Gujarat. She has worked as a Regional Coordinator for Sahjeevan overseeing the themes of livelihood, institution-building and breed conservation and has 4 years of experience in Public relations and development communications.

Emmanuel Theophilus

Project Anchor - Kumaon

Livelihoods

Emmanuel Theophilus is an ecologist based in the high Himalaya of Pithoragarh, Kumaon. He has worked at the National Dairy Development Board, the Tree Growers Cooperatives Federation and the Foundation for Ecological Security. He has been a visiting professor at Williams College, Massachusetts and at Acadia University, Nova Scotia. His research interests include alpine and river ecosystems, as well as snow leopard conservation, yak breeding (he co-owns a herd of sheep and horses that undertake the annual migration from the terai to the high pastures in our valley) pastoralist livelihoods, and the Commons. Theo is leading this work in the Kumaon Himalaya.

Mahendar Singh

Field Staff (Kumaon)

Livelihoods

Mahendar Singh has worked as an agro-pastoralist, a woodsman and a herbs collector. He is deeply observant and knowledgeable about high altitude plants and animals.

Munna Nitwal

Field Staff (Kumaon)

Livelihoods

Munna Nitwal has worked across the Himalaya on infrastructure projects, but brings to the team his application and hard work on all matters.

Narain Nitwal

Field Staff (Kumaon)

Livelihoods

Narain Nitwal, known amongst us as Nabbu, has worked as a herb collector at high altitudes. His experience, familiarity and knowledge of the high-altitude terrain is unmatched in the region.

Prem Rana

Field Staff (Kumaon)

Livelihoods

Prem Rana has worked as a shepherd in the past, and is also an agro-pastoralist. He is the backstop on all matters related to food and logistics.

Riya Sequeira Shetty

Wool Anchor

Livelihoods

Riya Sequeira Shetty has a keen interest in ecology and sustainability and has worked in different areas of conservation covering wildlife, ecology, outreach and solid waste management. She graduated with a degree in English Literature and has a PG diploma in Liberal Studies from Ashoka University. She has managed a jungle resort in the Nilgiris, and a cafe in the Andaman islands. She currently works as coordinator with CfP, providing administrative and managerial support to the team.

Trilok Rana

Field Staff (Kumaon)

Livelihoods

Trilok Rana comes from an agricultural family, and has built his knowledge about the bird flora that makes him the most sought-after birding guide in the region. He assists in paperwork for the team.

Khyati Vinod

Designer

Living Lightly

Khyati Vinod is an artist and architect. As a member of the Living Lightly team, she leads the visual design work, holds the archives and supports the documentation team. She designed the Living Lightly website with the LL team and designers.

Komal Jain

Associate Curator

Living Lightly

Komal Jain is a designer-researcher based in Bangalore, India with an academic background in Exhibition Design from the National Institute of Design. Their current works explore the anthropocentric gaze on non-human surroundings through the lens of gender and sexuality. Some of their previous exhibitions were in collaboration with the Science Gallery Bengaluru, Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Maharashtra University of Health Sciences. Before joining CfP, they opened an exhibition titled, Ever Met an 'Ugly' Flower? at the National Centre of Biological Sciences in March 2023. At CfP, they're part of the Living Lightly team to develop the upcoming Deccan exhibition in Bangalore.

Malini Hariharan

Living Lightly Coordinator

Living Lightly

Malini Hariharan is an independent music professional with a rich and diverse experience in the music industry in India. From running internationally acclaimed music venues and festivals to working with global music companies at the cusp of copyrights, curation and technology, Malini’s goal has been to expand the horizons and push the boundaries of the arts and entertainment eco-systems in India.

Nikita Naik

India Fellow

Living Lightly

Nikita Naik is an architecture graduate from Pune University with an internship in sustainable architecture from Raman Construction, Auroville. Her interest in sustainable living enabled her to work in diverse avenues exploring architectural firms around Pune and experimental studio spaces like Earthitects in Bangalore. She spent a year and a half with MASHAL, an NGO, where she had the opportunity to document the Wari pilgrimage and propose ideas for the sustainable development of roads and water resources along its routes. She currently works with Living Lightly in association with the All India Fellowship to document cultural narratives in collaboration with the Van Gujjar community.

Sushma Iyengar

Lead Curator

Living Lightly

Sushma Iyengar is a social worker and educator. In the past three decades she has led transformative action with marginalised communities in the area of gender justice, indigenous cultures, cultural livelihoods, local governance, and post-disaster rehabilitation. Based in Kutch, she is also the lead curator of the exhibition ‘Living Lightly - Journeys with Pastoralists’ - an outcome of her long-standing interest in and experience with indigenous communities, including nomadic pastoralists.

Amiya Walia

Research Associate

Research

Amiya Walia has a Bachelor’s in Psychology with a Minor in Environmental Studies from Ashoka University. She is passionate about environmental justice and her research experience includes topics such as forest rights, manual scavenging and waste management. Previously, she worked for two years in the research and knowledge department of a social sector consultancy working on impact assessments and landscaping studies. Amiya has recently joined the research team as a research associate.

Aniruddh Sheth

Thematic Anchor

Research

Aniruddh Sheth has a master’s degree in Environment and Development from Ambedkar University Delhi. He has previously worked with WWF-India on human-elephant conflict in South Asia. For his graduate project at AUD, Aniruddh walked with Fakirani Jat pastoralists in the Banni grasslands, in Kutch, Gujarat. His thesis focused on the history and political economy of Fakirani pastoralism amidst the rise of specialty milk markets. Aniruddh is interested in research that brings together development, state policy and human-environment relations in South Asia. Currently, he coordinates CfP’s research agenda.

Anita Kusum Purty

GIS Analyst

Research

Anita Kusum Purty, a skilled GIS Analyst with nearly 3 years of experience, holds a Master's degree in GeoInformatics from Symbiosis University and has additional proficiency in Python from People Friendships University in Russia. With a strong GIS background, she has made valuable contributions to organizations like NATMO, Studio Kunst Pvt Ltd, Flame University, and ISB - Indian School of Business. Anita has actively engaged in diverse projects, including Slum Project 2.0 for Pune Municipal and Pimpri Chinchwad, the Historical Atlas of India, Geospatial Library of India, and Spatial Analysis of Bangalore, underscoring her expertise and dedication to the field of geo-information.

Chamba Tsetan

Project Coordinator

Research

Chamba was born and brought up in a nomadic village called Kargyam in the Changthang Plateau of Ladakh. He graduated with a degree in Science from Government Degree College, Leh and later studied at SECMOL. He was part of fellowships like the Young India Fellowship at Ashoka University and the Mother Teresa Fellowship. For the last 3 years, Chamba has worked at the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh as an Academic Coordinator. He currently works with the Changpa community in Ladakh as a Project coordinator in collaboration with CfP and WWF in reimagining Changthang as a landscape.

Iravatee Majgaonkar

Senior Researcher

Research

Iravatee Majgaonkar is a researcher trained in interdisciplinary environmental sciences, first through the Masters program in Wildlife biology at the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bengaluru and then at the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, Bengaluru where she is currently enrolled as a PhD scholar. Her interests are in studying socio ecological changes in pastoral landscapes in the Deccan peninsula. She has led research projects which studied carnivore distribution in agropastoral landscapes and participated in socio-economic surveys of pastoral economies in western Maharashtra and northern Karnataka in the past 8 years. For her PhD, she is studying how land use change and pastoralism-biodiversity relations are linked to each other in the semi-arid savannas of Pune district in Maharashtra.

Tenzing Palmo

Field Researcher

Research

Tenzin Palmo is a Tibetan from Ladakh. She completed a Master's of Liberal Studies degree with a concentration in Sociology and Anthropology from Ashoka University in 2022. As a beginner in the field of Anthropology, her research interests lie in the themes of everyday life, identities, belongingness, exile, infrastructure, conservation, human-non-human relations and many more. She is drawn towards the lifeworlds of the Himalayan ecology and the life-ways of its communities. Recently, she was part of a research project in Nubra titled "Mapping the Culture and Heritage of Nubra" which documented the tangible and intangible heritage of the villages along the Siachen river. She has also worked as a Research Assistant under a Professor for their research work in Ladakh.

Vidur Datt

Research Associate

Research

Vidur Datt has a B.A. and a PGD in Sociology and Anthropology from Ashoka University. As part of his postgraduate diploma, he studied mental well-being among college students. He is interested in forms of care and relatedness across cultures and he hopes to pursue research that makes a social impact. Vidur is part of the economic study team based in Himachal Pradesh.

Yash Ketkar

Lead Cartographer

Research

Yash Ketkar is a Geographer with a Master's degree in GeoInformation Technology and Cartography from the University of Glasgow. In the past 5 years of his experience, he has worked on several government, institutional and freelance projects related to surveying, mapping, capacity building, planning and decision-making at micro and macro levels. He also has experience in datasets, website and mobile application design, management and development. Some of his projects included working with international organizations like UNICEF, Doctors for You and government organizations like Pune Municipal Corporation, Chhattisgarh and Karnataka State Governments. He is interested in exploring the applications of GIS in rural India and contributing to reforms through the medium of informed maps and statistics.

Dr. Amrita Patel

Steering Committee

Dr. Amrita Patel is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Padmabhushan for her contribution to India’s dairy sector. She headed the National Dairy Development Board from 1998 to 2014 which led the world's biggest dairy development program - Operation Flood. She is the founder of the Foundation for Ecological Security (FES), and currently a member of the Governing Board. She is also Former Chairperson of Shree Krishna Hospital, Anand.

Dr. Jayashree Ratnam

Steering Committee

Dr. Jayashree Ratnam is currently at the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research where she serves as Director of the Wildlife Biology and Conservation Program. She is particularly interested in the history, ecology, function and conservation of tropical savannas, forests and grasslands. Current work includes paleo-history and functional ecology of Asian savannas and grasslands, and long-term monitoring of Asian tropical forests and savannas.

Jaya Jaitley

Steering Committee

Jaya Jaitley is the Founder of Dastkari Haat Samiti, the remarkable space in Central Delhi that hosts and showcases the work of craftspeople from across the country. She has been a passionate advocate for craftspeople, and has spent many decades in working to enhance their visibility and identifying means by which they might have improved access to mainstream markets. She has authored numerous books on Indian crafts and has curated shows all over the world. Jayaji was the former President of Samata Party.

Sandeep Virmani

Steering Committee

Sandeep Virmani is an architect, conservationist and institution builder who has spent the last 3 decades in Kutch, Gujarat, working with communities to enhance their livelihoods and improve the quality of their environments. Over the years he has helped set up four organizations in the region, including Sahjeevan; Arid Communities and Technologies (ACT), which focuses on water in all its dimensions; Satvik, for ecological farming; and the Hunnarshala Foundation, a non-profit working towards sustainable human habitation. Sandeep is on the board of a large number of organizations; he is CfP’s founder mentor and actively involved in all of the organization’s work.

Sunil Parekh

Steering Committee

Sunil Parekh is an International Success Coach, Mind Trainer & NLP Practitioner. After 24 years in the corporate sector he founded the Rise Development Academy Pvt. Ltd. with a vision of inspiring, motivating and empowering people to live happier, healthier and successful lives. He is currently on the board of the Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers & Chemicals Ltd. and is the Head of Strategy & Corporate Affairs at Zydus Group. Mr. Parekh was previously the Executive Chairman for IIT Delhi Alumni Association.