BIPP Admin Staff

Nitisha Jaiswal

Associate

nitisha_jaiswal@isb.edu

Nitisha is a graduate in Hospitality and Travel Management and is an experienced Project Associate. Prior to joining Bharti Institute of Public Policy, she has worked with Apple and Google across domains spanning General Management, Project Management, Customer Service, and Microsoft Office. Nitisha is known for her friendliness and enthusiasm for work. In her free time, she likes to travel, read and cook.

BIPP Research and Project Team

Aadithyan A

Marketing Analyst

aadithyan_a@isb.edu

Aadithyan completed his MSc in Marketing Strategy & Data Analytics from Paris School of Business making it to the high distinction Dean’s list. He did his Bachelor's in Business Administration from Mahatma Gandhi University. He has certifications in Strategic Management from IIM KASHIPUR, Growth Hacking from EAZL, Academic and Business Writing from University of Berkeley. He is also certified in Psychological First Aid from Johns Hopkins University. Prior to joining Bharti Institute, he worked as a Marketing Assistant in DNA5 Communications and interned at Fleksa, Frankfurt, Germany. With a keen interest in psychology and mental health, he co-created a start-up, UinU Private Ltd., an application focusing on mental health education. He is an ardent lover of sports, arts, and a voracious reader.

Aditi Barnwal

Project Specialist

aditi_barnwal@isb.edu

Aditi is a graduate from Banaras Hindu University and holds Master’s degree in Financial Management. Prior to joining Bharti Institute of Public Policy, she worked for four years with PRADAN for the Adivasi communities of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan on the issues pertaining to livelihoods and local governance. Later she joined the Foundation for Ecological Security for and worked for two years in Gujarat and Odisha. She also worked as Lead, Capacity Building, for government projects on natural farming with WASSAN, Odisha and the Mission 25 programme in Bastar region with TRI. 

Arushi Jha

Research Associate

arushi_jha@isb.edu

Arushi holds a Master’s degree in Development Studies from Ambedkar University, New Delhi and a Bachelor's degree in Economic (honours) from Lady Shriram College for Women, Delhi University. Her area of interest lies in the space of feminist and development economics and her thesis explored the political economy of the media landscape and its impact on the society. Arushi is interested in carving a niche for herself in the development space and thus is working towards her goal. In her free time, she likes to dance, watch her favourite anime shows and explore the city.

Abhijit Dutta

Coordinator

abhijit_dutta@isb.edu

Having spent his entire childhood in Mumbai, Abhijit had no idea about the magic of the mesmerising natural world till he visited the Sal forests in his native place in Mayurbhanj, Odisha during school summer vacations. It was there that he developed his love for nature and thereafter honed professional skills at the Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal. He has previously worked on community-based conservation initiatives across the Indian landscape. He is interested in understanding cultures and relationships between people, nature, and development; and is deeply passionate about forests and the people who dwell within them. At Bharti Institute, he is responsible for project implementation with the Project Management Unit at the Department of Mission Shakti, Odisha. In his free time, he loves to write or watch football.

Abhijeet Parmar

Lead, Technology and Research Partnerships

abhijeet_parmar@isb.edu

Abhijeet’s academic and professional affiliations include the Faculty of Geoinformation Sciences and Earth Observation, Netherlands and University of Delhi.  He is an earth observation expert specialising in geospatial analytics and hazard models. The scope of his work ranges from learning representation, geoscience, computational neuroscience to social sciences. He has over seven years of experience in teaching and research in higher education setup with interdisciplinary outlook. He is an active contributor to open source initiative and self-taught ignorant physicist.

Amit Upmanyu

State Coordinator

amit_upmanyu@isb.edu

Amit Upmanyu has completed his Master’s in Social Work from Karve Institute of Social Service, Pune with specialisation in Urban and Rural Community Development. Before joining Bharti Institute of Public Policy, he worked with Himmotthan Society- Tata Trusts Dehradun, Advanced Center for Water Resources Development and Management (ACWADAM), Pune, and Lok Vigyan Kendra, Palampur. His work spans from NRM based Livelihoods, community institution development to creating livestock and agriculture based enterprises in western Himalayan regions of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. He has worked extensively in Aquifer based ground water management in Maharashtra, MP, and Jharkhand and Spring rejuvenation and management in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. He likes traveling and cooking.

Ankur Raushan

Coordinator

ankur_raushan@isb.edu

Ankur Raushan has a Master’s in Rural Development with 11 years of experience in project management in the domain of Education, Livelihood, Forest Right Act, Agriculture, Adolescent Girl & Women, Health and Nutrition, in both rural and urban areas. He is very passionate about rural India and always ready to serve the community in all possible ways. Previously, he has worked with Child Fund India, PHIA Foundation, Ekjut, Oxfam India etc. His hobbies are playing cricket, exploring forests, music and reading.

Aparna Gudipati

Research Associate

aparna_gudipati@isb.edu

Aparna Gudipati holds a bachelor's degree from the National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM-K). She interned at the ITC Agri Business Division, exploring the post-harvest value chains, food safety and quality management systems, and the processing of various spices. Her primary areas of interest include essential aspects such as food safety, nutritional security, and environmental sustainability. Beyond her professional pursuits, she enjoys reading and exploring the nuances of gardening, focusing particularly on microgreens and herbs. 

Apurva N S Duddu

Project Specialist

apurva_d@isb.edu

Apurva holds a Masters degree in Natural Resources and Governance from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai.  In her six years of working at the Bharti Institute, she has been actively engaged with projects related to the governance of natural resources including the Forest Governance project, Initiative on Forest Economy in Himachal Pradesh, International Forestry Resources and Institutions (IFRI). She is also the co-editor of the book titled, “Lakhpati Kisan: Transforming Agriculture-Based Livelihood for Smallholder Farmers in India”. She has also been developing modules for capturing data on livelihood interventions in agriculture, livestock, and forests delivered through a network of community-based institutions in four states of Central India covering ~80,000 households across 17 districts. She has also been instrumental in designing the system for extracting variables of interest from satellite data products under the India Data Portal project. Apurva has a passion for various dance forms and is an avid dancer.

Bhumika Morey

GIS Specialist

bhumika_morey@isb.edu

Bhumika has a specialization in Environmental Planning from the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi. Her areas of expertise and deeper understanding include governance, human development, economy, infrastructure, heritage, transportation, and environment. Previously she was involved in projects such as “Impact Assessment of Nagpur-Mumbai Expressway on Wildlife and Proposal of Suitable Mitigation Strategies” and “Developing Urban-Rural Partnerships Framework for Food-Energy-Water Nexus Security of Nagpur Metropolitan Area”. She likes to sketch, and travel in her free time to explore different cultures and their settlement paradigms.

Chumki Behera

Cluster Coordinator

chumki_behera@isb.edu

Chumki has been working with a host of NGOs working for women related issues as a volunteer. His field of work includes women education, prevention of violence against women. He has also been associated with several self-help groups before moving to Malkangiri. He worked as a Coordinator and worked on livelihood, health, child rights with different agencies such as Odisha Tribal Empowerment & Livelihood Program (OTELP), World Vision, Tata Trust, NACO, State Family and Health welfare Department, UNICEF, and Child Line. 

Ewan Nikhil Thomas

Research Associate

ewannikhil_thomas@isb.edu

Ewan Nikhil Thomas has two years of research experience and is interested in Market Designs, Public Policy, Development Economics, and Energy Economics. Ewan holds a Master’s degree in Economics from University of Hyderabad. He is currently engaged in the Food Systems (INFUSION) project and India Data Portal. Prior to ISB, he worked as a research associate at University of Hyderabad.

Hitesh Pillai

District Coordinator

hitesh_pillai@isb.edu

Hitesh has earned M.Tech in Geomatics from the Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology University (CEPTU), Ahmedabad, Gujarat. He is a civil engineering graduate from the Government College of Engineering, Keonjhar, Odisha. Before joining Bharti Institute of Public Policy, he interned at the CEPTU’s Research and Development Foundation in Ahmedabad.  Outside the professional realm, Hitesh finds joy and fulfillment in his hobbies, including cooking, painting, travelling, and photography.

Ishan Kukreti

Research Associate

ishan_kukreti@isb.edu

Ishan holds an undergraduate degree in History and Master’s degree in Public Policy. He worked as a journalist before joining Bharti Institute of Public Policy. His hobbies are reading and cooking.

Jayanti Baruda

Cluster Coordinator

jayanti_buruda@isb.edu

Jayanti Buruda has a Masters in Journalism and mass communication from Central University Koraput, Odisha. She was the first tribal woman TV journalist from Malkangiri and continues as a freelancer. She focuses on stories from rural tribal landscapes on livelihood, health and social justice. She started working on the political economy of the forest to reclaim tribal justice and economic security. 

Kamini Singh

State Coordinator

kamini_singh@isb.edu

Kamini holds a Master's Degree in Economics and has a diverse professional background in CSR and government consulting. Before joining Bharti Institute of Public Policy, she contributed to the Department of Education in Jharkhand, focusing on large-scale assessments and monitoring mechanisms to improve learning outcomes at scale. Kamini also managed CSR operations in Odisha for JK Paper Ltd. She is also associated with the Climate Reality Project, supporting youth initiatives and green campus programs. Beyond her professional pursuits, Kamini is enthusiastic about exploring indigenous cultures, traditions, cuisines, and folklores. During leisure time, she likes to document stories from the forest.

Krishna Kant Jha

Head, Project Management Unit

krishnakant_jha@isb.edu

Krishna Kant Jha is a science graduate and holds an MBA (Rural Management) from XISS, Ranchi. He is also an Executive Fellow at Woxsen University, Hyderabad. He has over 30 years of work experience across various sectors including sustainable agriculture and farmer development besides working in projects which aimed at economic growth, poverty alleviation, partnerships development, and advisory services. He has vast experience in eco-system development, process assistance, standardization & policy advisory for entrepreneurs. He held various leadership roles in management consulting and government administration, and has worked with KPMG, Ernst & Young, UNDP, Government of India and several state governments. Prior to joining Bharti Institute of Public Policy, he was leading Biomass India (an initiative of Govt. of Netherlands) as CEO.

Lal Mani Pandey

Data Controller

lalmani_pandey@isb.edu

Lal Mani Pandey has a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics and Statistics from Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar. Prior to joining BIPP, he worked as an expert at Asian Development Bank. He has a vast experience of collaborating with teams of data scientists and engineers in the development of datasets, data warehouses, and online monitoring and tracking systems. He is well-versed in developing inclusive results-based monitoring and evaluation framework for research and development projects. He has applied extensively the decision tools of benefit cost analysis including economic surplus in impact assessment of technologies, investments, and development policies.

Nitesh Saini

Full Stack Developer

nitesh_saini@isb.edu

Nitesh graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, and is a highly skilled full-stack developer with a passion for technology. Nitesh has acquired a diverse set of skills and experiences that make them a valuable asset in the field of software development. He possesses strong problem-solving abilities and a proactive approach to challenges. He thrives in fast-paced environments and excels at collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to achieve project goals effectively and efficiently. His hobbies are playing cricket, basketball and online games.

Nutan Satpathy

Project Associate

nutan_satpathy@isb.edu

After a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Ravenshaw University, Nutan gained research experience working as an Intern with the team of ENACTS at the Bharti Institute of Public Policy at ISB. Currently, she is working as Project Associate with the Odisha Millets Mission. Beyond her academic pursuits, Nutan's interests span the spheres of craft and cooking. She excels as a proficient cook and possesses novice crocheting abilities, seamlessly blending her academic and creative endeavors.

Padma Priya

Research Associate

Padma_priya@isb.edu

Padmapriya. B is currently pursuing her PhD in Economics from the Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS) Hyderabad. She graduated from the University of Hyderabad with a five-year Integrated Master of Arts degree in Economics. Her technical skills include hands-on experience in STATA, SPSS, R and E-views. Prior to this, she worked as a Research Intern in the department of Centre for Analytical Finance (CAF). Her doctoral thesis explores service sector output, employment, and productivity growth analysis in India. Her primary areas of interest are developmental studies, labour economics, regional studies, and public policy. 

Phani Devarakonda

Research Assistant

phani_devarakonda@isb.edu

Phani holds a bachelor's degree in computer science from Andhra University and has prior research experience working at KRIS Solutions. She has five years of research experience. Her research interests are focused on the intersection of environmental and public health, utilising geospatial technologies. She aspires to assist policymakers through her work in evidence-based decision-making for targeted interventions. Outside of work, she enjoys practicing yoga, visiting zoos, and delving into post-apocalyptic novels. 

Sanjeev Kumar Kaushal

Lead - Community Enterprises

sanjeev_kaushal@isb.edu

Sanjeev is an MBA in Finance and is a Certified Associate of the Indian Institute of Banking & Finance, Mumbai. He also qualified for professional membership of the Institute of Social Auditors of India. He has been a development finance professional and was leading the Financial Inclusion Knowledge Vertical at Bharti Institute of Public Policy prior to his current role. He has served in various roles in the banking sector, NBFC and community development organisations for over a decade. He loves researching around pro-poor policies and social entrepreneurship as he is deeply interested in the welfare of the low-income communities and their livelihood vulnerabilities. 

Saubhagya Samal

Head of PMU

saubhagya_samal@isb.edu

Saubhagya Samal is an Alumni of Bharti Institute of Public Policy, ISB and has more than 22 years of work experience. He has worked with several organisations like PriceWaterhouse Coopers, KPMG Advisory, Centum and Learnet Skills (Erstwhile IL&FS Skills Development Corporation) in various mid and senior capacities. He has a passion to work in public policy domain and feels that he can contribute substantially to social sector development. In his free time, he loves to read books, cook, and listen to music.

Sanjoy Mondal

Research Coordinator

sanjoy_mondal@isb.edu

Sanjoy holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Burdwan. He worked as an intern for the RRAN project. In his current role, he has developed a polygon of more than 130 forests across states and created a land-use map of 20 villages of West Bengal.

Siddharth Kumar Yadav

Full Stack Developer

siddharthkumar_yadav@isb.edu

Siddharth Kumar Yadav is a proficient software engineer with demonstrated expertise in building web and mobile applications. Driven by a keen interest in technology, he completed his Computer Science & Engineering degree from UEC, Ujjain. He has worked with various tech startups and clients to understand the software business. He is well versed with debugging and communication skills. At Bharti Institute of Public Policy, he works on research driven tools and frameworks. His significant contributions include JharFRA Mobile app adopted by the Government of Jharkhand.

Soumya Banerjee

Sr Research Associate

soumya_banerjee@isb.edu

Soumya is a M.Phil. in Social Science Research from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai. Prior to joining Bharti Institute, he has worked as a policy researcher for the state governments of West Bengal and Odisha, as well as with organisations like Landesa-RDI, NABARD, and Grant Thorton-Bharat. An experienced researcher with skills to oversee qualitative and mixed-method research and evaluation projects pertaining to governmental policies and welfare schemes, he has been a member of the research team responsible for drafting the state action plan for Odisha's "Innovative Agro-forestry for Food and Nutrition Security". He has a strong interest in ‘ethnobotany of indigenous crops’ and ‘land policies for growth and climate change.’ He is a member of the research planning and ethics committee at the Government of Odisha's ‘Center of Excellence for Result-based Management and Good Governance’. His research publications include chapters in the training manual of policy administrations for OAS & IAS, articles in rural development published in news reach magazine of PRADAN, and publications in peer-reviewed academic journals in the area of land policy.

Surya Kandukuri

Sr Research Fellow

surya_kandukuri@isb.edu

Surya Kandukuri is an engineer and an alumnus of ISB’s Advanced Management Program in Business Analytics (AMPBA). He has over seven years of experience as a Data Consultant and Project Lead in the realm of Databases, Data Mining, Data Acquisition – scraping, APIs and Web Services, Data Visualisation, Data Journalism, Statistical Modelling, Open Data, Government Partnerships and Relations. His key areas of work include implementation of Open Data Policy of IT E&C Department, Government of Telangana since its inception, various partnerships with government/quasi-government organizations, and private organizations. His research interests lie in agriculture, employment, history. He enjoys philosophy, photography, art, and music.

Sushma Kattamuri

Head – Strategic Initiatives

sushma_kattamuri@isb.edu

Sushma holds an MBA degree from the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Delhi and is an alumnus of the Advanced Management Programme in Public Policy at ISB. Her experience, prior to this role, has been in the private sector across FMCG, mutual funds, and telecom sectors in product & project management, strategy and business operations roles. She co-owned, built and managed her startup, a portal that helped its users invest their money in mutual funds most suited to them. Her desire to do good work in the social impact sector is what brings her to her current role at Bharti Institute.

Sandip Chowdhury

National Coordinator

sandip_chowdhury@isb.edu

Sandip has an MBA degree from the Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal and has worked in the capacity of both a researcher and a practitioner with internationally renowned non-profits like the World Resources Institute (WRI)and global charity Oxfam. Sandip is passionate about forestry and climate change and has over six years of cross-functional experience in the areas of landscape restoration, forest-based livelihoods, community forest management, energy access, and climate justice. In his free time, Sandip likes to pen articles and blogs on environmental topics that are regularly published in the print media. He is a volunteer presenter with The Climate Reality Project and tries to raise awareness around climate change to the environmentally uninitiated.  Besides work, he likes to travel to new places and watch documentaries.

Sandhya Singh

Content Writer

sandhya_singh@isb.edu

Sandhya holds a Masters Degree in Economics from IGNOU and BSc (Mathematics Hons) from Delhi University. She has worked as a data- driven content writer with Getmyuni, Sygnific Careers, Writers4you, etc. She also did a six-month internship with the India Data Portal Project at the Bharti Institute of Public Policy. In her free time, Sandhya likes to travel, read, write, and is also a Yoga enthusiast. 

Yamini

Content Writer

yamini_1@isb.edu

Yamini holds a Master's degree in Social Work with a specialisation in women-centered practice from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, and a Bachelors in Home Science with Development Communication and Extensions from Delhi University. She has worked with the Indian Political Action Committee as a Field Campaign Associate for West Bengal Assembly elections 2021 followed by a research fellowship with BIPP-ISB and Collectives for Integrated Livelihoods, Tata Trusts.