Aanchal Seth
Panjab University Panjab University
Aanchal Seth, from Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, is a research scholar at Panjab University, Chandigarh. Her research focuses on tribal rights to forests, with particular attention to issues of recognition, marginalization, and environmental justice.
Sibabrata Choudhury
PhD Scholar Nabakrushna Choudhury Centre for Development Studies (NCDS)
Sibabrata Choudhury is a PhD Scholar at Nabakrushna Choudhury Centre for Development Studies (NCDS), Bhubaneswar, with research focus on land rights, rural livelihoods, and inclusive development. He has extensive experience working on issues related to tenancy farming, sharecropping, and land governance, particularly in the context of marginalized communities in Odisha.
Over the years, Sibabrata has been deeply engaged in field-based research, policy analysis, and program implementation on agrarian reforms, rural institutions, and community empowerment. His work bridges grassroots realities with policy frameworks, emphasizing sustainable and equitable solutions for land and livelihood security.
Alongside his academic pursuits, Sibabrata actively collaborates with development organizations, government agencies, and community-based institutions, contributing his expertise to projects that seek to strengthen land rights and socio-economic well-being of vulnerable groups.
Sonu Tewari
Senior Research Officer, Jamsetji Tata School of Disaster Studies
Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai
Sonu Tewari holds a PhD in Disaster Studies from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai. She holds a master’s degree in disaster studies from the Jamsetji Tata School of Disaster Studies at TISS, Mumbai, and a postgraduate diploma in human rights law from the National Law University, Bangalore. She has worked on various disaster projects in India and is passionate about gender-related issues, particularly those affecting women in the field of disaster studies. Her PhD research focuses on understanding women’s lived experiences of displacement and forced migration as consequences of climate change and disasters in the Indian part of the Sundarbans Delta.
KARTIK CHANDRA PRUSTY
Senior Research Officer, Jamsetji Tata School of Disaster Studies
Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai
Kartik Chandra Prusty, has more than 15 years of rich experience in development sector and has been part of Foundation for Ecological Security since 2010. Prior to join FES, he has been working with the Child in Need Institute (CINI) as a project coordinator working in the slum areas of Kolkata on women and child related issues. In Odisha, he has been working in the remotest tribal and PVTG (Primitive Vulnerable Tribal Groups) areas in the Northern and Southern part of Odisha on facilitating collective land rights over forests, facilitating the Multi Actor processes, landscape planning and strengthening the local democracy processes with focus on bringing women issues on fore for addressing the critical issues of governance and management of commons. He has studied Development Management from Tata Dhan Academy, with fellowship from Sir Ratan Tata Trust and Master in Sociology from Central University Orissa. He is presently working as a Lead- Direct Engagement, Odisha state office, looking after programme coordination and supports teams in the region on strengthening local governance systems including GPDP, leadership development and Gender Diversity Inclusion.
Charu Jain
Senior Research Officer, Jamsetji Tata School of Disaster Studies
Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai
Charu Jain is a Fellow at NCAER. Her areas of research interest includes education, gender, and socio-developmental changes. She has worked in the area of land & policy related issues, agriculture, steel, handloom & textile sector, large-scale consumer studies, industrial surveys, housing indices, and macro-economic policy issues. Dr Jain has few national and international publications to her credit. She has authored a book on the ‘Quality of Secondary Education’ in India published by Springer.
Akbikesh Mukhtarova
Independent scholar Independent scholar
Dr. Akbikesh Mukhtarova is a Kazakhstani scholar whose research interests include good land governance, civil society participation in land governance, land education, and the issues of land and water corruption. She holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy from Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan. Additionally, she has a MUNDUS Master of Public Policy (MUNDUS MAPP) from the Institute of Social Studies (ISS) The Hague, the Netherlands and IBEI, Barcelona, Spain as well a Master's of Peace and Security Studies (M.P.S.) from the University of Hamburg, Germany. Her articles have been published in various academic journals, including the Central Asian journal of water research ( CAJWR), POLITIKON, and the Current Research Journal of Social Studies and Humanities.
Nayna Jhaveri
Senior Research and Evaluation Advisor
Landesa
Nayna Jhaveri is currently Senior Research and Evaluation Advisor with Landesa. She has been working in the field of community-based management of natural resources, particularly forests for more than two and half decades. She has worked on wide-ranging themes such as strengthening forest tenure and governance through policy/legal/institutional approaches, building forest-based enterprises, improving gender equality and social inclusion, and carbon rights/adaptation and climate change. Her primary experience has been in a range of Asian countries such as Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.
She received her Ph.D. in Geography from Clark University and has worked as a professor at universities such as University of Washington and Colgate University in the US. Her dissertation research focused on common property resource management systems among Yi and Han communities in Liangshan, Sichuan.”
In recent years, she has published a number of research reports and practitioner guides with CIFOR such as “Forest Tenure Pathways to Gender Equality: A Practitioner’s Guide” and a supportive set of training materials, as well as “Analyzing the Investment Effects of Forest Rights Devolution in Nepal’s Community-Based Forest Enterprises.”
Rakesh Roshan Sahu
Research Assistant Berhampur University
I am a research Assistant in Dept. of Environmental Science, Berhampur University
JYOTI SHANKAR SAHU
Research Assistant Department of Environmental Science, Berhampur University
Mr Jyoti Shankar Sahu holds a Master's degree in Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation from North Odisha University, Baripada, Odisha. As an early-age naturalist, his work focuses on the ecology and conservation of lesser-known mammalian species in Odisha. He has been actively engaged with the Forest Department of the Government of Odisha and has collaborated with several Non-Government Organisations across diverse ecological landscapes in the region. Currently, he serves as a Research Assistant in the Department of Environmental Science at Berhampur University. Alongside his primary research interests, he also has a keen fascination with reptiles and avian species and remains deeply committed to promoting conservation awareness and nature education.
Debadutta Behera
Field Investigator Berhampur University
Mr. Debadutta Behera holds a Master's degree in Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation from Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanjadeo University, Baripada, Odisha. An early-age naturalist, his research primarily focuses on the ecology and conservation of species in Odisha. He currently serves as a Field Investigator in the Department of Environmental Science at Berhampur University. He has a deep interest in reptiles and avian species. His ongoing research explores the ecological patterns, behavioral ecology, and community perceptions related to snake populations in rural and forest-edge landscapes. Through extensive field surveys, awareness programs, and data-driven analysis, he strives to develop sustainable mitigation strategies to reduce snakebite incidents and foster harmonious coexistence between humans and reptiles.
SRIDHAR MOHARANA
Research Assistant Berhampur University
Sridhar Moharana done MSc. in Biodiversity and Conservation Of Natural Resources from Central University of Odisha. I am currently working as a Research Assistant in Dept of Environmental science Berhampur University., Odisha. my area of expertise are GIS modelling and plant and Animal Taxonomy in Eastern Ghats.
Somya Patel
Project Manager Foundation for Ecological Security
I am an early-career researcher working on Common Property Resources and its interlinkage with Rural Livelihoods. I attempt to use mixed-methods research, focusing on a social science lens and aiming to pursue interdisciplinary research in the projects. Moreover, I also conduct Impact Evaluation of Rural Livelihood projects focusing on Natural Resource Management (NRM) and Rural Livelihood.
Azhar Ahmad
Masters in urban planning School of Planning and Architecture , New Delhi
I’m currently doing my Master’s in Urban Planning at the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi. I have a background in Architecture from Ansal School of Architecture, Lucknow. My ongoing research is based on the use of Location Intelligence for Land Management, where I’m exploring how spatial data and digital mapping can help make land information systems more transparent and efficient. I’m interested in how technology and planning can come together to improve land governance, dispute resolution, and decision-making. Through this study, I aim to promote the use of data-driven tools for better planning and sustainable development in cities.
Ankita Goyal
Assistant Professor Council for Social Development, New Delhi
Dr Ankita Goyal’s area of specialization broadly covers agriculture, food security and sustainable farming, issues related to land ownership, customary laws related to land, policies for rural development and poverty alleviation. She has earlier worked as a consultant with the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India, and was closely associated with the committee that was set up to look into the ownership, price fixation, value addition and marketing of minor forest produce. Currently, she is an Assistant Professor in CSD. She has worked on varied projects like those related to agricultural credit, cost of cultivation of farmers in Delhi, evaluation of governmental schemes such as National Food Security Mission and National Food Security Act, 2013, Village Commons, Water conservation, employment scenario in rural India and portability of social security schemes among migrant workers, sponsored by organisations such as the NABARD, erstwhile Planning Commission, NIRD, Department of Agriculture and farmers’ Welfare, Department of Food and Civil Supplies, Govt. of India, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, KFW, Germany etc. She has a number of national and international publications to her credit and has co-authored a book, Socio-economic Impact Assessment of BT Cotton in India. Dr Goyal holds an MPhil and a PhD from the Centre for Economic Studies and Planning, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
Sagar Jayaramulu
Lead - Cities and Housing Habitat Forum_INHAF (Please note I currently work here but the research was part my research at the Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
Sagar Jayaramulu is an urban development and research professional with a background in architecture, urban studies, and community-led housing. He holds a Master’s degree in Urban Management and Development from the Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS), Erasmus University Rotterdam.Sagar’s work explores the intersections of housing justice, land governance, and climate-responsive urban development, with a focus on translating field insights into inclusive planning and policy conversations. Currently, he leads INHAF’s Housing and Cities programme, where he works on initiatives that bridge research, communication, and collaboration across housing, land, and city-focused agendas.His approach combines participatory methods, qualitative research, and knowledge translation to bring grassroots perspectives into broader urban governance frameworks. Alongside this, he is currently engaged in research on informal settlements in Nairobi, examining the links between demographic shifts and disaster risk creation.
Dr Malini L. Tantri
Associate Professor Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bengaluru.
Dr Malini L Tantri is Associate Professor at Centre for Economic Studies and Policy (CESP) at the Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bengaluru. Her areas of specialisation include international trade and development, trade facilitation, doing business, India–China studies, Special Economic Zones, trade and gender, and food security. Leading national and international publishers have published her works. She was a visiting scholar with the Schulich School of Business, York University, Canada. As part of her consultancy work with GIZ–Lao, Dr Tantri assisted the Government of Lao PDR (National Committee on SEZ) with the draft of the Prime Minister’s Decree on SEZs. Additionally, she has collaborated with numerous funding agencies in India and abroad.
Dr. Kailas Vasave
Assistant Professor of Law Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur
Dr Malini L Tantri is Associate Professor at Centre for Economic Studies and Policy (CESP) at the Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bengaluru. Her areas of specialisation include international trade and development, trade facilitation, doing business, India–China studies, Special Economic Zones, trade and gender, and food security. Leading national and international publishers have published her works. She was a visiting scholar with the Schulich School of Business, York University, Canada. As part of her consultancy work with GIZ–Lao, Dr Tantri assisted the Government of Lao PDR (National Committee on SEZ) with the draft of the Prime Minister’s Decree on SEZs. Additionally, she has collaborated with numerous funding agencies in India and abroad.
Deepika Yadav
PhD Student Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad
My name is Deepika Yadav, and I’m pursuing a PhD in Food and Agribusiness Management at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad. For my thesis, I’m working on property rights in land and their impact on sustainable agriculture. My research interest lies in informal property rights, contracts in agriculture, and sustainable agriculture. Before pursuing my PhD, I worked for over four years in the development sector with grassroots organisations, including Seva Mandir and Aga Khan Rural Support Programme India, in domains such as Natural Resource Management, Agricultural Sustainability, Agribusiness, Farmer-Producer Organisations, and WASH.
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Anusha Bellapu
Independent Researcher, recent graduate from UC Berkeley
Anusha Bellapu is a recent graduate of the Master of City Planning program at UC Berkeley, where her work focused on the intersections of land accumulation, caste, and planning practices. She brings a critical lens to land and housing policy, examining how governance structures shape inequality and belonging in both Indian and international contexts. At Berkeley, she researched housing policy and resident governance in public housing with the Othering and Belonging Institute.Before graduate school, Anusha was an Urban Fellow at the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS) in Bengaluru, where she researched the regulatory frameworks influencing self-employed work and supported policy research on informal housing. She has also worked with SEWA Bharat’s micro-entrepreneurship group as a researcher supporting capacity-building initiatives for women entrepreneurs. She is a licensed architect, grounding her research in both practice and policy.When not working, Anusha enjoys reading fiction, spending time with her lovely co-op community in Berkeley, and walking new neighborhoods.
Sristika Pradhan
Legal Researcher Centre for Social Justice
YPPLE fellow at the Centre for Social Justice engaged in rights-based advocacy through capacity building and research. Interested in understanding how current land laws affect the rights of marginalized communities and whether they are in alignment with the Constitutional rights and Sustainable Development Goals.
Prashansa
Legal Researcher Centre for Social Justice
Prashansa is a legal researcher at Centre for Social Justice, where they work on issues at the intersection of law, social Justice and community empowerment.They hold a B.S.W. LL.B. from Gujarat National Law University. Their work focuses on promoting constitutional values and rights of marginalized communities.
Debabrata Samanta
Assistant Professor Chandragupt Institute of Management Patna
Dr. Debabrata samanta, currently working as Assistant Professor of Economics at Chandragupt Institute of Management Patna, completed PhD from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur and M.Sc in Economics from University of Calcutta. Provided policy suggestions and taken part in formulating policies focusing on poverty alleviation and ensuring accountability and land governance with the Government of West Bengal and the Government of Bihar. Provided consultancy support to different departments of the Government of Bihar and the World Bank. Published and presented more than two dozen research works in national and international conferences held in India and abroad, national and international academic journals, and national and internationally published books/edited volumes/handbooks.
Ankur Jyoti Dutta
Assistant Professor School of Architecture, Anant National University, Ahmedabad
Ankur Jyoti Dutta holds a Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture from SPA, Delhi and is currently pursuing his PhD (as a part-time scholar) in the domain of ‘socio-cultural diversity of riverine landscapes’ from the Dept. of Landscape Architecture, School of Planning and Architecture – Delhi. He is currently serving as an Assistant Professor in School of Architecture, Anant National University, Ahmedabad. Prior to joining Anant, Ankur had served as an Assistant Professor (on Contract) in the Dept. of Landscape Architecture, School of Planning and Architecture – Delhi from 2022 to 2024 and in Guwahati College of Architecture and Planning from 2021 to 2022. He had also served as an Internal Faculty Expert for the Advisory Committee in SPA-Delhi and was responsible for proposing and establishment of Landscape Laboratory in the university. His research on the domains of gender inclusivity, landscape equity, landscape urbanism and cultural landscapes has been published as research papers and book chapters. Professionally, Ankur had also worked as a Landscape Architect in Margosa Landscape Design, New Delhi and had worked in Comprehensive Landscape Master-Plan Development of IIM Jammu and IIT Jammu. His work in Design and Development, Guwahati as an Architect involved in the redevelopment of Brahmaputra Riverfront in Guwahati and landscape proposals for Conservation of gardens in Rang-Ghar under ASI. He is also involved in Urban Design Lab initially as an Architectural Research Intern and later on in their UDL Thesis Seminar primarily on the domain of Urban Landscape and Management. He was also engaged as a Landscape Expert and GIS Expert for Kalonda Village Redevelopment Project under Ministry of Panchayati Raj at AITSAP, Greater Noida. Beyond Academia, Ankur served as a Guest Editor for the journal Floriculture Today and has also been a designated contact person for the UNCOP 29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 11th to 22nd Nov 2024 for the theme nature and urban biodiversity. He has also contributed to the proceedings of ICoMABE 2024 as a co-editor. He is also a member of International Federation of Landscape Architecture – Asia Pacific Region.
Soni Kumari
Development Organiser AKRSPI
Soni Kumari, born and raised in Danapur, Patna, currently working with AKRSPI, she is passionate about development and performing arts. She completed her graduation in Mass Communication from Patna Women’s College, where her active involvement in theatre shaped her confidence, leadership, and critical thinking. Recently completed her Master’s in Development at Azim Premji University, Bangalore, with the support of a scholarship, she has gained multidisciplinary exposure to social sciences, ecology, and research. Soni aspires to work in the development sector, using her creative and leadership skills to foster social change and contribute meaningfully to people’s lives.
Md. Faraz Ahmad
Programme Manager Centre for Social Justice
Faraz Ahmad is the Programme Manager for the South Gujarat unit of the Centre for Social Justice. As an advocate by profession, he is passionate about issues affecting marginalized communities and social justice. He is also pursuing a Ph.D. in Law. Throughout his career, he has worked on various thematic areas, including energy, local governance, and anti-human trafficking initiatives. Currently, he is focusing on the tribal regions of Gujarat, addressing issues related to tribal land and broader social justice matters.
Samiran Tripathi
Operations Manager Aarohi Society
Samiran Narayan is a development professional committed to advancing integrated approaches to healthcare, livelihoods, and natural resource management in the Indian Himalayas. He currently serves as Operations Manager at Aarohi, Nainital, where he co-leads primary and secondary healthcare initiatives across three districts and over 180 villages, benefiting more than 30,000 people. His work spans the design and execution of innovative healthcare models, including Uttarakhand’s first nurse-led safe birth clinic and the transition of Aarohi’s rural hospital into a 24x7 facility.Under his leadership, Aarohi has strengthened stakeholder engagement with frontline workers and village institutions, introduced teleconsultations for real-time radiological support, and piloted Health Management Information Systems to digitize medical records. He also played a central role in multisectoral proposal development, securing resources for climate change, agro-biodiversity, and natural resource management projects.Samiran has been invited to present Aarohi’s work on Integrated Mountain Development at the 2nd International Behavioural Public Policy Workshop (IBPPW), Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Singapore (2025). His contributions have been recognized with the UNDP–Government of Uttarakhand SDG Achievers Award for Aarohi’s Mobile Medical Unit.He holds a Master’s in Hospital Administration from TISS, Mumbai, and a Biomedical Engineering degree from the University of Mumbai. His career spans roles at The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Sandor Specialty Diagnostics, and leading hospitals in Mumbai.Samiran is a member of the FAO Mountain Youth Hub and has published papers on health, rural development, and tourism. He continues to focus on strengthening resilient mountain communities by bridging healthcare, policy, and sustainable development.
Pankaj Tewari
Executive Director Aarohi Society
Dr. Pankaj Tewari is the Executive Director of Aarohi, a non-profit in Nainital, Uttarakhand, with over two decades of experience in environmental research, sustainable mountain development, and livelihood security. He earned his doctorate in Forestry and Environment Science from Kumaun University and has worked extensively with marginalized communities, including the Van Raji tribes. Dr. Tewari has held key roles in organizations like the Central Himalayan Environment Association (CHEA) and Dr. R.S. Tolia Uttarakhand Academy of Administration. He has led 21 projects funded by national and international agencies such as the World Bank, GIZ, ICIMOD, Tata Trusts, and UNDP, focusing on climate change, natural resource management, and sustainable livelihoods. He has authored 34 research papers, five popular articles, and numerous educational materials on climate change and sustainable livelihoods. His work has earned him the Certificate of Excellence for his contributions to the World Bank-funded Uttarakhand Decentralized Watershed Development Programme. As a trainer, Dr. Tewari has shared his expertise with international programs, including UN-Habitat’s Literacy and Community Empowerment Programme in Afghanistan. He is also active in advocacy, serving on the Steering Committee of PROLINNOVA’s India platform and as a member of the Commission on Ecosystem Management (CEM) of the IUCN. Dr. Tewari's current focus is on networking and replicating appropriate technologies for sustainable development. His work emphasizes holistic development programs that address climate change adaptation and mitigation in mountain regions, integrating NRM, watershed management, community health, education, and livelihoods.
Farhan Zia
Legal Reseaqrcher Centre for Social Justice
Legal Researcher, Centre for Social Justice (CSJ). We have been working for access to justice for over 30 years including thematics such as adivasi and women's land rights, and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups.
Girija Godbole
Honorary Secretary Jeevan Sanstha
Girija Godbole is an independent researcher. Trained in anthropology and geography, she has been extensively working in the environment and development sectors. Her research focuses on participatory forest management, gender, sanitation and political ecology of land use. She was awarded the Research Innovation Grant of The Nudge for study of agricultural tenancy. She was the lead for water security program of The Nature Conservancy India. Girija also worked at the Centre for Policy Studies at IIT Bombay. She volunteers with a Pune based grassroots organization working with Katkari- a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group in Maharashtra. She also serves as an Executive Committee member of AFRAM- a network of NGOs in Maharashtra. Girija is a LEAD (Leadership for Environment & Development- inetrnational network) Fellow.
Niranjan Mishra
Team Coordinator (Project) PRADAN
Niranjan Mishra is a development professional with over 15 years of experience in the social and rural development sector. He specializes in the development of tribal communities, project management, and the implementation of key themes such as the Forest Rights Act (FRA), gender equality, livelihood promotion, and nutrition.Mr. Mishra is skilled in team management, and in the promotion and strengthening of community institutions. His core strengths include multi-stakeholder coordination, monitoring and evaluation, impact assessment of social development programs, and training and capacity building.He has extensive experience working with government institutions, non-governmental organizations, and community-based organizations across Madhya Pradesh and Odisha.In recent years, Mr. Mishra has been deeply involved in the facilitation of FRA implementation, strengthening community forest governance, and promoting sustainable forest-based livelihoods among forest-dwelling communities. His work reflects a strong commitment to inclusive development and empowering marginalized groups.
Santosh Rama Gad
Associate Fellow TERI - The Energy and Resources Institute
I hold a Post-Graduate Diploma in Agricultural Extension Management (PGDAEM) and a Master's Degree in Political Science, and I have been associated with TERI for the past 23 years. I am currently working in a tribal area in Goa under a DST-SEED-funded project. The initiative focuses on training and capacity building, promotion of sustainable agricultural practices, value addition of local products, and market linkage development. We have also established an STI Hub (Science, Technology, and Innovation Hub) as a Common Facility Centre for the ST (Scheduled Tribe) community. Additionally, the project promotes agro-ecotourism and beekeeping activities through the active involvement of the STI-Hub Farmers’ Association. Over this period, I have gained extensive experience and the ability to work across the boundaries between citizen science and stakeholder engagement and agricultural science. Work with multidisciplinary and multicultural teams on different projects sponsored by the State, National & International in sectors like mining, agriculture, forest in tribal areas, coastal & tourism, and fishing.My interest lies in working on land, people, and livelihoods, as well as in research, extension, and implementing citizen science models and stakeholder engagement for watershed management, Khazan ecosystem management, which includes traditional community-based approaches and nature-based solutions for community conservation.
Rana Paul
External Consultant Indian Institute For Human Settlements (IIHS)
I'm a human geographer by disciplinary interest and an urban planner by training, with more than 5 years of working experience at the intersection of urban housing, land, and poverty. I’m currently working as an external consultant at the Centre for Land Governance (CLG), Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS). For the past one and a half years, I have worked on projects supported by DOLR, the Ministry of Rural Development. These projects are- Evaluation of quality of digital land records, Preparing guidelines for NAKSHA project, and Comparing resurvey methodologies in eight Indian states.Previously, I have worked as an associate fellow at the Delhi Assembly Research Centre (DARC), Delhi Legislative Assembly, where I was engaged in coordinating between the legislature and the executive for implementing development projects in Timarpur constituency, Delhi.
Shwetha Harish Pai
Ph.D. Scholar Institute for Social and Economic Change
Shwetha Harish Pai is an architect-urban planner with over 20 years of experience in the Real Estate sector and academia. She is a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). She is currently a faculty member at SJB School of Architecture & Planning, Bengaluru and a Ph.D. scholar at the Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bengaluru. Her research interests include urban economics, land use regulations, housing and real estate.Prior to moving to academia in 2019, Shwetha has served in various capacities in the Real Estate Research and Consultancy teams of companies such as Meraqi Advisors Private Limited, Vestian Global Workplace Services and UGL Equis in Bengaluru. Her areas of expertise include Development Advisory, Corporate Real Estate, Urban Infrastructure Advisory and Real Estate Research. In her corporate role she has managed the accounts of major clients ranging from leading national and international developers, PE funds, government agencies, non-profit organizations and land owners. She has an in-depth knowledge about key real estate markets, regulations and policies in India and has worked on a wide range of assignments covering residential, commercial, industrial and hospitality sectors. In her roles she has advised clients on market conditions, project feasibilities, valuation, market entry, pricing and project marketing strategies. She has contributed periodically to newspaper articles and has co-authored several industry white papers.Shwetha holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from University Visveswaraya College of Engineering (UVCE), Bangalore University and a Master’s degree in Urban Planning from School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), New Delhi.
Shivangi Anand
Programme Manager Azim Premji Foundation
Shivangi Anand is a Development professional working at the intersection of community governance, natural resource management, and rural development. With a background in Economics and a Master’s in Rural Development and Governance, she has over six years of experience engaging with forest-fringe and agrarian communities across India. Her work focuses on the governance of common-pool resources, decentralisation, and the institutional dimensions of ecological restoration.Through her previous work with the Foundation for Ecological Security (FES) and her current engagement at the Azim Premji Foundation, she has contributed to the design, implementation, and evaluation of programmes focused on forest commons, local governance, and youth engagement.Her current research interests include polycentric governance, tenure security, and the gendered dynamics of environmental stewardship. Shivangi is passionate about strengthening the role of local institutions in shaping sustainable and equitable development practices.
Shrimant Bakshi
External Consultant Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS)
Shrimant Bakshi is an external research consultant at the Centre for Land Governance (CLG), Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS), Bangalore, and an urban planner by education. His current work at IIHS explores aspects of land governance and its surrounding institutional, regulatory, and socio-economic dimensions. His interests lie at the intersection of land, real estate, and urban planning, and in how emerging technologies are reshaping these sectors and urban development.
Suchisree Chatterjee
PhD scholar Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay
Suchisree Chatterjee has recently submitted her PhD Thesis to the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. She is interested in political ecology and environmental humanities. Her doctoral research explores the question of alienation and resilience among the forest-dwelling communities, while faced with large-scale human-induced transformation of the landscape. She has done extensive field work in the Ajodhya Pahar hill range of Eastern India, studying the forest rights movement of the Indigenous forest-dwelling communities. Suchisree has previously presented her research findings at the International Sociological Association Conference (Rabat, 2025) and the International Association of Commons Conference (Amherst, 2025).
Dr. Anitha V
Professor University of Kerala
Dr. Anitha V, currently Professor and a former Head of the Department of Economics at the University of Kerala. She has served as the Honorary Director of the Scheme for Cost of Cultivation at the Ministry of Agriculture, University of Kerala. She has 24 years of academic and research experience. She has completed ten research projects funded by various organisations, including the UGC, KILE, Kerala Women’s Commission, IUCAE, ICSSR-IMPRESS, and the University of Kerala. She has authored 40 research articles published in various books and journals, including Scopus-indexed publications, and has written two books. She has supervised the completion of six Ph.D. and 14 M.Phil. theses. Her research interests include Environmental Economics and Natural Resource Management, Development Economics, and Health Economics. She is an Executive Committee member of the Indian Society for Ecological Economics (INSEE), 2020 – 2022. She is also the certified financial education resource person of the Securities and Exchange Board of India(SEBI) from 2012to 2022.
JAGADISH ADITYA DINAKAR
Assistant Professor International Institute of Management Studies (IIMS Pune), Maharashtra
Dr. Aditya D. is a passionate advocate for cooperative growth and rural transformation. With over five years of experience across research, teaching and field implementation, he has served as a Teaching Associate for India’s premier civil services training programs. He has been instrumental in designing training modules for civil service officers and leading rural outreach initiatives across India.A dedicated researcher and author, Dr. Aditya has contributed to several research papers and book chapters on cooperative education, grassroots innovation and agribusiness. In his previous role as a Research Officer, he played a key part in national training programs, developed modules for Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), supported Defence Resettlement (Program) initiatives and contributed to cooperative policy frameworks.Dr. Aditya, has represented India on prestigious international platforms. He participated in the Cooperative Youth Summit in Malaysia, presented at a national institute in collaboration with international cooperative bodies and coordinated a Japan-supported training program aimed at empowering rural women leaders across Asia and Africa. He has made significant contributions through several research papers and a published book in his field. Further, he was selected for the International Forum We, the Youth (IFWY), representing India in Thailand and advancing to the final round in Seoul, South Korea. With a strong background in agribusiness, cooperatives and community development, Dr. Aditya continues to inspire through his scholarly work, impactful initiatives and international recognition.Passionate about community engagement, Dr. Aditya actively promotes cooperative awareness through regional radio, student mentoring and the development of toolkits in local languages. He is committed to building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable agribusiness and cooperative ecosystems by bridging grassroots realities with policy, innovation and global best practices.
Dr. Atanu Bose
Assistant Professor The ICFAI University Tripura
Assistant Professor of Political Science at Faculty of Law, The ICFAI University, Tripura, Kamalghat, Mohanpur, West Tripura, Pin-799210. Contact- atanu.bose91@gmail.com, atanubose@iutripura.edu.in 9932052264. His area of interest is Urban Study, Internally Displaced Persons, Refugee Study, Urban Displacement etc. He contributed several articles in International and National Journals and edited volume books. His article appeared in The Indian Journal of Political Science, Third Concept, Jamshedpur Research Review, The West Bengal Political Science Review. He is awarded ICSSR (Indian Council of Social Science Research) Doctoral Fellowship 2016-2018.
Kabita Meher
Berhampur University
Interested in conservation ecology.
Manoj Kumar Sahu
Programme Associate PRADAN
Manoj Kumar Sahu has been working in the social development sector for over 15 years. He holds postgraduate degrees in Social Work and Political Science from Sambalpur University, Odisha.Mr. Sahu has been associated with reputed national-level organizations such as Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA) and Taru Leading Edge Pvt. Ltd. Currently, he has been working with PRADAN for the past four years. His work primarily focuses on the implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006, Community Forest Resource (CFR) management, and the promotion of forest-based livelihoods, with a strong commitment to empowering forest-dependent and marginalized communities.Throughout his professional journey, Mr. Sahu has contributed to partnership management, women and youth leadership development, gender mainstreaming, livelihood and food security initiatives, and strengthening of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). He has also played an active role in advocacy and policy influencing, and in capacity building through community-based organizations.With a deep understanding of the Rights-Based Approach (RBA) to development, Mr. Sahu remains dedicated to promoting social justice and enabling women and marginalized groups to realize their rights and entitlements.
Amit John Kurien
Assistant Professor (Environmental Science) RV University
I am an environmental social scientist and an Assistant Professor in Environmental Science at the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, RV University, Bengaluru. I have an interest in the multidimensional issues at the convergence of environmental change and rural societal dynamics, specifically focusing on forest, agriculture, and livelihood changes. I study the political ecology of land use change in the jhum (swidden/shifting cultivation) landscapes and analyze the nature and the causes of the expansion of plantations and the intensification of the jhum system and their consequences for people’s food security, socioeconomic differentiation, and livelihood sustainability in Garo Hills, Northeast India. I use remote sensing and GIS, qualitative, and quantitative social science methods in my work, and I am a conservation biologist by early training.
Sarbjeet Singh
Research Scholar Centre of Excellence (CoE), Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration (MGSIPA), Chandigarh-160026
Dr. Sarbjeet Singh is currently working as Research Scholar (Land Record/Land Acquisition) at CoE, DILRMP, MGSIPA, Chandigarh. He has worked as a Post-Doctoral Fellow, in the Department of Anthropology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India. He has done a Ph.D. in Land Acquisition and Its Socio-Cultural Consequences (Eco-City Development (Urban Anthropology)). His work is mainly qualitative research. His main areas of interest include Land Acquisition, Land Governance, Policy Formulation, Urban Development, Sustainable Development, Social Sustainability, Understanding people and behaviours, Gender Studies, Displacement, and Migration, etc. He is a fellow member of the Australian Anthropological Society and Royal Anthropological Institute London. Recently, he has done Law Degree (3 years) on regular mode from department of Laws, Panjab University, Chandigarh.He is an experienced Anthropologist with more than eight years of experience in Social Impact Assessment and qualitative analysis. Experienced in conducting field work, formal, informal, in- depth interviews, questionnaires, surveys, data collection & data analysis, drawing inferences and developing policy recommendations. Additionally, expertise in computer skills Ms-Office.
Resmi C Panicker
Assistant Professor in Economics University College, Thiruvananthapuram
Dr. Resmi C. Panicker is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics at University College, Thiruvananthapuram, and functions as a Research Guide. Her areas of specialization encompass Econometrics, Environmental Economics, Urban Studies, Gender Studies, and Labour Economics. Dr. Resmi C. Panicker possesses a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Kerala, with research interests centered on urbanization and the socio-economic dimensions of Kerala.
ADEYINKA RUKAYAT BEWAJI
FOUNDER LAND AND NATURE YOUTH INITIATIVE / ADEYINKA BEWAJI CONSULTING
Rukayat Bewaji ADEYINKA is the founder of LAND AND NATURE AFRICA (LANA), a Pan-African non-profit organization committed to reversing land degradation, land conflicts, enhancing land rights, and strengthening climate resilience through inclusive, nature-based solutions. She obtained M.Sc. and B.Sc. degrees in Estate Management from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. She is the principal consultant of Adeyinka Bewaji Consulting, an estate surveying and valuation firm fully operating in Nigeria. She is a certified member of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), the Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria (ESVARBON), the Institute of Auctioneers Nigeria, the Royal Institute of Charted Surveyors (RICS), the American Real Estate Society (ARES), the Management and Strategy Institute, and a fellow of the Institute of Oil and Gas Research and Hydrocarbon Studies with specialization in land governance, real estate investment, and valuation. She also founded Women with Extra Oil, an NGO that aims to empower women in Africa. She enjoys teaching, learning new skills, making impact and traveling. Her vision is to contribute meaningfully in providing solutions to global real estate challenges.
Chaitanya Ravi
Assistant Professor and Chair, Public Policy FLAME University
Chaitanya Ravi’s research interests lie at the intersection of energy policy, environmental policy, land policy, international relations and South Asia. His PhD dissertation at George Mason University, USA was a technological history of the debate over the US-India nuclear cooperation agreement in India. A revised version of his dissertation was recently published as a book (A Debate to Remember-The US-India Nuclear Deal) by the Oxford University Press-India. He has taught energy policy, environmental policy, biology and microbiology at George Mason University and environmental studies at New York University. He also holds a Masters in Environmental Science from Savitribai Phule Pune University.
Dr.Pankaj Kamal Shankar Kumbhar
Assistant Professor - Centre of Excellence in Sustainability, Environment and Climate Change-MIT-World Peace University Pune Maharashtra India MIT-World Peace University Pune Maharashtra India
Dr.Pankaj Kamal Shankar Kumbhar is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Sustainable Studies (MSW Program), MIT-WPU-Pune since November 2022. I hold Bachelor of Arts in Geography and hold four master’s degrees Master of Social Work from Shivaji University Kolhapur, Maharashtra, Masters of Arts in Rural Development from IGNOU, New Delhi, and Post Graduate in Population Studies from International Institute of Population Studies, Mumbai and Master of Arts in Gandhi Peace Studies from IGNOU, New Delhi. I started my career as a development professional. I worked as a Professional Social Worker cum Probation officer in Asha Bhavan home for Special Children under the Women and Child Development Department Satara. My zeal for academics in Social Work Education brought me to the world of Social Work academia. I had completed M.Phil. in Social Work from CSIBER Institute Kolhapur and also cleared UGC-NET and SET and subsequently joined Ph.D. programme in Social Work. I possess more than 15 years of experience in Social Work academia along with 3 years of experience as a development professional. I have been awarded Ph.D.in Social Work from Shivaji University Kolhapur in 2019 and my research focus on the Welfare Schemes of Panchayati Raj Institution with Reference to Satara District of Western Maharashtra. I have published more than 15 research articles with ISSN and ISBN and attended more than 30 international and national conferences as paper presenter. Before begin journey with MIT WPU I served CHRIST (Deemed to be University) Bengaluru, Goa University, Goa, Shivaji University Kolhapur and Tilak Maharashtra University Pune as an Assistant Professor in Social Work.
Narayan Vitthalrao Solanke
President Universal Versatile Society
I’m Founder and President of Universal Versatile Society an UNEP and UNCCD accredited organization with special consultative status with UN ECOSOC. I’m working in humanitarian affairs since 2005 and active in education, agriculture, environment and gender in rural Vidarbha of India.My contribution to initiate the cleanliness campaign in different villages in Maharashtra by publishing a book called ‘Swacchatetun Samruddhikade’ was appreciated by Government in 2008. The book was published by ‘Gadgebaba Amravati University’. My contribution in project based learning in rural school education was noted by ‘International Education and Resource Network’. In 2004, I’ve represented India in iEARN-Slovakia International Conference. Also I got a chance to attend Education Project Conference at Bahrain, then twice to European Summer School at Leipzig University Germany. For my best efforts in climate change awareness, I’ve been sponsored by UNEP to attend TUNZA International Conference at Bandung, Indonesia. I’ve facilitated many World Climate Simulations for University students and teachers for this I got TATA trust sponsorship to attend Climate Reality Leadership training at Seattle. Further I’m the trainee of ‘Climate Change and Health’ course hosted by TERI.As I belongs to farmer’s suicide prone district of Vidarbha where a thousand plus farmers commit suicide yearly since 2006. To address this issue, I have initiated a project on ‘Psychiatric rehabilitation of Farmer’s’ under which beneficiaries are checked for depression level and refer them to civil hospital. Further for the preventive measure of this issues, I’m emphasizing on encouraging farmers for practicing regenerative agriculture. Under my leadership, our organization participated in FAO’s Agri-Inno Challenge 2021 and we stood in top 10 in entire world.For my efforts in education, environment and agriculture, I have been honored with ‘Man of the Year 2004’, ‘Shikshan Gaurav Puraskar’, ‘Washim Icon 2013’, ‘Man of the year 2018’ awards.
Rashi Agarwal
Senior Research Associate Sustainable Futures Collaborative
Rashi is a Senior Research Associate at the Sustainable Futures Collaborative’s Energy Transitions vertical. She works on just energy transition and energy governance in India. She is also interested in gender equality and social inclusion, land governance and natural resource management, and international climate policy.Rashi was a Senior Research Associate at the International Forum for Environment, Sustainability & Technology's (iFOREST) Just Transition vertical. She also worked as a Sustainability Specialist at the Environmental Management Centre (EMC) for two years wherein she contributed to projects on circular economy and extended producer’s responsibility, corporate sustainability and ESG, and social impact assessments. She also worked as an intern at the Stockholm Environment Institute's (SEI) Gender, Environment and Development team.Rashi holds a master’s degree in International Affairs from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore. Her dissertation focused on addressing the issue of air pollution through vehicular emissions through a comparative study of Delhi and Metro Manila. In parallel to pursuing her degree, she worked as a Volunteer Associate – Climate Action Platform at the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network and as a Student Researcher at the Institute for Public Understanding of Risk.
NAYAKARA VEERESHA
Assistant Professor Symbiosis Law School, Pune, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune, India
Nayakara Veeresha holds a doctorate degree in Political Science. He conducted research at the Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bengaluru and awarded PhD from the University of Mysore in 2023. Currently, he is working as Assistant Professor at the Symbiosis Law School, Pune. He is preparing a book manuscript to be brought out of PhD thesis. His research interests are Constitutional Governance, Law, Public Policy and politics of welfare and development. He worked in the research projects associated with the State Finance Commission (2024) and Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Government of Karnataka. In terms of teaching, he taught the M.A Public Policy and BALLB students at MS Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bengaluru and Bangalore University respectively. Lastly, he worked as Assistant Professor at the SVD Siddhartha Law College (Dec-May, 2025), Vijayawada. He contributed more than 150 articles in the form of publications in peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, book reviews, daily newspapers. He co-authored the chapter on State Action Plan for the Sustainable Development Goals-12, Department of Planning, Programme Monitoring and Statistics Department, Government of Karnataka during 2018-20.
Joshi Tuisum
Project Coordinator Meghalaya Basin Management Agency
With over 25 years of experience in the development sector across Northeast India, worked extensively on sustainable land management, organic farming, and community-based natural resource governance. Work focuses on bridging traditional land tenure systems with modern sustainability practices to enhance livelihoods and ecological resilience.Currently serves as Project Coordinator for the KfW-funded Sustainable Land Management Project under the Meghalaya Basin Management Agency (MBMA), leads initiatives promoting organic agriculture, land restoration, and tenure-sensitive planning within Meghalaya’s unique tribal context. Core expertise includes participatory land-use planning, partnership management, and designing inclusive, climate-resilient rural development programs.
Andrew Burke Buhphang
Data Analyst Meghalaya Basin Management Agency
Currently involved in the Sustainable Land Development Project in Meghalaya, funded by KfW, with a focus on the Monitoring and Evaluation component.
Meine Pieter van Dijk
em. professor Maastricht School of Management (MSM) of Maastricht university in the Netherlands
Meine Pieter van Dijk is economist, em. professor of Water Services Management at UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, visiting professor at the Beijing University for Civil Engineering and architecture, and em. professor of Urban management at the Institute of Social Studies (ISS) and the Institute of Housing and Urban development Studies (IHS) of Erasmus University and currently works at the Maastricht School of Management (MSM) of Maastricht university in the Netherlands. He published 50 books and more than 300 professional articles and worked on and in developing countries since 1973 as a researcher, or consultant for NGOs, the Asian Development Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, the World Bank, different bilateral donors and UN agencies.
Shailaja Subhash Deshpande
JeevitNadi - Living River Foundation
Shailaja is a graduate in Child Psychology and holds a diploma in interior design. She was proprietor at her own business in designing interiors & ran it successfully for 15 years from 1994 – 2009. She has also worked as Director, Kisan Exhibitions Pvt. Ltd during 2000 – 2014. Her urge to work in environmental field was a driving force for doing a diploma course in “Sustainable Management of Natural Resources & Nature Conservation” from Ecological Society. She has also done field botany courses. She has worked as coordinator for a project undertaken by Ecological Society for Global Forest Watch. From 2014 onwards working on Revival of Rivers. She is an active member of Jeevitnadi group, spearheading activities with her excellent communication and leadership skills. She is practicing Toxin free life style in her own house since last 3 years. Actively participating in various workshops and presentations on Toxin free lifestyle organized by Jeevitnadi.
Gijivisha Khattry
WASSAN
Sonchita Debnath
Manager for Evaluation and Monitoring Udaipur Urja
Sonchita holds a PhD in Public Policy from O P Jindal Global University, Sonipat. She has previously worked as a political consultant for a national political party. She also holds experience as a lecturer for undergraduate students in Mumbai University.
Aparna Sundaresan
Senior Analyst Center for Study of Science Technology and Policy (CSTEP), Bangalore
I am a Senior Analyst at CSTEP with a Master’s degree in Ecology from IISER Pune. My work focuses on land-use and forest dynamics, systems modelling, and climate policy. At CSTEP, I lead the development of the forest and land-use module within the SAFARI model to assess India’s net-zero pathways, and have contributed to national climate reports including India’s Third National Communication and the National Adaptation Plan.
Anmol Chauhan
JUNIOR ADVISOR GIZ
Since 2019, I have built a career as a GIS and Watershed Management expert, working across government agencies, NGOs, and development partners to advance sustainable natural resource management through data-driven decision-making. My expertise lies in applying geospatial technologies to watershed planning, land use management, and environmental monitoring—bridging the gap between technical innovation and practical implementation on the ground.
Throughout my professional journey, I have contributed to projects that enhance community resilience, improve environmental governance, and promote sustainable water resource use. My experience spans spatial data analysis, digital mapping, capacity building, and the integration of GIS tools into policy and program frameworks.
Currently, I serve as a Digitalization Advisor with the SuATI Project of GIZ, where I focus on leveraging digital solutions to strengthen watershed and landscape management systems. In this role, I support the development and deployment of innovative digital tools and platforms that empower stakeholders to make informed, sustainable decisions.
Driven by a commitment to sustainability and technology, I continue to explore new ways digital transformation can support resilient ecosystems and inclusive development.
Mohammad Faiz Alam
Senior Regional Researcher, International Water Management Institute, Delhi International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
Dr. Mohammad Faiz Alam is a researcher at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), based in Delhi, India. He specializes in hydrology, groundwater, and agricultural water management, bringing over a decade of research experience. His work focuses on enhancing water and food security through the sustainable development of groundwater resources and the adoption of resilient irrigation practices. Dr. Alam collaborates with a wide range of stakeholders—including farmers, research partners, donors, government agencies, and policymakers—to bridge the gap between research and actionable solutions. He holds doctorate from TU Delft, Netherlands, master’s degree in environmental engineering from KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden, and a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, India