Board Members
Board Members
Jagadish Pradhan – a graduate with honours in Political Science was involved in social work from his student days, starting as a volunteer in Bangladesh refugee relief camps of 1971-72. Then got involved in drought relief works in Kalahandi (1972-76) and during 1977-1992 worked with OXFAM – GB in various positions in various states of India and in Nepal. He has immensely contributed to the debate and discussion in the campaign for Right To Information, Right To Work, Right to Food, Forest Right Acts etc. which have led to formulation of a few progressive government Acts. Because of his strong involvement with Agrarian issues he had been nominated by GOI as a member of the high power National Commission on Farmers – popularly known as Swaminathan Commission. He has also contributed to development discourses as part of different forums at State and National level.
He has successfully led a few NGO networks in Odisha which have been working on disaster management and activities related to Natural Resource Management. He has authored several books on Rural Development and Sustainable Agriculture. He has been a fellow of Ashoka – foundation and has bagged several awards at State and National level.
Dr. Vishwa Mohan Katoch, M.D. (Microbiology), currently the Chair, National Academy of Sciences, India (NASI) – Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) at Rajasthan University of Health Sciences (RUHS), Jaipur. As the Founder and Secretary of the Department of Health Research (DHR), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, between 2008 and 2015, Dr. Katoch played an important role in developing and implementing new schemes like the establishment of multi-disciplinary research units (MRUs) in government medical colleges; Model Rural Health Research units (MRHRUs); Virology Research Laboratories in states and medical colleges; Human Resources for Health Research with focus on medical colleges and Grant-in-Aid schemes for projects focussed on intersectoral collaboration and coordination. Dr. Katoch has led several delegations and represented India in international conferences. A Fellow of several prestigious Science academies in the country, he has won many awards for his scientific achievements.
Meenakshi Batra is a development sector professional, currently working as MD and Country Director of Americares India Foundation. She has more than three decades of experience in development and humanitarian work. Having worked in leadership positions with various agencies like CAF India, Save the Children, War Child, Child Fund International, Department for International Development (DFID) in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Nepal and Sri Lanka, Ms. Batra is skilled in the management of large-scale multi-sector programmes, directing large country programmes, strategic planning, organisational development, change management and senior management/leadership development. She is also experienced in leading emergency responses to earthquakes, cyclones, floods, droughts and post-conflict programmes.
Dr. Dil Kishore Raman, has an MD in Paediatrics. Presently he is working as Director of Training unit at Mahabir Aarogya Sansthan, a charitable hospital based in Patna. In his four decades of service in various government departments and hospitals in Patna, Bihar, he also held Additional Charge in the Office of the State Leprosy Officer from 1999-2005 and Additional Charge in the Office of the Controlling Officer State TB; State Leprosy Control & Eradication Programme and State Malaria & Kala- Azar Control Programme, from 2006-08.
Dr. Venkata Ramanamma Atkuri, MD (Community Medicine) is an alumnus of the Christian Medical College, Vellore. She has rich experience of community health practice in some of the most challenging states of India, namely Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, including ten years as a health programme officer in UNICEF. She is keenly interested in tribal and rural health, including issues of child and adult hunger and malnutrition, and the health and safety of migrant labour She works at demystifying medical knowledge to empower different cadres of health workers.
Lt. Gen. V D Tiwari retired in 2003 as Director and Commandant of the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune. He has to his credit several research projects in the fields of Dermatology, Venerology and Leprosy. He is a co-recipient of “ Maj Gen. Amir Chand Trust Award” for the year 1984 for outstanding work.
Dr Jayanth Kumar , a developmental professional has 29 years of experience both at the grass-root and management level in disability and inclusive development sector. He is a visually impaired person but has an ability to work under given circumstances in the NGO and CSR sector. Dr. Jayanth is a sociologist, disability activist, trainer, researcher and member on many boards-committees. He is well known in designing and creating street plays, dramas, and skits on disability issues. Presently Jayanth is working as a consultant for NGOs and CSR initiatives in India. Dr. Jayanth Kumar was honoured with a special recommendation certificate for successful participation in international CBR manager’s training course by WHO and AIFO Italy. The Government of Karnataka also felicitated Dr. Jayanth Kumar, for the successful completion of Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology for the research titled “Inclusion of the excluded-rehabilitation of persons with disabilities) in the year 2010.
D Ramaiah Kapa has over 40 years of experience in Lymphatic filariasis (LF) research. He worked for over 30 years (1980-2012) with the Indian Council of Medical Research’s Vector Control Research Centre in Pondicherry, India. His work focused on the transmission dynamics of LF, evaluating implementation and impact of mass drug administration on infection and transmission, methods of LF surveillance and social and economic impact of LF and the global burden of disease due to LF. He also worked with WHO in Geneva and the Western Pacific Regional office, Manila, as well as RTI International providing technical support to over 15 national LF elimination programmes. He is a member of the WHO Expert Advisory Panel on Parasitic Diseases – Filarial Infections, member of the Regional Programme Review Group – Neglected Tropical Diseases of WHO’s South-east Asia Region and Expert Committee member of the Mectizan Donation Programme.
N.M. Prusty is a distinguished professional with expertise in Mechanical Engineering (NIT), General Management (IIM), International Business (IIFT), and Development Management. With over 45 years of experience in various sectors, including government, corporate, international development agencies, and NGOs, he has made significant contributions to social development and humanitarian action. He has received prestigious awards like the Global Best Practice award for Innovation in Social Housing from UN Habitat in 2002 and the Prabashi Odisha Ratna award from POVS in 2022. Prusty has been actively involved in promoting technology for social good, particularly in the areas of AI, ML, drones, and allied sciences for agricultural and non-agricultural sector development, food security, development governance, and humanitarian efforts. He is the founder of the Techno-Humanitarian Platform called D4H (Drone for Humanity) and has been associated with several organizations and programs focused on innovative development initiatives.
Dr. Ashok Kumar, M.D., has made significant global health contributions, eradicating smallpox, eliminating leprosy, and controlling guinea-worm disease. He prioritized reproductive and child health, TB control, and preventing HIV/Syphilis transmission. As a researcher, he published 135+ papers and held leadership roles in public health organizations. He received numerous national and international awards, visited 29 countries as an expert, and currently chairs the Health Informatics Committee in India. Dr. Kumar’s expertise extends to electronic health records and national health information systems. He retired in 2015 as Addl. Director General (HAG), Ministry of Health & FW, Govt. of India. Recognized for his valuable contributions, he serves on the International Commission for Certification of Dracunculiasis Eradication, co-chairs the STAR India HIV Self-testing Project Advisory Group, and is a member of the LEPRA Society of India’s Management Committee/Board.
Country Management Team
Country Management Team
Prasant has over 20 years of experience in humanitarian and development sectors especially in the areas of strategy development, leadership, child protection, partnership management, HIV/AIDS, networking and fundraising.
He has a Masters in Social Work from Dr. C.V. Raman University and Rural Management from the prestigious Institute of Rural Management, Gujarat.
He served as a Country Director for many NGOs and worked in countries like Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Mozambique and Angola), Asia (Afghanistan, India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia Thailand and Myanmar) and UK. Prasant is a polyglot with fluency in several languages, including Spanish, Odia, Bengali, Hindi, Portuguese and others.
Domain Heads
Om is an accomplished result driven finance professional with more than 14 years of progressive experience with strong track-record of delivering top performance in finance management. He possesses vast experience in financial markets, especially in the development sector with sound knowledge of legal and financial requirements of Non-Government Organisations (NGOs). In addition to finance, Om, also handles the HR operations.
He holds a Masters in Commerce and has a professional qualification of ICWAI – Inter. He regularly upskills himself to stay abreast with the latest developments in areas of finance and HR operations.
He has been the key force behind strengthening of the financial systems, donor reporting guidelines and establishment of Financial and Procedures Manual for the organisation and its partner NGO’s.
Dr. Aparna Srikantam is an MD (Microbiology) from SV Medical College, NTR University of Health Sciences, AP, lndia. She has over 18 years’ robust research experience, complemented by extensive administrative and managerial experience. In addition, she has several international and national publications to her credit. Her last assignment was Head of Microbiology at Vijaya Diagnostic Centre, Hyderabad. Aparna has worked with LEPRA (BPHRC) as Group Leader, Microbiology Division during 2002-2014.
Arun has over 15 years of experience working as a health development professional in government and international non-governmental organisations. He has a vast experience in facilitating organisation next stage of development initiatives, developing project specific Standard Operating Procedures (SoP) and facilitated many qualitative & quantitative research studies. He has a great network with the health authorities and implemented projects with more than 50 NGOs at a time.
He has Masters Degrees’ in Social Work & Sociology (MSW) and Public Health (MPH) from Kakatiya and Annamalai Universities. He is greatly experienced in implementation and strategy planning for various Tuberculosis projects working along with national, state and district authorities.
State Coordinators
Rajni is a development professional with 20 years’ experience. He is a graduate in science with specialisation in physiotherapy from Hind Kush Nivaran Sangh (HKNS), New Delhi.
Rajni, in collaboration with TATA Steel was also instrumental in initiating the operations in the state of Jharkhand. He is a qualified master trainer, facilitator and expert in interventions on Community Health Programmes in the areas of Lymphatic Filariasis and leprosy, TB, HIV/AIDS and vector-borne diseases. Rajni and his team contributed for the WHO SEARO book on “Morbidity Management and Disability Prevention in Lymphatic Filariasis”, that serves a manual in operating Lymphatic Filariasis programmes across countries.
Rajni was himself impaired due to Lymphatic Filariasis and has faced the medical, physical, and social challenges involved with this. He enjoys listening to classical music and songs.
Radhika is State Coordinator of LEPRA, Andhra Pradesh & Telangana Operations. She holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work and Human Resource Management. She has significant experience in implementing Projects on Health, Women Empowerment, Livelihood Promotions and Child Rights.
She has been working with LEPRA since 2008, coordinating the Projects on Leprosy, Lymphatic Filariasis and HIV/AIDS in Andhra Region. She is good at Programme Management.
She was a state level Training of Trainer (ToT) in Health and Nutrition wing under SERP, IKP. Her expertise also includes CBO Management and is good at Media Advocacy for Promoting the Rights of persons affected with diseases.
Naveen has taken charge of State Coordinator – MP operations since September, 2014 and prior to that, he was managing LEPRA Zinc-ORS project in Madhya Pradesh. Naveen has 17 years’ of experience working in the field of Public Health. His experience especially in the field of HIV/AIDS is more than 12 years, served at various levels such as Counsellor, District Supervisor and Project Officer in Technical Support Unit. He has vast experience in monitoring and evaluation, capacity building, programme planning, mentoring and supportive supervision. He is also a Master Trainer under SAKSHAM project of GFATM R7 from Psychology department of Dr. H.S. Gaur University Sagar. Naveen attained his Post Graduation M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Dr. H.S. Gaur Central University Sagar, MP in 1991, and Public Health Field Leader Fellowship with CDC US Government from PHMI, Hyderabad in 2008 and PG Diploma in Psychological Counselling in 2009 from Dr. H.S. Gaur Central University Sagar.
Debendra has over 15 years of experience as an Operating Surgeon at Mahanadi Netra Chikitsalaya (MNC), Birmaharajpur, Odisha. Debendra was trained in Small Incision Cataract at Venu Eye Hospital, New Delhi and Phaco Surgery (Phacoemulsification) at LV Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad. Debendra has done his fellowship in Glaucoma from Aravind Eye Care System, Madurai.
Debendra, after completing his Masters in Surgery in the year 2005, he started his journey with LEPRA. Till date, he performed over 50,000 cataract surgeries.