Fellow Cohort 2022 - 2024
Pranav Patil
Master of Arts in Political Science
From: Mumbai, Maharashtra
Placed in: Kamleshwar, Maharashtra
Project : To make Linga & Ladai as model clean villages in Nagpur District
Pranav has always had a desire to serve society and even appeared for the UPSC examinations but unfortunately could not clear them. The financial responsibility of his family fell onto him when his father retired and therefore he took up a job with TCS. But he continued to nurture his passion for social work alongside, as a dedicated volunteer with Aseem Foundation and later with Asmita Trust. He believes that education for women is crucial, since empowering women has a long lasting impact on families, communities, and the nation.
Aanchal Kumari
Bachelor of Arts (Hindi honors)
From: Jamui, Bihar
Placed in: Kamleshwar, Maharashtra
Project: To create the village development plan (GPDP) with the active participation of women and ensure its proper implementation.
Aanchal comes from a rural background and unlike other women of her age she has chosen to work instead of giving in to the pressures of early marriage. Her experience with i-Saksham first as a fellow and later as a buddy has been most enriching and led her to pursue her post graduation in rural development from IGNOU. During the pandemic she would visit villages in her district to understand the state of education and also tried to teach some students who weren't going to school. Receiving no support from the community she decided to adapt and familiarise herself with the tools needed to conduct classes online. She wants to be a role model for women and girls in her village.
Ajay Patil
Master of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication
From: Latur, Maharashtra Placed in: Jawhar, Maharashtra
Project : Strengthening local social institutions (FPOs/SHGs) to increase livelihood options for 40% of tribal families in Chambarshet village of Jawahar Taluka, Palghar.
Ajay grew up in a village in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra, which gave him an understanding of the challenges faced by people in the area. His Master's Degree in Journalism helped him develop a different lens of looking at social issues, and also provided an opportunity to engage with communities at a deeper level. He now wants to use the knowledge he has gained to make a positive change in the lives of people, but is unsure of where to begin, and therefore has applied for the Fellowship. He hopes to get the hands-on experience that will propel him further down the path of social change.
Amisha Kothari
Master of Commerce
From: Siliguri, West Bengal
Placed in: Vasind, Maharashtra
Project: To empower women through SHG and livelihood platforms in Piwali and Kundachapada villages
Amisha's inspiration is her older sister who is a Gandhi Fellow. She once wanted to pursue fashion design which she could not due to personal reasons, but continues to design her own clothes. Her desire to make a positive social contribution through her skills led her to start Haath Kathaa, an initiative for artisans to showcase their talent and gain fair remuneration for their products so they can improve their standard of living. This experience made her realise there is a lot to learn before her dream of being a social entrepreneur can come to fruition. She believes the Fellowship will provide the ideal space for peer learning, mentoring and grassroots experience that she wishes to gain.
Renuka Jadhav
Master of Arts in Economic
From: Nanded, Maharashtra
Placed in: Vasind, Maharashtra
Project: To reduce the health hazards due to anaemia by 50% in adolescent girls and pregnant women in Pivali and Khoshte villages of Shahpur Taluka, Thane
Renuka is the first girl in her family and her village to graduate, having experienced first hand the challenges of first-generation learners. Having been exposed to the hardships of rural India, she now wants to use her skills to impact the communities she grew up in. She hopes to work towards improving the public service delivery of education and health. She sees the Fellowship as an incubating environment to transition into the social sector, where she will gain grassroots experience of working with communities, NGOs and the government. During her college days Renuka participated in fundraising for Punaruthhan Samarasta Gurukulam, a school in Chinchwad working for the education of socially and economically backward students. She also initiated a WhatsApp group to help blind students find writers for their exams. The joy on their face after their exams was one of the things that convinced her that the development sector is her calling.
Shrestha Bhattacharjee
Master of Social Work
From: Shillong, Meghalaya
Placed in: Jaigadh, Maharashtra
Project: To increase the income level of 30 fisher folk families of Ratnagiri Taluka
Shrestha displays a deep passion for working with tribal communities, and aspires to work with the Khasi tribe of Meghalaya, to preserve their rich cultural heritage which she believes will be lost with time. After graduating in arts, pursuing a diploma in new media and digital journalism, along with a diploma in computer application, her keen enthusiasm for the development sector led her to pursue her masters in social work. The course provided the opportunity to build her skills of working with communities in remote areas. She sees the Fellowship as a path to further hone these skills and eventually bring to life her idea of working with the Khasi tribe..
Iqra Iqbal
Master of Social Work
From: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
Placed in: Dolvi, Maharashtra
Project: To make Adolescent girls (AGs) at Khapachiwadi a face for menstrual health and hygiene for 5 Tribal Wadis at Pen Taluka of Raigad.
Having graduated in psychology, Iqra understood early on that the high price point and the lack of credible sources poses a barrier to access mental health services for many. With this understanding, Iqra took to the social sector, engaging with several organisations in diverse roles, counselling job seekers, conducting mock interviews, tutoring students, conducing teacher trainings, and so on. Her long term dream is to be a clinical psychologist and make mental health accessible to all, so that no one has to feel hopeless. She is passionate about conflict resolution, non violent communication, and emotional intelligence. She believes the Fellowship would be a holistic experience where she can engage with people from different cultural backgrounds which would later equip her to work with diverse communities.
Keshav Kumar
Master of Arts in Psychology, Master of Social Work
From: Madehpura, Bihar
Placed in: Dolvi, Maharashtra
Project: Enabling children with intellectual and developmental disabilities from the DIZ & IIZ area of Dolvi Plant, Raigad to live a holistic life (The core focus areas are Early Intervention, Identification of invisible cases, Who have no access to rehabilitation services, and Empowerment of Caregivers.)
Keshav is a dedicated mental health and community development professional with a passion for making a difference. With 2 years of hands-on experience, Keshav is more than just a professional; he's a dedicated advocate with a burning desire to make a tangible impact. Keshav is on a mission to explore the dynamic intersection of intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental health, and community development, particularly in rural areas.
Armed with a Master's in Social Work specializing in community development and a second Master's in psychology with clinical expertise, Keshav offers a rare combination of academic rigor and genuine empathy. Trained in Narrative approach, Counseling, and Rehabilitation Psychology, Keshav possesses the skills needed to empower individuals and communities facing diverse challenges.
Having collaborated with various organizations spanning community development, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and mental health, Keshav is primed to embark on a new chapter of growth and innovation. The Fellowship represents an exhilarating opportunity for Keshav to expand his horizons, enrich his expertise, and introduce fresh perspectives and solutions to his field.
Sakshi Purohit
BSc in Fashion Design
From: Baitun, Madhya Pradesh
Placed in: Vijayanagar
Project: To strengthen and promote Karnataka’s artifact brand by giving livelihood options to 70 SHG women.
Sakshi lives in a joint family and has led a protected life, however she makes a constant effort to push back against family restrictions and pursue her own exploration. While studying fashion design, she discovered that the glamorous side of fashion was not for her and began studying the traditional art forms of MP. She collaborated with the government handicrafts promotion department 'Mrignanyni' and worked with the local artisans on dhokra art. During the peak of lockdown she supported artisans by helping them promote their art online and also raised funds for them under her registered brand 'The Kalawati.' She hopes to grow this brand further, work on skill development for artisans and help build sustainable livelihoods for them, and is hoping the Fellowship will equip her in this endeavour.