Mr. Ajit Kumar is a passionate social worker and advocate for empowerment of the disadvantaged sections of the society. Believing that learning is the foundation of dignity and opportunity, he has dedicated years towards empowering the poor and marginalised students through education. Equally committed to social justice, he has been actively engaged in advocating for the health and welfare rights of farm workers, working at the intersection of research, policy, and community engagement. With empathy, vision, and unwavering commitment, Mr. Kumar provides strategic leadership to IRDF in pursuit of its mission of equitable, just and sustainable growth.

Ms. Chandra Kala holds extensive experience of working relentlessly for women’s empowerment and community mobilisation. Over the years, she has worked closely with grassroots organisations like Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Farmers Producer Organisations (FPOs) and marginalised communities, creating platforms for collective action, financial inclusion, and social justice. With a vision for strengthening women’s leadership, promoting livelihood opportunities, and addressing systemic inequalities, she has been instrumental in designing programmes that uplift vulnerable groups and enable them to participate fully in social and economic life.

Mr. Thakur is a dynamic development professional with expertise in the fields of sustainable agriculture practices, rural development programmes, rural livelihood promotion especially women’s entrepreneurship and youth empowerment. He holds extensive experience in conducting field based primary research. He oversees integrated research, capacity building programmes, advocacy initiatives and innovative practices to strengthen communities, enhance livelihoods, and inspire the next generation of change-makers.

Ms. Aishwarya is a versatile professional with specialisation in women’s reproductive health, arts and crafts, digital marketing and corporate branding. Being instrumental in blending social development knowledge with creative and market-oriented skills, she supports programmes aimed at empowering women, preserve cultural traditions, media outreach and connects communities to new opportunities in the digital and corporate space.

Ms Kaur is a dedicated development professional specialising in mental health, urban slum development, water and sanitation and community networking. She has a deep interest in creative writing and eloquently uses it as a tool for awareness and advocacy. She combines research and outreach to design impactful programmes that address social issues and give voice to marginalised communities.