Chetna Joshi, Head, Programmes & Operations
Chetna is the moving force to set up and bring together people of different expertise in ‘Aarangar’. Her strength lies in developing low cost high impact projects linking societal issues with climate and environmental solutions.
She has more than 7 years of experience working with organizations with focus on climate change adaptation, rain water conservation for revival of small river catchments, conservation of agro- biodiversity and farmer’s income enhancement etc. The organization she has been a part includes not for profits- ‘The Flow Partnership (UK based), PAIRVI (Delhi), and Gene Campaign (Delhi). Along with this she was a part of bilateral collaborative project of SDC with DST. She has published articles in various national and international journals. Chetna has a passion of chronicling her journey through travelogues in her personal blog. She holds a doctorate in the area of Microbial Biochemistry from IIT Delhi.
Swati Melkani, Director
Swati brings along more than 10 years of experience of working with school and college students at remote locations in Uttarakhand, a Himalayan state of Northern India. She is working as Assistant Professor in the Department of Education, Swami Vivekanand Govt. P.G. College Lohaghat, Champawat. She also works with women and marginalized communities on various social issues. Swati is an accomplished writer and a recipient of Young Writer Award from ‘Gyanpeeth’- one of the most prestigious literary organizations of India.
Rajendra Pant, Director
Rajendra Pant has more than 25 years of experience of work with various Ministries and Departments of Government of India including Press Information Bureau and PMO of Bureau, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation and Ministry of Human Resources Development. His intensive experience lies in Translation (Hindi to English and vice-versa), Vetting, Proof Reading and Editing and administrative implementation of Official Language Policy of Govt. of India. He is retired from the Government service. He is an avid reader and analyst.
Manju Shri Mishra, Director
Manju Shri Mishra has worked with Institute of Social Science Training (ISST) for more than 40 years in different capacities. She also worked as an Editor- Gandhi Marg, Gandhi Peace Foundation.
At present, she lives in Ghaziabad and actively look after the work.
Kunj Bihari Sharma, Field Expert : Water & Soil Conservation
Kunj Bihari Sharma has more than 25 years of experience of working on traditional water systems of Rajasthan. He is well known as the man behind revival of a small river of the area – ‘Nadu Wali’. The work at Syaluta River Catchment in the Alwar and Dausa district of Rajasthan is being spearheaded on ground under his overall guidance.
His capacity to engage with the community and drive their full participation for on the ground endeavors is remarkable. He is passionate about social work and keeps himself engaged in resolving local rural challenges and issues.
Sonali Chauhan, Volunteer
Sonali works on ideas and provides research and implementation support. She is also pursuing her PhD with focus on theoretical and field studies in community ecology, specifically related to plant communities in urban ecosystems from the School of Human Ecology, Ambedkar University, Delhi. She has been actively working on ecological restoration projects in Odisha and Delhi.
Sonali has also worked with Gene Campaign (a Delhi based NGO) where she successfully executed a project focused on agriculture biodiversity conservation in 4 different states. Sonali is also a passionate traveler and photographer.