Paper presenters at ILDC 2024
Hitesh Kumar S Makwana
bio
Surveyor General of India
Madhushree Shekhar
Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai/ Chaitanya Ravi
Dr. Madhushree Sekher is a Professor at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, where she also serves as the Dean of International Relations and the School of Vocational Education. She holds a PhD in Political Science and received the World Bank Robert S. McNamara Fellowship for post-doctoral research. Her research focuses on institutions, governance, political economy, inclusive development, and policy implementation, with a particular emphasis on food security, inequalities, and social welfare systems in India. Dr. Sekher has received numerous prestigious grants, including from the Australian Research Council, IFPRI, and the Indian Council for Social Science Research. She is part of an international research consortium on ethnic power relations and has held visiting positions at institutions like IFPRI, University of Sydney, and Cornell University.
Megha Roy
Environmental Management Centre Pvt Ltd
Megha Roy is a social scientist and development professional specializing in non-regulatory impact assessments and social policy analysis, particularly in renewable energy projects. Engaging with diverse stakeholders across India, she authored a paper on solar energy policies for the LDPI Global Land Grabbing Conference, 2024. Megha holds a Master's degree from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) and has a keen interest in land legislation and labor practices.
Alex Diba
Research Officer, National Land Commission
Alex Diba is a Research Officer at the National Land Commission, where he works within the Directorate of Land Use Planning and Research. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Studies from Chuka University, Kenya and a certificate in Environmental Impact Assessment and Audit from African Nazarene University. With over five years of experience in Research and Environmental Monitoring and Evaluation, Alex has collaborated with various organizations and government entities prior to his current role at the National Land Commission. His expertise lies in integrating sustainable practices into land use planning, contributing to effective policy development and implementation.
Hrishikesh
Policy Advocacy and Media Officer, Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences
Hrishikesh is an accomplished engineer turned development researcher and practitioner, currently serving as 'Policy Advocacy and Media Officer' at the Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. With a deep passion for forests and media, Hrishikesh excels in conducting research and crafting innovative methods to make academic knowledge more accessible to a broader audience through various media platforms. His current focus is on post-claim forest resource management under the Forest Rights Act (FRA). Hrishikesh is also keen on producing documentaries, conducting impactful research, and engaging in public writing.
Aditi Vajpeyi
Independent researcher
Aditi Vajpeyi is an independent researcher working on forest rights, resource governance and environmental justice issues in India. Aditi works in collaboration with various initiatives and organisations of forest dependent communities, for the implementation of the provisions of the Forest Rights Act. Their research and writing explores the political economy of forest governance, conservation and climate policies and their impact on communities. Aditi, also engages with children and women to develop community led research and art pedagogies.
Sanjana Krishnan
PhD candidate, University of Kentucky
Sanjana Krishnan is a PhD candidate in geography at the University of Kentucky. She is an urban and digital geographer, a computational social scientist and a development sector consultant. Her academic research looks at how the design and use of digital technologies, such as remote sensing, other mapping technologies, surveys and algorithms, produce a new approach to governance for informal housing in Mumbai. More broadly, she is interested in studying the political economy and material impacts of data, technology, and algorithms on the margins, its interaction with land, and investigating how they work in cities of the Global South.
Dhiren
Joint Doctoral candidate at IITM and the University of Melbourne
Dhiren is a Joint Doctoral candidate at IITM and the University of Melbourne. His research interests are Policy Studies, Urban Politics, Land Governance, and Land tenure.
Sasidhar
Public Policy Specialist and Former Political Consultant with Academic and Practical Expertise
Sasidhar holds a Master’s in Public Policy from the National Law School of India University and a degree in Engineering from JNTU, Hyderabad. Prior to joining Azim Premji University, Sasidhar was an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Public Policy at Mount Carmel College, Bengaluru, where courses on policy analysis and political communication were developed and taught. During Sasidhar's time as a political consultant, hands-on experience in policy advising and advocacy was gained, with an emphasis on considering political, social, and economic factors in addressing public problems.
Monika
PGGC Sect 11(Punjab University) Chandigarh INDIA
SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Advanced Technology in Rural Areas) Scheme and Land Governance: A Study in the context of Selected Villages of Haryana State, India
Dr. Monika Dara is an Assistant Professor of Public Administration, Post Graduate Government College, Sector 11, Chandigarh . Her research focuses on public policy, governance and, Geo politics. She has published several papers in reputed journals and presented her work at national and international conferences. Dr. Dara holds a Ph.D. in Public Administration from Kurukshtra University Kurukshtra, Haryana and has teaching and research experience of over 11 years.
Chitrangada
Lawyer, Legal Perspectives on Land Tenure and Climate Action: River Course Changes and Land Administration in Uttar Pradesh
Advocate at the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, Lucknow Bench, and Secretary of HOPE Foundation in Lucknow, dedicated to environmental protection. Passionate about defending the rights of those unable to speak for themselves, handling pro bono cases for transgender, animal, and human rights.
Chaitanya
Indian Institute of Technology Patna
Application of MahaRERA Parcel-based Data Repository to Identify the Potential Gap and Addressing Complexities for Incentivizing the Redevelopment along Transit Oriented Zone along Mumbai Metro The Study of Kurla-Chembur in Mumbai’s Eastern Suburbs
Chaitanya is a young graduate with four years of combined experience in the fields of architecture, real estate, and spatial planning. He completed his architecture undergraduate from Mumbai University and post-graduation in Urban Planning from CEPT University, Ahmedabad. Currently, he is working as an analyst at JV Ventures which is a Real Estate Private Equity Firm in Hyderabad.
Tom
DSI/NRF SARChI Chair in Social Policy, University of South Africa(international)
Partnering for Inclusive and Transformative Access to and Governance of Agricultural Land: The Government and Youth Organisations in Zimbabwe
Tom Tom is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the DSI/NRF SARChI Chair in Social Policy, College of
Graduate Studies, University of South Africa; and a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Development
Studies, Faculty of Applied Social Sciences, Zimbabwe Open University. He focuses on social policy,
agrarian studies, and development.
Annie
Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP)
House Prices in India: How High, and for How Long?
Annie George is a Research Analyst at the Centre for Social & Economic Progress (CSEP) in the Growth, Finance & Development vertical. Her previous research has focused on explaining the factors behind high house prices in India, and she is currently exploring the mobile phone manufacturing sector in India, focusing on the impact of policy interventions across its value chain. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from St. Stephen's College, Delhi, and has previously served as a Goutham Krishna Research Fellow, a fellowship programme at the St. Stephen’s Department of Economics, wherein she focused on measuring unpaid work done by women in Kerala. Annie has also interned with EY in their tax practice department.
Gaurika
Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, Noida
Access to land and housing in the rural areas: An analysis of PMAY-Gramin-
Dr. Gaurika Chugh is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, Noida. She specializes in Political Science and holds a Ph.D. from Jawaharlal Nehru University. Dr. Chugh's research and academic focus revolve around political theory and governance. Since 2022, she has been contributing to the academic and research environment at JIIT with several publications to her credit.
Rashmi
Centre for Social and Economic Progress
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Urban (PMAY-U): What do the Numbers Say?
Rashmi might be affiliated with the Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP), but there are several researchers and fellows at CSEP, and I couldn't find a specific entry directly for someone named Rashmi. CSEP has a wide range of experts in areas like economics, governance, energy, and public policy
Mahabub Basha
FLAME University
Development of peri-urban areas: a land governance challenge
Mahabub Basha is currently a faculty member at FLAME University, where he is part of the undergraduate program in the School of Business. His academic qualifications include a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, and an M.A. from the University of Notre Dame. His research interests focus on topics such as judgment and decision-making, cognitive biases, and behavioral economics.
Ajay Kumar
Indian Institute for Human Settlements, Political Economy of Urban land Grabbing in India: Local Developers, Fragmented development and Perils of Governance
Ajay Kumar is a distinguished professional associated with the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS), where he plays a crucial role in advancing urban policy and sustainable development initiatives. His expertise lies in urban studies, focusing on the intersection of social, economic, and environmental factors that shape human settlements. With a strong academic background and practical experience, Ajay is committed to fostering interdisciplinary approaches to address the complex challenges faced by urban areas in India.
At IIHS, Ajay contributes to various research and practice programs, emphasizing the need for integrated solutions that promote resilience and inclusivity within cities. His work aligns with IIHS's mission to create knowledge and build capabilities that enable informed urban planning and policy-making. As a thought leader, he actively engages in dialogues around urban governance, participatory planning, and sustainable urban development, making significant contributions to both academic and policy communities.
Iravatee
Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, Bengaluru, Responses of pastoralist livelihoods to land use change in open natural ecosystems in peninsular India
Iravatee is associated with the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) in Bengaluru. ATREE is renowned for its interdisciplinary approach to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. The organization conducts extensive research across various ecosystems in India, focusing on the interactions between humans and the environment to inform policy and promote social justice.
At ATREE, Iravatee likely engages in projects that address pressing environmental issues, contributing to the organization's mission to generate actionable knowledge for environmental conservation. ATREE's work encompasses diverse areas such as habitat preservation, species recovery, and ecological research.
Goutham Raj
Independent Researcher, Spatial Reproduction of Caste in Property Transactions
Goutham is an urban and social policy researcher. He is particularly interested in studying housing, land, infrastructure, and livelihoods with questions around caste, gender, religion, and class. He graduated with specialisations in social and urban policies from Tata Institute of Social Sciences and London School of Economics. He previously worked with The Quantum Hub in Delhi and IIT Hyderabad among other institutions. A few of his writings appeared in EPW, Indian Express, Sahapedia, The Wire, and The News Minute among others.
Charity Rusere
Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS), University of Western Cape, South Africa, Land use and land tenure relations among Zimbabwe’s differentiated small-scale land reform beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries: A Comparison
Ms Charity Rusere is an independent researcher with expertise in policy-oriented research and international development consultancy work, which includes project implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development interventions within the agriculture sector. She has been involved in consultancy work with various international organizations. She has previously worked as a researcher at Sam Moyo Institute for Agrarian Studies (SMAIAS), an independent policy research institution; and as an Enterprise Development Manager at Black Umbrellas supporting entrepreneurs. Her interests are in agrarian change, land governance, rural transformation, rural livelihoods, youth and gender studies and value chain analyses.
Deepika
Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad
Deepika, holds a Psychology (H) degree from Delhi University and a postgraduate degree in Rural Management from IRMA. With extensive experience in grassroots organizations like Seva Mandir and Aga Khan Rural Support Programme, she is currently pursuing a PhD in Food and Agribusiness Management at IIM Ahmedabad, focusing on property rights in land and sustainable agriculture.
ICFRE - Tropical Forest Research Institute,
Controlling land degradation and desertification by enhancing vegetation cover and community participation in Chambal ravines, India
Mr. Rajkumar began his research career in year 2008 from the Dipterocarp-dominated Giant
Andaman Evergreen Forests of Middle Andaman Islands. Since then, he continued his interest in
Island Biogeography, which resulted in publication of findings related to species diversity and Species
Abundance Distribution (SAD) of tropical islands in renowned journals such as Global Ecology and
Biogeography and Oikos.
Rajkumar
Anand
Land Forum India (ILC)
Status of Common in 10 states of India
Anand is currently the National Facilitator for India with the International Land Coalition. With approximately 5 years of experience, he has worked closely with people's movements and organizations to develop a better understanding of land rights, land management, livelihood
enhancement models, and
Payment for Ecosystem Services. He holds a post-graduate degree
from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai.
Amiya Walia
Research Associate Centre for Pastoralism
Counter-Mapping the Forest: Documenting Van Gujjar
Conservation Narratives and Ecological Relationships
Amiya Walia is a researcher at Centre for Pastoralism in the FRA and access to forage thematic. She has completed a Bachelor's in Psychology, with a minor in Environmental Studies. Within the themes of environmental justice and political economy, her research interests include climate mitigation policies and their impacts on pastoralists.
Anisa Draboo
Co-founder, Confluence media, India
Anisa is a City Planner, development professional, and impact storyteller with a career rooted in capturing meaningful stories. She began as a young city planner in the conflict-affected region of Kashmir and soon became an early responder in disaster zones across South Asia. With over two decades of experience, she has worked in senior positions in the development sector, in programme, policy, advocacy, and communication space on themes of development and humanitarian programmes, women’s land rights, rural livelihoods and global policy for leading organisations like Landesa, Oxfam, and the World Bank. In 2019, Anisa Co-founded Confluence Media, a unique impact storytelling platform focused on bringing untold stories from the Global South to light. Anisa has documented ground voices throughout her career, and more recently through podcasts, documentaries, and web series, collaborating with award-winning filmmakers, including National and Academy Award winners. Her work has earned critical acclaim, with projects screened at international festivals and platforms like Discovery, BBC, and Spotify. Currently, she is co-producing a web series with one of India’s top directors, set to release soon on an OTT platform. Anisa is an international Ford Foundation fellow and holds Masters degrees in Geography from Jamia Millia Islamia, Regional Planning from the School of Planning and Architecture, and City Planning from Cornell University.
Diya Uday
xKDR Forum, Women's Land Ownership in Land, Their Agency and Tenure Security
Diya leads the research work on land markets at XKDR Forum. Her interests are in the areas of regulatory governance, state capacity and access to finance. She has worked on projects with the National Council for Applied Economic Research; the Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, the Department of Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Finance (Government of India) and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development. She is also visiting faculty at the Tata Institute of Social Science in Mumbai, and has previously been an associate at leading law firms in India including Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas
Dr. Nesar
Budget Analysis and Research Centre Trust
Challenges faced by low income poor and marginalised single women in acquiring their land rights: Findings of study conducted in 5 states
Dr. Nesar Ahmad is Director of Jaipur based policy research organization Budget Analysis and Research Centre (BARC) Trust. Previously he has worked with Astha, CBGA and Indian Social Institute among others on the issues of mining induced displacement and its impact on women; impact of the economic liberalization on the poor, women and children; poverty and child rights; and Gender Responsive Budgeting and Budgeting for Children, and analysis of government budgets with a pro-poor, pro-people perspective. His article are published in various journals and websites. He is author of Women, Mining and Displacement (2002), published by the Indian Social Institute, New Delhi in and Gender Responsive Budgeting and Marginalised Women (2014), by BARC-Astha. His PhD was on a top related to Gender, Technology and Institutions in Indian Coal Mining Industry from the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India. He obtained his Maters in Social Work, from Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi.
Faraz Ahmad
Department of Law, Sikkim University
Customary laws vis-à-vis Inheritance rights of Sikkimese women:
Faraz is an Advocate by profession. He has completed his post-graduation in law and
currently pursuing his Ph.D. from Sikkim University. His research area focuses on 'customary
laws on tribal land and inheritance rights protected under old laws of Sikkim and its
relationship with the Constitutional principles’. He has previously worked in development
sector in Gujarat, West Bengal and Rajasthan on diverse thematic areas including local
governance, labour, migration & anti-human trafficking sector. Currently, he is working as a
Senior Research Associate at CEEP (Centre for Energy, Environment & People) where he is
focusing on labour and land governance in energy sector along with research and grassroot
initiatives on electricity governance in Rajasthan.
He has a keen interest in Constitutional law, social & environmental justice and labour & land
governance inter alia.
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Nivedita Haran
Ex-IAS
Dr. Nivedita Haran, an IAS officer and Ex-Addl Chief Secretary of Kerala, also serves as adviser in NDRG and IMPRI. She holds a Graduation degree in Economics and Philosophy (Hons), a Masters in Philosophy from Jadavpur University, and a Sociology PhD from IIT, Delhi. Throughout her career, she held significant posts in various government departments, including Land Revenue, Disaster Management, Agriculture, Industries, and District Collector/Magistrate and Director (Delhi Div) and Joint Secy, Ministry of Urban Affairs. She was also part of the UN Peace-keeping Mission in Kosovo. Post-retirement, she engages in impactful research and academics, focusing on modernisation of Land Records, Disaster Resilience-building, Good Governance, Labour & Migration issues, and Water, Wastewater, and solid waste management and also mentors MSMEs. Dr. Haran was a member of the Committee of Experts for Dal Lake conservation and the chairperson of the Centre for Migration and Inclusive Development and Ente Bhoomi Trust.
Shipra Deo
Director, Women & Land
Shipra Deo leads Landesa’s work to strengthen women’s land rights in India. She is a development practitioner with more than 20 years of experience in managing multidisciplinary programs addressing women’s empowerment, women’s land rights, violence against women, agriculture, collective action, livelihoods and institution building. She has experience working with international agencies such as UNDP, USAID, and BMGF, and has also worked with state governments and national as well as grassroots organizations. She has worked closely with development projects in South Asia, Africa, and Central Europe with the focus on gender mainstreaming.
Shivani Gupta
CEO, Womanity
Shivani joined Womanity in 2020 to lead our programs in India and is responsible for the successful launch of our newest program focused on Women’s Land Rights. She moved to do social impact work around five years ago, after more than 20 years in the consulting and technology sectors. Having spent most of her career with global consulting companies like Capgemini, Shivani has deep experience in conceptualising Capgemini, Shivani has deep experience in conceptualising business solutions, successfully implementing large complex business and technology transformations, and programs. Her transition to the development sector started at Dasra where she worked closely with adolescent-centric issues and helped to strengthen non-profits focused on adolescents’well-being, health, education, and employability.
Anixa
Cohesion Foundation Trust
Land use and land linkages of tribal community especially women farmers in South Gujarat
Anixa is a Development sector professional with 7 years of working
experience on community development focusing on
straightening local governance, women’s access to productive
resources, Farm based livelihood, Improving access of public
services.
Itishree
Gujarat Institute of Development Research
Land Ownership and Women Empowerment: Evidence from Gujarat
Dr. Itishree Pattnaik is Faculty at the Gujarat Institute of Development Research,
Ahmedabad, India. She holds a doctoral degree from University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad,
India. She has also been a visiting post-doctoral research scholar at the Food Security Centre,
University of Hohenheim, Germany. Her research interest includes agriculture and
sustainable development, gender studies, food security, Rural-urban migration and rural non-
farm sector. She has contributed research papers to various national and international
journals. Recently she co-authored a book titled “Becoming a Farmer: Women in Rural West
Bengal, India”, Orient Black Swan. During 2023, she received the honourable mention for
the Bina Agarwal Prize for Young Scholars, by the International Society of Ecological
Economics. Boston, USA. She has undertaken several research projects sponsored by
international organisations (Australian Research Council and International Water
Management Institute), Indian government (Planning Commission and Indian Council of
Social Science Research), Indian Council of Social Science Research.