Sandeep is an architect by training and has worked on issues relating to biodiversity, organic farming, renewable energy, nomads and their habitats, conservation ecology, disaster management and locally-relevant housing for the past few decades. He is a founding member of many organisations, including Hunnarshala Foundation, Satvik, Arid Communities and Technologies (ACT) and Kutch Nav Nirman Abhiyan. He is an ex-trustee of Gujarat Desert Ecology (GUIDE), president of Consortium for DEWATS Discrimination (CDD), promoter and vice president of ACT, and founder trustee and governing board member of Kutch Nav Nirman Abhiyan.
Sushma Iyengar
Member
Sushma Iyengar
Member
Sushma Iyengar is a renowned social activist and development practitioner with over 30 years of experience in community development, education, and gender rights. She is dedicated to empowering local communities by blending traditional knowledge with modern development approaches, focusing on natural resource management, disaster response, and women's empowerment. Sushma has been instrumental in founding key organizations such as - Kutch Mahila Vikas Sangathan (KMVS), Khamir, Hunnarshala Foundation, SETU Abhiyan, and Janvikas - all of which drive grassroots initiatives in women's leadership, sustainable development, and social justice. She also serves on the boards of the Axis Bank Foundation and Paul Hamlyn Foundation, advising on sustainable livelihoods and education initiatives. Sushma's deep expertise in social development and ecological conservation makes her a vital member of Sahjeevan's board, guiding its mission for sustainable, inclusive growth.
Yugandhar Mandvekar
Executive Secretary
Yugandhar Mandvekar
Executive Secretary
Yugandhar has over 35 years of experience working on rural livelihoods and community-based natural resource management. He has worked on several watershed developments, climate-resilient agriculture and livelihoods programmes, and has supported over a hundred CSOs and FPOs on strategies, implementation systems and managed result chains, including capacity-building in those areas. He is on many governing boards, including Grass Roots Action for Social Participation, Aurangabad (GRASP), Marathwada Sheti Sahayya Mandal, Jalna (MSSM) and Society for Action in Community Health, New Delhi (SACH). Yugandhar holds a master’s degree in management from the Indian Institute of Management and a B.Tech from Punjabrao Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola.
Krupa Dholakia
Member
Krupa Dholakia
Member
A strong community mobiliser, organiser and trainer, Krupa has 23 years of experience in strengthening local communities on gender perspectives and building community-based organisations to manage natural resources and traditional livelihoods. She has made significant contributions to resolving issues of water scarcity. She holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Gujarat University, a bachelor's in education and a post-graduate diploma in ecology and environment from the Indian Institute of Ecology and Environment, New Delhi.
Dr. Devinder Kumar Sadana
Member
Dr. Devinder Kumar Sadana
Member
Dr. Sadana is an eminent scientist who has three decades of research and teaching experience. His work includes some of the most significant contributions to the characterisation of defined and lesser-known livestock breeds and populations across India. He worked as a principal scientist first at the National Dairy Research Institute and then at the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources. He is extensively published in both the academic and popular press.
Dr. Sabyasachi Das
Member
Dr. Sabyasachi Das
Member
Dr. Das served as Sahjeevan’s CEO for many years where he was instrumental in conceptualising and developing much of its current work. He is the director of Watershed Support Services and Activities Network (WASSAN), where he oversees the RRA Network hub and the livestock programme. He has extensive experience as a researcher and a development professional. His areas of interest include sustainable agriculture, pastoralism, water and natural resource management, livelihood promotion, institution building, and policy advocacy.
Dr. Rajeshwari Raina
Member
Dr. Rajeshwari Raina
Member
Dr. Raina is a professor at Shiv Nadar University with research and teaching experience of close to 30 years. Her research interests are centred on the relationship between knowledge and economic development, specifically in agricultural and rural contexts. Equipped with a multidisciplinary education and social commitment to equitable and sustainable development, she undertakes individual and collaborative research projects and is part of various strategic knowledge alliances with partners in academia, civil society, industry and the state.