Chief Executive Officer
Kuldip has been associated with many grassroots organizations and has significant experience managing high-impact projects supported by Governments and national and international agencies. He has more than twenty years of diverse experience in the development sector. His area of expertise lies in managing high-impact, large-scale projects, partnership building, resource mobilization, capacity building, and team building. For the last eight years, Kuldip has been instrumental in shaping the programmatic vision for BRLF in various roles. As Chief Operating Officer – Programs, he has successfully implemented state partnership projects in West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra. He deeply understands the issues related to the Central Indian Tribal Belt and believes in impactful collaborations with civil society, government, and institutions for sustainable development.
With a Master’s in social work, he has previously worked with the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation as a National Coordinator of the Natural Resources Management division. He is a founding member of Gram Gaurav, a grassroots NGO based in Rajasthan.
Chief Operating Officer – Finance
Suman was the Operations Head – Finance, HR, and Secretarial Functions at ICRIER before she joined BRLF. With more than 19 years of experience, she has spent 17 of those years working for not-for-profit organisations, including PSS, Action Aid, BISA-CIMMYT, and Brooke India. She holds a degree in chartered accounting and has passed the Institute for Chartered Accountants of India’s Specialized Certification course on non-profit organisations.
Suman has vast experience in budgeting, procurement, strategy administration, statutory audit, financial management, accounts, governance, and resource optimisation. She is a talented strategist and implementer who is known for her ability to carry out financial plans.
During her leisure time, she enjoys exploring new destinations, listening to music, and experimenting with new recipes.
Lead Programs
Sireesha is a development professional with more than 20 years of experience in working with the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM), Government of India, UNICEF, CARE India, Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP), Government of Andhra Pradesh, Reliance Foundation, Transform Rural India foundation and Idea – NGO for Tribal development. She has proficiently led and managed teams working in diverse, complex settings with the most vulnerable communities from grass- root level to national level policy issues. She got a post-graduation degree in Sociology from Andhra University.
Head – Research, M&E, and Capacity Building
Aruna comes with more than two decades of deep engagement in natural resource governance, institution building, organisation studies and sustainable livelihoods. She has led and managed multiple initiatives with national and international agencies, ranging from designing interventions in environment and climate change, sustainable livelihoods, and farm and non-farm producer collectives to contributing to research and capacity-building work of institutions like ISDM, Lighthouse Communities, Quest Alliance, Swechha, Girlscount, and BRLF. She has received the Young Analyst Award from the EU and DPG, the prestigious M. K. Tata Prize, the NTPC gold medal for her research at TISS (Mumbai) and the Felix Scholarship Trust award for her PhD at SOAS.
Until recently, Aruna served as the Director for Research at the Indian School of Development Management. She is an invited member of the CII National Task Force on Rural Development and Migrant Workforce Task Force 2023-24. She has widely published and presented several papers on solidarity economy, natural resource governance, organisation studies, leadership and management. Aruna loves co-creating nature-inspired learning spaces and continues volunteering with the HoneyBee network.
Head – Resource Mobilisation
Manu is a social development professional with 20 years of experience in the not-for-profit sector in Asia, the majority of which has been in India. His key competencies include business development, donor relationship management, project design and formulation of proposals and budgets in a results-based management approach and using participatory planning tools, project management, participatory grant-making, programme development and coordination with diverse stakeholders.
He has worked with grassroots communities, non-governmental organisations, institutional and corporate donors, and local government agencies. He has worked with organisations such as Seva Mandir, National Foundation for India, Charities Aid Foundation, ActionAid and SOS Children’s Villages International. He has a postgraduate degree in commerce and a postgraduate diploma in business management. He likes to read books and watch stand-up comedy.
Senior Program Officer and Technical Advisor
Dr. Sumit Roy has been working in Rural Development for over two decades. He has expertise in Watershed Management (NRM), Livelihood Development, Groundwater management, Non-Pesticide Management (NPM), Micro level mapping techniques with GIS, MIS development, and Project management (Monitoring and Evaluation). Sumit has completed a Master’s in Geography from Calcutta University and Doctorate in Watershed Management on Decision Support Systems from Viswa Bharati, Santiniketan in West Bengal. He has implemented and executed projects on Watershed Research, Watershed Management and Development, and Livelihood development projects with the tribal community through sustainable CBOs development. He has experience managing an organization as Executive Director.
Program Officer – Eastern Zone
Manas is a highly qualified professional with a Master of Arts in Rural Development from IGNOU and a B.Tech in Biotechnology from the West Bengal University of Technology. With over 16 years of experience in the field, he has established himself as an expert in Integrated Natural Resource Management (INRM) and Rural Livelihoods, encompassing farm, off-farm, and non-farm sectors.
Manas possesses exceptional project management skills, excelling in grass-root project implementation and financial management. He has a proven track record of effective partnership management, liaising with diverse stakeholders such as private enterprises, banks, government line departments, donors, start-ups, and NGOs. His strong facilitation and presentation abilities make him an adept communicator at all levels. Manas is also highly skilled in data analysis and reporting.
Manas has worked with organizations such as Transforming Rural India Foundation (An Initiative of TATA Trusts), the Rural Development Department of the Government of Jharkhand, Action for Social Advancement (ASA), Shamayita Math, and Professional Assistance for Development Action (PRADAN). His expertise lies in youth skilling and enterprises, integrated natural resource management, agri and agri-allied-based livelihood models, and convergence of government initiatives.
Program Officer – Southern Zone
Dev is a project management professional with more than 12 years of enriching experience in agriculture development, rural Livelihoods, micro-enterprise development, intuition building, and climate resilience. He worked in DFID-Climate Change Innovation Programme in Odisha to provide technical assistance for implementing Phase-II action plans of OCCAP. He has also supported the State’s implementation of the Integrated District Irrigation and Agriculture Plan (DIAP), Agri Value Chain, and promoting FPO/FPC, cluster development in Odisha. He also provided hand-holding support to access finance from the Green Climate Fund, Adaptation measures in climate-smart agriculture, and climate change primitive measures for different consulted departments of Govt. of Odisha. He has successfully delivered key assignments of Ministries, State governments, the World Bank, GEF, NABARD, and other reputed bilateral organizations nationwide. Before joining BRLF, he worked in different verticals with UNDP, ARIAS Society, and OPML India. Dev is a Postgraduate from IISWBM, Kolkata, pursuing Ph. D. from Utkal University, Odisha.
Program Executive
Jankee is a development professional with four years of enriched experience working with UNDP and the Rajasthan SRLM. She has completed her Masters in Women Studies from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Hyderabad. Before joining BRLF, she worked with the rural and tribal communities on various projects to upscale the existing development models across all verticals. Her positive outlook with utmost integrity defines her professional way of life.
Team Leader – SPMU, Nagpur, Maharashtra
Vikrant holds a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Engineering and a master’s degree in Soil and Water Conservation Engineering, with a professional background of more than 13 years in Natural Resources Management, Sustainable Agriculture and Livelihood Development, specifically focusing on rural development initiatives. With a strong educational background and expertise in soil and water conservation, he is well-equipped to address conservation challenges, implement sustainable agricultural practices, and support livelihood enhancement in rural & tribal communities.
Throughout his career, Vikrant has worked with non-profit organisations and community groups to address complex watershed challenges. His work has included Project management (Monitoring and Evaluation), designing and implementing different watershed and livelihood projects, conducting watershed assessments and engaging stakeholders through outreach.
Team Leader – State Program Management Unit, Bodoland
Himangshu, an Engineering Graduate from the National Institute of Technology, Silchar, later obtained a Post Graduate Diploma. He has worked passionately to alleviate rural poverty for the last two decades. He worked in grassroots organizations, donor agency & consulting firms. He gained in-depth exposure to livelihood challenges and promotion in India’s Eastern and North-Eastern parts. Community Institutions always inspire him. He considers Natural Resource Management one of his core areas of expertise, and value chain-based livelihood promotion is one of his areas of interest. He sharpened his household-based participatory livelihood planning skills, developed partnerships, demonstrated team leadership, and spearheaded multiple organisational initiatives.
Himangshu is a board member of the gender and youth-focused organization “Rupantaran Foundation.” He believes in the participatory approach and upholds transparency as the highest value.
Senior Executive – MIS
Mr. Dhiraj worked as an Assistant Manager in the Project Monitoring & Evaluation team at IGSSS. He has over ten years of experience in the social development sector, with expertise in MIS development, web-based solutions, digital distribution, partnership management, office automation, and IT support. He has managed relationships with more than 100 partners. Mr. Dhiraj is particularly passionate about digital transformation and has actively led initiatives in implementing digital solutions for data collection, developing online platforms for real-time monitoring, data cleaning, and data visualization. He strongly believes that digitization can significantly enhance the effectiveness and impact of organizations in the social development sector.
Mr. Dhiraj holds a Master of Computer Application (MCA) degree and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Application.
Senior Executive – MIS
Diksha has around six years of experience in the rural development sector. Before joining BRLF, she worked with SRIJAN and Rajasthan State Rural Livelihood Mission. She completed her graduation from Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture & Technology in Computer Engineering, after which she moved to the development sector to follow her passion.
Research Associate
Abir holds a Doctorate in Sociology from South Asian University, New Delhi, and a master’s degree in Anthropology from the University of Hyderabad. Prior to joining BRLF, Abir worked on a national research project with the Anthropological Survey of India, focusing on Denotified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic Communities (DNTs). He has also served as Guest Faculty in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Hyderabad and has consulted on various projects with the Department of Tribal Welfare, Telangana. His research interests include marginalized communities, diasporas, sustainable development, and post-structuralist theory.
Capacity Building Coordinator
Mohd. Kausar is a budding development professional who graduated with a degree in History (Hons.) and a postgraduate degree in Social Work from Jamia Millia Islamia. He began his social work career with Samaj Pragati Sahayog (SPS), a rural development organization in Madhya Pradesh. Over the past one year at SPS, Kausar has worked with tribal communities, particularly women, on self-help group-led livelihood initiatives. He further expanded his project management skills and professional knowledge in rural development while engaging with projects supported by Axis Bank Foundation and the Azim Premji Foundation.
Resource Mobilization Officer
Koshy brings over seven years of experience in business & partnerships development, program management, research & policy analysis, and communications. He has worked with organizations like IIFT, Centre for Science and Environment, ActionAid India, etc. Koshy has completed his MA in Economics from Madras Christian College
Communication and Project Integration Officer
Mukesh is a communication specialist with over 15 years of rich experience leading strategic communications with several National and International organizations. With a master’s in Journalism and Mass Communication, Mukesh has worked with non-profits such as Bharti Foundation, IGSSS, Trickle Up, Pravah, etc. He has led and implemented brand management, external and internal communications, web and social media management, and online and offline campaigns to raise funds and awareness. A photography enthusiast, Mukesh is very passionate about sharing impact stories using visual communication tools and media.
Senior Executive – Social Media and PR
A communication expert with over six years of experience, Suhaib holds a master’s degree in Development Communication from the esteemed AJK MCRC, Jamia Millia Islamia, in New Delhi. He is primarily responsible for devising communication strategies that effectively support project teams and enhance the organization’s visibility. He has extensively documented stories of transformation and progress within targeted communities, showcasing the impact of various initiatives. He has worked with World Comics India, Tech Mahindra Foundation, and IGSSS. Beyond his professional pursuits, Suhaib indulges in his personal interests, which include watching science fiction, adventure, fantasy, and anime. He also enjoys embarking on long-distance bike trips, embracing the thrill of exploration and discovery.
Manager – Finance and Accounts
Sushil has more than fourteen years of qualitative experience managing various aspects of Accounts & Finance functions with several reputed national and international organizations. He holds an MBA degree with a specialization in finance. His tasks at BRLF include but are not limited to annual audits, statutory compliances, MIS, budget preparation, and finalization of accounts up to the Balance Sheet. He has previously worked with Prayas, DCCW, CIMMYT, and WWF-India.
Assistant Manager Finance & Accounts
Amit has completed his master’s degree in Finance and Post Graduate Diploma in NGO Management from Annamalai University. He has a decade of experience working with various development sector organizations, including the American India Foundation, ASK India, IGSSS, and Katha. He got expertise in handling Income Tax, budgeting, Donor Management & reporting, Grant Management, etc.
Finance Executive
Raj Kumar holds an MBA with a specialization in finance and brings over 20 years of experience working with diverse organizations in the development sector. His professional journey includes key roles at organizations such as the New Education Group Foundation for Innovation and Research in Education (NEG FIRE), University Research Company (URC), Project Concern International (PCI), and the Consortium for Trade and Development (CENTAD). Raj possesses extensive expertise in managing Payroll, TDS, Income Tax, FCRA, Budgeting & Reporting, Auditing, and Grant Management, making him a seasoned professional in financial administration and compliance in the sector.
Accounts Executive
Nand Lal has completed B. Com from CMJ University, and a one-year diploma in Office Management from YMCA Delhi. He has a decade of experience in account and finance roles in various development sector organizations, such as PPES, IGSSS, and Childline India Foundation Delhi.
Admin and IT Officer
Ravi Prakash is an enthusiastic multitasker and a fast learner. With more than 12 years of experience in office administration, procurement and IT, he has been associated with BRLF since its inception. Ravi has significant experience working with the Government of India at the Planning Commission. He has a bachelor’s degree in Science from RML University, Faizabad and a Diploma in Computer Hardware & Networking from Oxford Institute, New Delhi.
HR Officer
Ruchika is an accomplished HR & Admin Officer with a wealth of experience spanning over 9 years, 4.5 of which have been devoted to the Not-for-Profit sector. She has significantly contributed to renowned organisations such as Prayatna, Sashakt Foundation, and Sampark Foundation. With a postgraduate degree in Human Resources, Ruchika has demonstrated expertise in managing the entire recruitment process, implementing HR policies, and overseeing administrative tasks.
Outside her professional endeavours, Ruchika finds joy in reading books, teaching students, and shopping. Her multifaceted interests reflect her passion for continuous learning and engaging with diverse activities beyond the workplace.
Rajbhasha cum Documentation Executive
Bharti has completed her Master’s in Hindi from Himachal University. She also holds PG Diploma in Translation from Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan, New Delhi. She has more than a decade of experience in translation (Hindi to English & vice versa) and was associated with institutions/organizations like the National Housing Bank, Association of Billion Minds, Sahara Group, Mayra Enterprises, MakeMyTrip, etc., in the past.
Office Support & Maintenance Executive
Paulus is highly energetic and performs all day-to-day office tasks to the highest standards. He has been associated with BRLF since 2014. He is always keen to learn new things and performs all his duties with a smile.