Our Team

Our
Team

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Kavita Mehta

Livelihood Director cum Acting Executive Director

Kavita Mehta

Livelihood Director cum Acting Executive Director

Kavita is a commerce graduate, having 30 years of experience in the development sector. Her areas of interventions covers a varied range of subjects with special focus on Natural Resource Governance and strengthening Livelihood Enterprises primarily dependent on Natural Resources. Her body of work mainly covers Water Governance in the rural as well as urban settings; deploying Renewable Energy technologies for farming and salt farming; strengthening livelihood enterprises in the areas of dryland and livestock; and Solid Waste management in urban areas. She has worked with multiple stakeholders including Civil Society Organizations; State Departments; CSR Foundations; Research and Academic Institutions; District and State Milk Federations; and community institutions to strengthen livelihood intervention s of dryland farmers; pastoralists and salt pan workers.

Ramesh Bhatti

Programme Director

Ramesh Bhatti

Programme Director

Ramesh Bhatti has a master's degree in sociology and rural development. He also holds an L.L.B degree. He has contributed more than two decades to Sahjeevan. Over this time, he has led the organisation’s work on pastoralism, including the revival of livestock-based livelihoods in Kachchh, institution-building among pastoralist communities in the region, gender integration in national resource management activities and facilitation of the submission of a community’s claim to manage the Banni grasslands, under the Forest Rights Act.

Bharti Nanjar

Programme Coordinator

Bharti Nanjar

Programme Coordinator

Bharti Nanjar has a BA. L.L.B and a master's degree in rural development. She has had a long association with Sahjeevan, beginning in 1999. She took a leave of absence for a few years in between. Over the years, she has worked on issues relating to water conservation projects and capacity building. She is currently working with pastoral programmes, grass conservation and institution-building with Banni Pashu Ucherakh Maldhari Sangathan at Banni.

Dhara Pithadia

Project Coordinator CCU

Dhara Pithadia

Project Coordinator CCU

Dhara Pithadia has a bachelor's degree in commerce. She has been an integral part of the Sahjeevan team since 2016. Before joining the team as administrative coordinator, she worked with the Integrated Watershed Management Programme in Kachchh. She looks after the administration of the organisation.

Ritesh Pokar

Program Coordinator- Mangroves Conservation

Ritesh Pokar

Program Coordinator- Mangroves Conservation

Ritesh is a botanist and now a veteran in Sahjeevan and has worked for 10 years to support the people of Kutch in conserving their biodiversity. Currently, he anchors the biodiversity conservation work in the mangrove ecosystem of Kutch and Saurashtra. He is pursuing his Ph.D. in Botany and has experience working on grasslands and mangrove species. His area of interest includes the conservation of threatened flora and fauna

Vishwa Thacker

FRA Coordinator, Kachchh

Vishwa Thacker

FRA Coordinator, Kachchh

Vishwa Thacher has a master's degree in social work. She joined Sahejevan in 2021 as an FRA coordinator for the Forest Rights Act Project. Her work includes the implementation of the FRA for the Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (OTFD) community.

Kiran Patel

Programme Coordinator

Kiran Patel

Programme Coordinator

Kiran Patel has a master's degree in social work. He was part of Sahjeevan between 2008 and 2014. He rejoined the organisation in 2018. Initially, he worked on strengthening and capacity-building in the Camel Breeders' Association and the biocultural community protocol of camel pastoralists. Since 2018, he works as a programme coordinator in Surendranagar. His efforts are directed toward solving the issues faced by the pastoralists of Surendranagar.

Manya Singh

Program Coordinator- Biodiversity Conservation (Grasslands) and Acting Director, RAMBLE

Manya Singh

Program Coordinator- Biodiversity Conservation (Grasslands) and Acting Director, RAMBLE

Manya is trained in conservation ecology and environment studies. She is a conservation practitioner working at the interface of science and society. At Sahjeevan, she leads the people-based biodiversity conservation work in the grasslands of Banni and Saurashtra, designs research frameworks for conservation, and activates material for science communication. Previously, owing to her interest in understanding socio-ecological systems, she has worked on various projects linked to agroforestry systems, urban water security, energy-efficient technologies, and ecosystem services of wetlands in the Himalayas.

Sandip Kanojia

Project Coordinator

Sandip Kanojia

Project Coordinator

Sandip Kanojia holds a double master's in psychology and social work. He has worked with Sahjeevan for 8 years. He has worked in Kachchh on the issues of solid waste management and has worked with pastoralists, finding solutions for the environmental issues of urban spaces. Currently, he is working with the goat and sheep pastoralists of Kachchh.

Narendra Nandaniya

Project Coordinator

Narendra Nandaniya

Project Coordinator

Narendra Nandaniya is interested in animal husbandry management and is a livestock inspector. He has been working with Sahjeevan for the past 3 years in livestock breed registration and conservation, animal health care and the animal health care training programme. He is currently working on the formation of the Saurashtra Maldhari federation.

Mahesh Garva

Project Coordinator

Mahesh Garva

Project Coordinator

Mahesh Garva has a master's degree in social work. He has been part of the team since 2017. He works with the camel unit and FRA Programme. He liaisons with camel, goat and sheep breeders’ associations to enhance pastoral livelihood.

Jabbar Sama

Project Coordinator

Jabbar Sama

Project Coordinator

Jabbar Sama is pursuing his bachelor's degree in the arts. He has been working in Sahjeevan for the last 4 years. His work spans from working in the the camel unit, the sheep and goat unit and the Forest Rights Programme. He has worked on strengthening the breeders’ association, organising health camps, mobilising people and more.

Dipika Thacker

Account Officer

Dipika Thacker

Account Officer

Dipika Thacker has a master's degree in commerce. She has a 10-year-long association with Sahjeevan. She works in the finance department, handling accounts, taxations and audit-related work. She also provides financial training to the community entrepreneurs as and when required.

Trijal Chhaya

Assistant Account Officer

Trijal Chhaya

Assistant Account Officer

Trijal Chhaya has a bachelor's degree in commerce. He joined the team in 2021 and works in the finance department.

Muneer Ahemad

Assistant Account Officer

Muneer Ahemad

Assistant Account Officer

Muneer Ahemad has a bachelor's degree in commerce. He joined Sahjeevan in 2022 and works in the accounts department, handling day-to-day payments.

Suresh Kuvadiya

Project Coordinator

Suresh Kuvadiya

Project Coordinator

Suresh Kuvadiya has completed his master's degree in social work. He joined Sahjeevan in 2020 and worked in the Surendranagar region. His work centres around mobilising pastoral populations, encouraging them to form federations, empowering women's participation and organising health camps, training and workshops.

Parbat Parmar

Project Coordinator

Parbat Parmar

Project Coordinator

Parbat Parmar has a bachelor's degree in rural studies. He joined the team in 2021 and works on strengthening the goat and sheep federations in Kachchh. He has 13 years of experience in the corporate social service sector.

Valji Jepal

Office Assistant

Valji Jepal

Office Assistant

Valji Jepal has a master's degree in commerce and has recently joined the team. He carries out all the administrative-related work.

Savita Batta

Assistant Project Coordinator

Savita Batta

Assistant Project Coordinator

Savita Batta joined the team in 2022. She works as an Assistant Project Coordinator in the Banni and works with pastoral women with a focus on their issues.

Navin Bhanushali

Support Staff, Driver

Navin Bhanushali

Support Staff, Driver

Navin Bhanushali has been working for Sahjeevan for 15 years. He will chat you away to your destination.

Bhavna Barot

Support Staff, Kitchen

Bhavna Barot

Support Staff, Kitchen

Bhavna Barot has been serving tea, coffee or any potions your heart desires for 7 years and she does it with a big smile on her face!

Khyati Thacker

Project Coordinator, Biodiversity and Conservation

Khyati Thacker

Project Coordinator, Biodiversity and Conservation

Khyati Thacker has a master's degree in botany and is pursuing her Ph.D. in Plant Anatomy. She supports the biodiversity conservation work at Sahjeevan. For the past three years, she has worked in grassland and thorn forest restoration work, natural resource mapping with a participatory approach, environmental education, and awareness activities. Her area of interest includes plant taxonomy and biodiversity conservation with scientific and social methods.

Malaika Mathew Chawla

Research Associate, Biodiversity and Conservation

Malaika Mathew Chawla

Research Associate, Biodiversity and Conservation

Malaika Mathew Chawla has a master's degree in Tropical Biology and Conservation. She works in the Surendranagar region on wildlife research and conservation. Currently, she is researching to understand women’s role in grassland conservation and management in a few semi-arid grasslands. In addition to this, she is also documenting wild mammal presence in Reserved Forests, private grasslands, and grazing commons. She is interested in the conservation of wild canids like jackals and foxes.

Ankita Kathecha

Assistant Project Coordinator

Ankita Kathecha

Assistant Project Coordinator

Ankita has a bachelor's degree in Sociology and right now she is pursuing masters in Sociology. She is currently working with the women of Banni, and helping in maximize the participation of Banni women in Conservation activities.

Aslam Palani

Program Coordinator - Livelihoods

Aslam Palani

Program Coordinator - Livelihoods

Mr. Aslam Palani is a development sector professional with 7 years of experience with the core Competencies in the implementation of large-scale development programs across sectors of Livelihoods and Education, excels in liaising with different stakeholders and learned to derive results through data-driven management. Mr. Palani holds a degree in PGDM-Development Studies from the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India.

Bishwash Tiwari

Chief Financial Officer

Bishwash Tiwari

Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Bishwash is a postgraduate in commerce having 14 years of experience in finance and accounts. He has developed a comprehensive understanding of financial processes, including Statutory Compliances, Taxation and Accounting, Operations, MIS analysis, Auditing, Reporting, Financial planning, Grant Management, Analysis, Team Management, Administration, Fixed Asset Management.

Pratap Chavda

FRA Coordinator,Saurashtra

Pratap Chavda

FRA Coordinator,Saurashtra

Mr. Pratap Chavda has studied Bachelor's in Commerce and a Master's in Social Work. He has been working on the Forest Rights Act project in Sahjeevan since July 2023. He does Forest Right Act project implementation work for the OTFD community in the Saurashtra region. Apart from this, he has worked for 6 years in the handicraft sector for the livelihood of the Pastoralists community.

Nimish Gor

Programme Coordinator

Nimish Gor

Programme Coordinator

Mr. Nimish holds a Bachelor's in Arts and has been an integral part of Sahjeevan since 1998. Within the Central Coordination Unit, Mr. Nimish adeptly manages administrative duties, oversees human resources, and ensures the smooth functioning of governance processes.

Narendra Sinh Sodha

Support Staff, Driver

Narendra Sinh Sodha

Support Staff, Driver

Mr. Narendra has been working for Sahjeevan since December 2023. He will help you get where you need to be, safely and efficiently.

Kujan Kalotara

Assistant Project Coordinator

Kujan Kalotara

Assistant Project Coordinator

Ms. Kunjan is currently pursuing a Master's in Social Work. She has been part of Sahjeevan since July 2023. She works on biodiversity conservation and pastoralism with women. She actively works on the mobilization to improve women's participation in breed association and biodiversification.

Jayesh Paraliya

Project Coordinator-Institution's

Jayesh Paraliya

Project Coordinator-Institution's

Mr. Jayesh Paraliya has 8 years of experience with various organizations working on Environment, Livelihoods, and Natural resource management. Mr. Jayesh holds a degree of M.Phil. and a Masters in Rural Development from Gujarat Vidyapith, Ahmedabad.

Mansi Gor

Education Coordinator

Mansi Gor

Education Coordinator

Ms. Mansi Gor holds a Master in Social Work degree and is currently pursuing a Diploma in Inclusive Education from Azim Premji University, Bengaluru. With over 13 years of experience in the social sector, she has dedicated more than 8 years specifically to the education sector. Her work has primarily focused on curriculum development and teacher training, targeting marginalized communities including migrants, slum dwellers, rural inhabitants, tribal groups, and individuals with special needs. She has been involved in education initiatives ranging from pre-primary to higher and continuing education, as well as vocational training. From November 2011 to March 2013, she served as a Documentation Officer at Sahjeevan. Currently, she oversees the development, coordination, and monitoring of regional educational programs for Sahjeevan, particularly in Banni and other areas of Kachchh and Saurashtra, Gujarat. Her efforts also include expanding environmental education programs beyond Gujarat.

Sreekanth Sanjay

India Fellow

Sreekanth Sanjay

India Fellow

Sreekanth Sanjay is an Engineering graduate from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University with an experience of 7+ years in IT industry. He currently works with Sahjeevan in association with the India Fellow in 'Wool As Agri-input' project, to research and explore the ways of using wool in Agriculture.

Rohan Shinde

India Fellow

Rohan Shinde

India Fellow

Rohan is a civil engineer by qualification from Gujarat Technological University with 2+ years of experience in Building Information Modelling. At Sahjeevan, he's primarily associated with the biodiversity division in the Biochar project and understanding the carbon market.

Harindra Baraiya

Project Coordinator

Harindra Baraiya

Project Coordinator

Harindra Baraiya is a trained Zoologist and Ecologist with vast experience in conducting research studies on birds and mammals. He has been working in the arid plains of western India for research studies for last five years. Specifically, his research experience is focused around studying spatial and movement ecology of birds, assessing the impacts of anthropogenic structures on biodiversity, assessment of biodiversity, writing policy briefs and studying mangrove ecosystems. Using GIS and statistical modelling and state-of-the-art research tools, he attempts to answer ecological questions that can aid nature conservation efforts. He is currently pursuing his PhD in Wildlife Sciences. With Sahjeevan, he is conducting research to understand the biodiversity of the region and helps in preparing conservation plans and executing them.

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