RQOL 2.0
TRAC

Core Team

Manmeet Kaur

I bring with me experience in monitoring and evaluation research in livelihoods, gender, climate change... Read More

Saikat Ghosh

I have a master’s degree in quantitative economics, specializing in empirical economic research... Read More

Badrinath G.

My decade long career has given me the opportunity to straddle both words, as a program implementor... Read More

Akshaya Patro

I have been working for over three decades in the development and market research industry, having led... Read More

Sandeep Ghosh

I have accumulated over three decades of experience and wisdom from working in the development... Read More

Advisory Board

Yamini Atmavilas

Recognized global senior gender equity & inclusive development leader with ~20 years of experience. Yamini has... Read More

Abhiroop Mukhopadhyay

Abhiroop Mukhopadhyay is currently a professor in the Economics and Planning Unit at the Indian Statistical ... Read More

Srikanth Viswanathan

Srikanth Viswanathan has a diverse work experience spanning various organizations. In 2000, they started ... Read More

Michael Walton

Michael Walton is Senior Lecturer Emeritus in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, Senior Visiting... Read More

Manish Verma

Manish Verma combines a variety of data, and machine learning and statistical approaches to help businesses... Read More

Priya Naik

Priya’s interest in social entrepreneurship began when she worked as a Researcher at the Poverty Action Lab at MIT in... Read More

J. Dennis Rajakumar

Dr. Rajakumar received his Ph.D. (Economics) from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He was Charles... Read More

DIU is a joint Initiative of
Transform Rural India & Sambodhi

Contact Us

  • 1st Floor, Community Shopping Center, Neeti Bagh, New Delhi, Delhi 110049
  • 011-43068096
  • contact@diu.one
Facebook Instagram X-twitter Linkedin Youtube

Blogs

Digital footprint: Is there really an Urban-Rural divide?
Consumer satisfaction with accessing health services in rural India
Consumer satisfaction with accessing education services in rural India

Manmeet Kaur

I bring with me experience in monitoring and evaluation research in livelihoods, gender, climate change, and natural resource management. Inspired by my training in Quantitative techniques, and my passion for leveraging the potential of data and evidence led me to the social sector. My present role allows me to play with numbers and use data science in creating bespoke outcomes that cater to the needs of diverse audiences. 

In my spare time, the thrill of emotive expression on the theatrical stage captivates my heart, and I often engage in stage drama where I can weave emotions and experiences into a narrative that resonates.

Saikat Ghosh

I have a master’s degree in quantitative economics, specializing in empirical economic research. Since my early days in college, I have been interested in understanding the complex socio-economic realities of India and wanted to provide quantitative evidence-based solutions to them. In my professional experience, for almost 5 years, I have leveraged my knowledge of advanced econometric methods to high-end analytics but learning how to also effectively communicate the nuances of complex issues and potential solutions to a broader base is still a work in progress.

On holidays, I go for hikes in the Himalayas, while capturing the stunning landscapes and the overwhelming beauty of the unpolluted night sky with my D-SLR. I am also an avid guitarist and music enthusiast.

Badrinath G.

My decade long career has given me the opportunity to straddle both words, as a program implementor, as well as a development sector researcher. Having completed both the Gandhi Fellowship and the Aspirational Districts Fellowship, I’ve cultivated a deep and practical understanding of grassroots challenges and innovative solutions. Trained as a computer science engineer, I made a conscious shift from the IT sector to pursue my passion for social impact, and I’ve never looked back. Throughout my career, I’ve collaborated with key stakeholders to drive meaningful change in various sectors, taking keen interest in reengineering system processes for optimizing outcomes for the communities we serve.

Outside of work, I while my time playing chess and solving Sudoku puzzles. Additionally, I am also a polyglot, fluent in seven languages.

Dr. Akshaya Patro

I have been working for over three decades in the development and market research industry, having led multidisciplinary teams of researchers to cater to various development sectors in different social and market research organisations in India. Ever since my doctoral research in the informal sector space, my personal interest has always been in the Livelihood and Rural Development sectors where I have done most of my professional work. My engagement with many Government of India ministries as well as leading donor organisations have exposed me to multiple sectors including WATSAN, rural development and poverty alleviation, education, maternal and child health, nutrition, and governance.

In my spare time, I am an avid cook, a karaoke enthusiast, and a movie buff.

Sandeep Ghosh

I have accumulated over three decades of experience and wisdom from working in the development sector space, servicing the consulting needs of various ministries, multilaterals, bilaterals, and their parastatals. Being formally trained as a geographer-planner, I have always held an ardent interest in measuring spatial disparities and their causalities. Over time, my work has also gravitated towards the MLE space, and working with large-scale public intend meta data to create products and services for administrators in key decision-making roles, the latter also being my current calling at DIU. 

Outside of my work commitments, I am usually entrenched in the kitchen, satisfying my curiosity as an amateur chef. I also love travelling, reading (only) fiction, and pampering my dog.

Yamini Atmavilas

Director – Dasra

Recognized global senior gender equity & inclusive development leader with ~20 years of experience. Yamini has proven experience building and scaling foundations & partnerships efforts for impact across strategy, partnerships & advocacy, resource mobilization, institution building & results. She is also a technical gender expert with experience in gender & equity in health, livelihoods, and gender data and measurement. She specialize in systems approaches to scaling rural livelihoods, women’s collectives, addressing norms, maternal and child health, and gender data initiatives. I’ve had a successful record in designing & scaling programs, policies, & research initiative through partnerships with government, philanthropic, non-profit and private sector. Prior to Dasra, she had built & led The Udaiti Foundation between 2022-2024, and worked at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation from 2013-2022, and led the Gender Studies Area & the Center for HealthCare Management at the Administrative Staff College of India (2008-2013).

Abhiroop Mukhopadhyay

Professor and Head of Department, Economics and Planning Unit, Indian Statistical Institute (ISI)

Abhiroop Mukhopadhyay is currently a professor in the Economics and Planning Unit at the Indian Statistical Institute, New Delhi. Abhiroop received his doctorate from Pennsylvania State University in 2004. Abhiroop has previously been the Sir Ratan Tata Senior Fellow at the Institute of Economic Growth, an academic visitor at the India Observatory, London School of Economics, London; a visiting researcher at the Chr. Michelson Institute (Bergen), Groupement de Recherche en Economie Quantitative d’Aix Marseille, Marseille and at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid; research associate at the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy. He was awarded the Mahalanobis Medal 2018 by The Indian Econometric Society.

Srikanth Viswanathan

CEO Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship & Democracy

Srikanth Viswanathan has a diverse work experience spanning various organizations. In 2000, they started their career as an Assistant Manager at KPMG, where they worked until 2005. Srikanth then joined Standard Chartered Bank as a Senior Manager Finance and worked there until 2011. In 2011, Srikanth joined Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy as a Manager, Public Record Of Operations and Finance (P.R.O.O.F), and later served as the Coordinator for Advocacy, Research and Capacity Building. In 2016, they became the Chief Executive Officer of the organization. In 2021, they took on the role of Executive Director at Jana Urban Space. Most recently, in 2022, Srikanth assumed the position of Executive Director at Jana Urban Services for Transformation Private Limited.

Michael Walton

Senior Lecturer Emeritus in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School

Michael Walton is Senior Lecturer Emeritus in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, Senior Visiting Fellow at the Centre for Policy Research, Delhi. He was VKRV Rao Chair Professor, Institute of Social and Economic Change, Bangalore for 2008 and 2009. From 1980-2004, he worked at the World Bank, adviser to two Chief Economists, Regional Chief Economist for East Asia and the Pacific (1995-97), Director for Poverty Reduction (1997-2000), Chief Economist for Human Development (1999-2000) and Adviser for Poverty and Human Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (2000-2004). He was part of the management group for World Development Report 2000/2001: Attacking Poverty, and played a central role in the design of the poverty reduction strategy process for low-income countries.

Manish Verma

Senior Data Scientist at Lineage Logistics

Manish Verma combines a variety of data, and machine learning and statistical approaches to help businesses address core problems and issues at different scales. He has worked across different sectors including logistics, supply chain, natural resources, climate change, public health, remote sensing, and urban informatics. He invests a great deal in the mathematical, statistical, and computational foundations of data science. He has a deep theoretical knowledge of a variety of data science techniques acquired from teaching and publications, and hands on experience of data science from many data science projects over a career spanning more than 20 years. Before coming to the business sector and academia, Manish has worked for more than a decade with non-governmental organizations including Oxfam, Shell, KfW, Winrock, and Aga Khan Rural Support Program.

Priya Naik

Founder and CEO at Samhita Social Ventures Pvt Ltd

Priya’s interest in social entrepreneurship began when she worked as a Researcher at the Poverty Action Lab at MIT in Cambridge, USA. At MIT, Priya was part of two student-led start-ups – Aerovax, a company that created safe, inhalable aerosol vaccines that could be delivered without the use of needles and Kalpataru, a company that delivered innovative, low-cost technology to increase the efficiency of microfinance institutions. Both social enterprises won several awards at MIT. Priya has worked as a consultant with the International Finance Corporation in Africa. Her career is an interesting fusion of on-the-ground grassroots solutions through enterprise and strategic consulting experience with established companies, a perfect combination for understanding and implementing CSR projects across the board. Priya holds a Masters in Economics from Yale, a Masters in Public Policy from the University of Michigan, and a third Masters in Commerce.

J. Dennis Rajakumar

Director, EPW Research Foundation

Dr. Rajakumar received his Ph.D. (Economics) from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He was Charles Wallace India Trust Visiting Research Fellow at The Management School, the University of Edinburgh in 2005. He has published several research papers. He has served as an Assistant Professor at the Xavier Institute of Management & Entrepreneurship, Bangalore, has been associated with ICFAI Business School, Bangalore, as an Associate Professor, and eventually became Research Coordinator and then Associate Dean (Academics). He has also worked at the Alliance University, Bangalore as Professor of Economics. Dr. Rajakumar is presently a Member of the Editorial Board, Journal of Income and Wealth since September 2019 and Co-Editor of THE MICROFINANCE REVIEW.