Mr. Tapan Daripa

President (2024) / Member Since Inception

Mr. Tapan Daripa is an executive founding member of SARD and comes with more than 30 years of experience in public health and nutrition interventions. He has contributed extensively to programs on child health, nutrition, and education with CARE during his tenure. He is the co-author of the many books related to social issue in India.
He has worked with major funding agencies associated with education, child health, nutrition, rights and protection in the states of Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and New Delhi.

Mr. Sudhir Bhatnagar

Secretary General | Founding Member

Mr. Sudhir Bhatnagar is the CEO of SARD and the General Secretary of its Board. A founding member of the organization, he brings over four decades of experience in the development sector and has been honoured with numerous national and international awards.
A visionary leader, Mr. Bhatnagar has played a key role in managing large-scale projects and securing vital resources for SARD. His expertise encompasses leading civil society programs, excelling in paper and proposal writing, and building high-performing teams. With a strong aptitude for strategic thinking and execution, he drives impactful initiatives across diverse projects and contracts.
Widely respected for his commitment to social development, he is recognized by governments, international forums, corporate bodies, and academic institutions for his transformative contributions. He is also known for pioneering cost-effective, innovative projects that leverage the latest technology to maximize impact.

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Dr. Nishat Farooq

Member Since Inception

Dr. Nishat Farooq, formerly Director of the State Resource Centre (SRC) at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, specialized in literacy, adult education and continuing education. She was engaged in planning, supervision, and integrating the various programs and activities of the SRC. She has made significant contributions to adult literacy in India and other South Asian countries. She is mentor, board members and a major contributor with government and other civil society organisations.

Mr. R. Narendhar

Treasurer / Member Since 1998

Mr. R. Narendhar is the Vice-President/Treasurer of SARD. He is currently working as the Executive Director of the Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Society of India. He is a founding member and the current vice chair of the Indian Alliance for Patient Groups, an integral member of the International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations. He is also a founding member of the Healthy India Alliance, a member organization of the Global NCD Alliance. He is also member of NEG Fire General Body. His key contributions include advocating for a Dementia India Strategy with the government to support people living with Alzheimer’s and related disorders.

Mr. Sushil Sharma

Member Since 2002

Mr. Sushil Sharma, is from Journalistic background and has been senior editor of leading in electronic and print media news agencies in the state of Himachal Pradesh. During his illustrious career, he has handled many beats mostly related to current affairs and has served in advisory positions towards issues to strengthen the development to the ruling coalitions in the state.
He has been a founding member of SARD and has been instrumental in assisting and anchoring SARD related programmes in the state of Himachal Pradesh.

Dr Shankar Chaudhary

Member Since 2012

Dr. Shankar Chaudhary is a public health expert and a former Associate Professor at AIIMS in the Department of Community Medicine. In his long and illustrious career, he has contributed extensively to programs related to HIV/AIDS, education policy, and implementation with UNESCO, academic institutions, and the government. Recently, he is engaged as a leading consultant with VHAI, Plan India and many other leading NGOs and grant making organizations.

Dr Adesh Chaturvedi

Member since 2012

Dr. Adesh Chaturvedi is currently the Team Leader of Utkrisht Impact Bond Palladium. He is a public health management expert and has been associated with prominent development organizations, including CARE, the European Union, the Norway India Partnership Initiative, UNDP, and the World Bank. He was also an Associate Professor at the Goa Institute of Management.

Mr. Manjir Ghosh

Member since 2016

Mr. Manjir Ghosh is a seasoned social development consultant with over 30 years of experience in child rights, WASH, education, livelihoods, skill development, health, nutrition, and corporate social responsibility (CSR). He has been instrumental in shaping strategies and mobilizing resources for numerous grassroots organizations, helping them drive meaningful change. Previously, Mr. Ghosh served as the CEO of the CSR arm of the WAVE Group, a leading business conglomerate in North India. Before that, he was the Country Director, India for Terre des Hommes, Netherlands, where he played a key role in advancing child rights and social development initiatives across India.

Ms. Annu Jha

Member since 2018

Ms. Annu Jha is a seasoned educationist with over 27 years of experience in curating educational content for children, particularly in early grade education to ensure both functional and numerical literacy. She has a strong passion for mathematics and has developed a comprehensive Learning Resource Bank, featuring unique and innovative Teaching Learning Materials that benefit master trainers and teachers. Ms. Jha has authored teacher training manuals for government schools, aligning them with the NCERT curriculum and various SCERT guidelines.

Dr Iqbal Sama

Member since 2020

Dr. Iqbal Sama is a distinguished educationist, social worker, and Early Childhood Development (ECD) advocate with over 30 years of transformative experience. As a Trustee of SARD, New Delhi, and Managing Trustee of Global Sparks Foundation, Rajkot, he has played a pivotal role in enhancing education systems and holistic learning.
Holding a Ph.D. in Economics (specializing in NGOs), an M.Phil., a B.Ed., and a Diploma in ECD, Dr. Sama currently serves as Gujarat Regional Head of the Aga Khan Education Service, India (AKESI). He has spearheaded ECD initiatives, developed the ICDS Anganwadi curriculum, and contextualized the National Curriculum Framework for the Foundational Stage.
A lifelong learner, he has completed specialized programs at Queen’s University (Canada), Red River College (Canada), and CEMD (New Delhi), along with international training in Dubai and Israel. His contributions have earned him the Outstanding Leadership Award by Education World and a nomination for the Gujarat Chief Minister Award (2019). As a core member of Gujarat’s ECD group, he continues to shape education policy and practice.

Mr. Sarang Sawangikar

Member since 2020

Mr. Sarang Sawangikar is a seasoned Human Resource professional with over 30 years of experience in HR, Administration, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) across diverse industries, including Pesticides, Explosives, Steel, Power, and Infrastructure. In his last role, he served as Head of HR, Admin, and CSR at Reliance Infrastructure’s Road Project in Tamil Nadu, where he played a pivotal role in managing human resources, industrial relations, and CSR initiatives. Throughout his career, he has successfully handled complex industrial relations challenges and spearheaded impactful CSR projects in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Driven by a deep passion for CSR, Mr. Sawangikar remains committed to fostering sustainable development and positive social impact through strategic HR and community engagement initiatives.

Mr. Anil Aggarwal

Member since 2020

Dr. Anil Kumar Aggarwal, CMD of a large food conglomerate comprising leading household snack brands in North India, he has over three decades of experience. Pursuing the charity wings of his business, Dr. Aggarwal is the President and Board Member of the Ekta Shakti Foundation, a not-for-profit organization established in 2003. The foundation provide equal opportunities for indigent and differently abled children to achieve social and economic growth, focusing on health and nutrition, disability, skill development, and the environment, directly serving over 1 million beneficiaries through multi-sectoral programs across various states of India.

Mr. Sudhanshu

Member since 2021

Sudhanshu Bhatnagar is a passionate advocate for social development, with extensive experience in community welfare, child and family services, and policy planning. His journey in the social sector began in India, where he played a key role in developing and managing large-scale programs focused on child welfare, education, and community empowerment. His work contributed to strengthening grassroots initiatives, successful execution of impactful projects, and driving data-backed policy recommendations to improve service delivery for vulnerable populations.
Sudhanshu holds an MBA from the University of Manitoba, Canada, with a specialization in international relations and leadership. He brings over five years of experience in project management, governance, and operational strategy, having worked across the non-profit, government, and corporate sectors in both India and Canada.
Even after moving to Canada, Sudhanshu has remained committed to the social sector. He is actively engaged in Winnipeg Child and Family Services ( within the Department of Families, Government of Manitoba, working towards the vision of ensuring that children and youth are safe, happy, and thriving in healthy communities. His expertise in data-driven decision-making and governance supports initiatives that enhance social services and improve outcomes for families in need.
Beyond his role at SARD, Sudhanshu also serves as a Board Member at Réseau Compassion Network, Canada, contributing to governance and strategic planning for organizations dedicated to social well-being.
With a deep commitment to building resilient communities, advocating for policy improvements, and fostering meaningful social change, Sudhanshu continues to bridge his experiences across India and Canada, ensuring that vulnerable and marginalized populations receive the care and support they deserve.