Our Speakers

Mr. Giriraj Singh

Hon. Minister for Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Government of India

Mr. Giriraj Singh is a distinguished politician currently serving as the Honorable Minister of Rural Development in the Government of India. Mr. Singh holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science. With a vast work experience in public service spanning over two decades, he has been actively involved in rural development initiatives. Mr. Singh has played a pivotal role in the implementation of flagship programmes such as Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY), aimed at improving rural infrastructure and promoting skill development. Mr. Singh has served as Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Govt. of India (May, 2019 to July, 2021) and Hon’ble Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), GoI (November, 2014 to May, 2019). Mr. Singh has also served as Cooperative and Animal Husbandry Minister, Government of Bihar from 2008 to 2013.

Mr. Giriraj Singh

Hon. Minister for Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Government of India

Mr. Faggan Singh Kulaste

Hon. Minister of State for Rural Development & Steel, Government of India

Mr. Faggan Singh Kulaste is a prominent Indian politician and the Minister of State for Rural Development in the Government of India. With a vast experience in politics, he has held several positions throughout his career. He actively participates in formulating policies and implementing programs for rural development. He was former Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare. He completed his post graduation MA., BEd and LL.B. He completed his early education from Mandla College, Dr. Hari Singh Gaur University, Sagar and Rani Durgawati University, Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh).

Mr. Faggan Singh Kulaste

Hon. Minister of State for Rural Development & Steel, Government of India

Mr. Shailesh Kumar Singh

Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India

Shailesh Kumar Singh, IAS, is Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development. In his role as the Secretary to Government of India, Department of Rural Development, Shailesh works on comprehensive policy making for the Rural Development sector in India which involves formulation, coordination and implementation of programmes that address the development needs of the rural areas, focusing especially on mitigating and eradicating poverty and creating sustainable employment and livelihood opportunities. He has more than 30 years of experience as an Indian Administrative Service Officer having worked in the fields of Small & Medium Enterprises, Steel, Coal, Transport, Urban Development & Rural Development, Industry, Elections, Information Technology, Education, Human Resource Development, General Administration, etc.

Mr. Shailesh Kumar Singh

Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India

Mr. Charanjit Singh

Additional Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India

Charanjit Singh is an Indian Forest Service Officer of 1990 Batch – MP Cadre. He pursued masters of Philosophy in Strategic Studies from Madras University and Master of Science (Zoology) from Kurukshetra University. He served as Joint Secretary, Rural Skills Division in the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) from 2018 to 2020. In the year 2020, he joined as Joint Secretary, Rural Livelihoods Division in MoRD where he got promoted in the year 2022 as Additional Secretary. As Additional Secretary, he is presently heading the Rural Livelihood Division in the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India with the responsibility to execute the vision of the Government to strengthen community institutions under National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), so that they are efficiently managed and attain self-reliance. He has published articles on Land Acquisition, Land Titling, Land Records and Rural Development.

Mr. Charanjit Singh

Additional Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India

Mr. Auguste Tano Kouame

Country Director, The World Bank

Auguste Tano Kouamé is the World Bank’s Country Director for India since August 1, 2022. Auguste has most recently served as the World Bank’s Country Director for the Republic of Turkey – where he led the expansion of the Bank’s country program and deepened its support to Turkey’s climate agenda. Prior to this, he served as Director of the Department of Human Development and Economic Management in the World Bank Group’s Independent Evaluation Group (IEG), among various other roles at The World Bank. Prior to joining the World Bank as a Young Professional in 1996, he worked at the United Nations Development Program and taught AppliedEconomics in Côte d’Ivoire and France. Auguste holds a graduate degree in applied economics from ENSAE-Paris and a PhD in economics from EHESS-Paris. He also attended a program in Economic Management at Harvard University.

Mr. Auguste Tano Kouame

Country Director, The World Bank

Mr. Hari Menon

Country Director, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Mr. Hari Menon leads the India Office of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He also oversees the foundation’s work in South and South-East Asia. In this role as director of the India Office, Hari is in charge of managing the foundation's work areas in India, with an objective to improve conditions of family health, sanitation, digital financial inclusion, agriculture, and gender equality. He leads these efforts to advance the country’s health and development goals by working closely with India's central and state governments, and other stakeholders. He brings valuable experience gained through multiple leadership roles across the foundation and has strong relationships with partners across the development ecosystem. Hari holds a masters degree in business management from XLRI School of Management, Jamshedpur.

Mr. Hari Menon

Country Director, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Mr. Amarjeet Sinha

Member, Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB)

Amarjeet Sinha is currently posted as Member, Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB). An Indian Administrative Service (IAS) Officer of Bihar Cadre of 1983 batch, he retired in December 2019 as Secretary, Department of Rural Development. He has 40 years of experience in Government, largely in the rural and social sector. He has had the unique distinction of having played a major role in designing Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (India’s main programme for universal education), the National Rural Health Mission, and in bringing about governance reforms in programmes for rural areas covering livelihoods, employment, housing, social security, skills, rurban development, and road construction. Mr. Sinha has published seven books on public policy and a large number of articles. Mr. Sinha is an alumnus of St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi.

Mr. Amarjeet Sinha

Member, Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB)

Mr. Andrew Goodland

Lead Agriculture Specialist, Agriculture and Food Global Practice, The World Bank

Mr. Andrew Goodland is a Lead Agriculture Specialist at the World Bank, with a focus on sustainable agriculture, natural resource management and rural development. In this role he coordinates and oversees the World Bank’s investment and analytical portfolio in the Agriculture and Food Sector in India. He has over 30 years of experience in agricultural research, development, and policy, and has worked in various countries across the world across Africa, East Asia, South Asia and the Caribbean. Andrew holds a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Cambridge, UK and a Masters in Agricultural Economics from Wye College, University of London, UK.

Mr. Andrew Goodland

Lead Agriculture Specialist, Agriculture and Food Global Practice, The World Bank

Ms. Yamini Aiyar

President and Chief Executive, Centre for Policy Research

Yamini Aiyer is the President of the Centre for Policy Research (CPR), a leading think tank in India. She has made substantial contributions to rural development through her research, policy analysis, and advocacy. Her work at CPR has focused on key areas such as governance, public service delivery, and decentralization. Yamini Aiyer has authored several publications and articles on these subjects. She is an alumunus of University of Cambridge, London School of Economics and St Stephen's College.

Ms. Yamini Aiyar

President and Chief Executive, Centre for Policy Research

Mr. Manish Sabharwal

Vice Chairperson & Founder, Team Lease Services Limited

Mr. Manish Sabharwal is the CEO and co-founder of TeamLease, India's largest staffing company. Manish has over 25 years of work experience. He is also an entrepreneur, writer, and a member of the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE), Govt. of India, and has been recognized as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. Mr Sabharwal is a member of the National Skill Mission, Central Advisory Board of Education and has served on various policy committees for education, employment and employability. He got his MBA from The Wharton School and is an alumnus of Shriram College, Delhi and Mayo College, Ajmer.

Mr. Manish Sabharwal

Vice Chairperson & Founder, Team Lease Services Limited

Dr. Parmesh Shah

Global Lead, Data Driven Digital Agriculture, The World Bank

Parmesh Shah is the Global Lead for Data, Digital Agriculture, and Innovation at the Agriculture and Food Global Practice of the World Bank. He currently provides leadership to the Bank's work in these areas and supports the development of global knowledge. His current areas of interest are making markets and public services work for the poor, social entrepreneurship, digital and data based innovations in agriculture and rural development. He is currently managing a global program on scaling up data driven digital agriculture involving data platforms and establishing ecosystems for innovation, entrepreneurship, and incubation. He holds a D Phil in Development Studies from Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex, MBA from Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.

Dr. Parmesh Shah

Global Lead, Data Driven Digital Agriculture, The World Bank

Mr. L.K. Atheeq

Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Government of Karnataka

Mr. L.K. Atheeq is the Additional Chief Secretary of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj in the Government of Karnataka. He is a senior civil servant and experienced public policy professional with 30 years of experience in public sector. His interests include public policy and development economics, education, healthcare, and governance reforms. He also played an instrumental role in revamping the Integrated Child Development Services, the emergence of a National Health Mission, the food security law and development of rural infrastructure and governance in the state. Mr. Atheeq was representative of India on the Board of the World Bank Group at Washington DC. He is a Public Administration graduate of Syracuse University, USA.

Mr. L.K. Atheeq

Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Government of Karnataka

Mr. Abhishek Singh

President & Chief Executive Officer, National eGovernance Division, Ministry of Electronics & IT, Government of India

Abhishek Singh is a career Civil Servant with 27 years of experience of governance and policy formulation. He specialises in use of Technology for improving Governance. In his role as President & CEO, National e-Governance Division and MD & CEO of Digital India Corporation, he leads major Digital India Initiatives including projects in the field of Artificial Intelligence & Emerging Technologies. He is also CEO of Karmayogi Bharat – a Government Company tasked with building a tech platform for Capacity Building of all Civil Servants. He has done Masters in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School of Government. He is also an alumnus of IIT Kanpur.

Mr. Abhishek Singh

President & Chief Executive Officer, National eGovernance Division, Ministry of Electronics & IT, Government of India

Mr. T Koshy

Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Open Network Digital Commerce

Mr. T Koshy is a highly accomplished professional currently serving as the MD & CEO of ONDC (Open Network For Digital Commerce). With a distinguished work experience spanning over 20 years, he has made remarkable contributions to rural development. Mr. Koshy's career began in the field of technology, where he pioneered innovative solutions for bridging the digital divide in rural areas. He has spearheaded transformative initiatives such as the Digital Village Program and the Mobile Connectivity Project, enabling access to digital services and empowering rural communities. Mr. Koshy has authored influential publications on rural digitalization, including "Digital Transformation for Rural Empowerment" and "Connecting the Unconnected: A Roadmap for Rural Connectivity." He holds a Master's degree in Information Technology.

Mr. T Koshy

Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Open Network Digital Commerce

Ms. Nidhi Bhasin

Chief Executive Officer, NASSCOM Foundation (The National Association of Software & Services Companies)

Nidhi is the CEO of NASSCOM and is a social development sector professional with over two decades of experience. Nidhi wears many hats and has proven skills in program and team management, regulatory understanding of CSR law, finance and compliance, among others. Nidhi is extremely passionate about providing equal opportunities to all, technology for social good, and women and youth development. Before joining NASSCOM Foundation, Nidhi was working with Concern India Foundation as Deputy Chief Executive Officer. She is an alumnus of the prestigious Delhi School of Social Work (Delhi University).

Ms. Nidhi Bhasin

Chief Executive Officer, NASSCOM Foundation (The National Association of Software & Services Companies)

Mr. Aniket Doegar

Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Haqdarshak

Mr. Aniket Doegar is a visionary entrepreneur and the Co-Founder & CEO of Haqdarshak, a social enterprise focused on bridging the gap between citizens and government welfare schemes. He is part of Forbes - 30 under 30 Asia social entrepreneur list and has 10+ years of work experience. Mr. Doegar has made significant contributions to rural development through Haqdarshak's initiatives. His organisation provides a technology platform that helps individuals access and apply for various government schemes and entitlements. Mr. Doegar's work showcases a deep commitment to improving access to welfare programs. He is an alumnus of Stanford and SRCC.

Mr. Aniket Doegar

Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Haqdarshak

Ms. Krishna Baruah

State Mission Director, Assam State Rural Livelihood Mission

Krishna Baruah joined Assam Civil Service in the year 1992 and has served in various parts of the state in different capacities. She is the first lady officer in Assam to serve as Senior Block Development Officer as well as Civil SDO in the hard terrain of Majuli island located amidst the Brahmaputra. She served for 6 long years as Chief Executive Officer of Zila Parishad. Besides her official duties, she is also a proactive social worker and she is involved with various charitable organisations in the state as well as the country.

Ms. Krishna Baruah

State Mission Director, Assam State Rural Livelihood Mission

Mr. Martien Van Nieuwkoop

Global Director, Agriculture and Food Global Practice, The World Bank

Mr. Martien Van Nieuwkoop is the Global Director for Agriculture and Food at the World Bank, where he leads the organization's efforts to support sustainable agriculture and food systems around the world. He has over 25 years of experience in international development, with a focus on agricultural and rural development, natural resource management, and climate change. Martien pursued his MBA in International Executive Program from Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., USA.

Mr. Martien Van Nieuwkoop

Global Director, Agriculture and Food Global Practice, The World Bank

Ms. Priti Kumar

Senior Agriculture Specialist, The World Bank

Priti Kumar is a Senior Agriculture Specialist in the World Bank Group in India. She leads several innovative programs and investment operations. Her key areas of interest are agriculture transformation, natural resources management and watershed development, women’s empowerment and climate change. She has worked in the South Asia Sustainable Development Network: in the Environment Sector (2000-2012); the Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change Sector (2012-2014); and Agriculture and Food Practice (2014 to present). Ms. Kumar holds master’s degrees from University of Waterloo, Canada and from Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi in applied mathematics and engineering. Prior to the Bank, she worked for nine years in the private sector, not-for-profit organisations and donor organisations.

Ms. Priti Kumar

Senior Agriculture Specialist, The World Bank

Ms. Nita Kejrewal

Joint Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development

Nita Kejrewal is a Joint Secretary in Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India. She has put in almost 30 years of service in various capacities in different Ministries of GoI. She worked for over 7 years in Ministry of Health and FW where she dealt with national level programmes Tuberculosis Control and Leprosy. For the last more than 13 years she has been working with the Ministry of Rural Development and has been associated with the design and implementation of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission from its inception. She has been a strong advocate of the role of social development in addressing poverty and has played a major role in introducing the agenda of Food, Nutrition, health and Gender in DAY-NRLM.

Ms. Nita Kejrewal

Joint Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development

Dr. Purnima Menon

Senior Director for Food and Nutrition Policy, CGIAR & IFRPI

Dr. Purnima Menon is Senior Director, Food and Nutrition Policy, for the CGIAR and the International Food Policy Research Institute. She was previously senior research fellow in IFPRI’s Poverty, Health and Nutrition Division. She leads research teams who conduct implementation research on scaling up interventions, including on evaluating large-scale programs in nutrition, agriculture, gender, technology, and health, collaborates widely, and invests deeply in research translation in engagements with policy communities. Dr. Menon has a PhD in International Nutrition from Cornell University, an MSc in Nutrition from University of Delhi and has research experience in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Ethiopia, Haiti and Vietnam.

Dr. Purnima Menon

Senior Director for Food and Nutrition Policy, CGIAR & IFRPI

Dr. Purvi Mehta

Deputy Director, Global Growth and Opportunities Division, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Dr. Purvi Mehta is the Deputy Director, Global Growth and Opportunities division at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and currently also leads the climate adaptation programs globally. She has her formal education, up to PhD, from M.S. University, India, Tokyo University, Japan and North Carolina State University- USA. Dr. Mehta has worked with leading international organizations like the CGIAR, as head of Asia for the International Livestock Research Institute and as head of South Asia Biosafety program (IFPRI, USAID). She has been closely associated with several agriculture and nutrition policy platforms in India, South and Southeast Asia and Africa and serves on several committees and advisory panels.

Dr. Purvi Mehta

Deputy Director, Global Growth and Opportunities Division, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Ms. Soumya Kapoor Mehta

Senior Social Development Specialist, The World Bank

Soumya Kapoor Mehta is a Senior Social Development Specialist with the Social Sustainability and Inclusion (SSI) global practice of the World Bank, and co-leads the India Gender and Inclusion Platform. She has interest and analytic skills in the general areas of gender, poverty reduction strategies, and social inclusion challenges. She has worked on several of the Bank’s flagship reports and has two books to her credit. Prior to joining the World Bank, Soumya worked for IWWAGE, UNICEF, the Government of India, the Centre for Policy Research, the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) and was a Visiting Fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. She holds a master’s in economics from the University of Cambridge and a Bachelor’s degree in economics from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi.

Ms. Soumya Kapoor Mehta

Senior Social Development Specialist, The World Bank

Mr. Vibhu Goel

Chief Executive Officer & State Mission Director, Anandadhara - West Bengal Rural Livelihoods Mission

Vibhu is State Mission Director & Chief Executive Officer, West Bengal State Rural Livelihood Mission, Panchayats & Rural Development Department. Vibhu has completed his Bachelor of Engineering from National Institute of Technology, Surat and Post Graduation in Human Resource Management from TISS, Mumbai. Vibhu joined Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in the year 2012. He was District Magistrate of Nadia, Purba Medinipur and Paschim Bardhaman. He was also Sub Divisional officer and Additional District Magistrate for one district and Chief Executive Officer, Haldia Development Authority, Govt of West Bengal previously. Before joining the IAS, he worked with KMPG Advisory Services for 3 years in various advisory assignments in Mumbai and Delhi.

Mr. Vibhu Goel

Chief Executive Officer & State Mission Director, Anandadhara - West Bengal Rural Livelihoods Mission

Mr. Ravi Venkatesan

Founder, Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship

Ravi Venkatesan is the chairman of the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) and founder of the Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship (GAME). He is also UNICEF’s Special Representative for Young People and Innovation and serves on the Boards of The Rockefeller Foundation and Hitachi Ltd. Ravi has previously also served as the chairman of Microsoft India, Bank of Baroda and Cummins India and co-chairman of Infosys Limited. He has a B. Tech from IIT Bombay, an MS from Purdue University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Mr. Ravi Venkatesan

Founder, Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship

Mr. Samik Sundar Das

Senior Rural Development Specialist, The World Bank

Samik Sundar Das is a Senior Rural Development Specialist with The World Bank, India office. He has more than two decades of experience working in CDD, rural livelihoods and enterprise promotion projects in Asia and Africa. He has contributed extensively towards the preparation and implementation of large-scale rural development programs. His current passion is to rejuvenate the intrinsic entrepreneurial zeal of women entrepreneurs; catalyze business ecosystem development for enterprise promotion; and localized job creation. Academically, he has obtained two Masters' related to Development Studies from India and USA.

Mr. Samik Sundar Das

Senior Rural Development Specialist, The World Bank

Ms. Anna Roy

Senior Adviser, NITI Aayog

Ms. Anna Roy is a highly respected professional currently serving as the Senior Adviser at NITI Aayog dealing with data, frontier technologies and urbanisation. One of the initiatives that she is leading is Women Entrepreneurship Platform, that is a unique PPP initiative aimed at promoting a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem with focus on semi-urban and rural areas. Ms. Roy holds a Master's degree in Economics from Delhi School of Economics.

Ms. Anna Roy

Senior Adviser, NITI Aayog

Mr. Ved Arya

Founder Director, The Buddha Institute & Founder, Self-Reliant Initiatives Through Joint Action (SRIJAN)

Ved Mitra Arya is a social development entrepreneur and author who has devoted his life to impacting livelihood opportunities for India’s rural poor and working for the cause of poverty alleviation and empowerment. Ved founded an organisation called ‘SRIJAN’ (Self-Reliant Initiatives through Joint Action), which features among the top non-profit organisations in India in the sustainable rural livelihood space and empowerment of rural women. In 2016, Ved also founded the Buddha Fellowship Program which is a unique platform offering a complete eco-system for young emerging leaders from India’s premier educational institutions, an opportunity to build development enterprises. He is an aeronautical engineer from IIT Kanpur and a management graduate from IIM-Ahmedabad.

Mr. Ved Arya

Founder Director, The Buddha Institute & Founder, Self-Reliant Initiatives Through Joint Action (SRIJAN)

Dr. Gayathri Vasudevan

Chairperson, LabourNet

Gayathri Vasudevan is the Chairperson of LabourNet, a social enterprise that aims to provide training and employment opportunities to the informal sector. With over two decades of work experience, she has been actively involved in initiatives focused on empowering rural communities. She is also the Chief Impact Officer of Sambhav Foundation, which focuses on skilling and livelihoods for rural communities. Under her leadership, LabourNet has impacted over 1.5 million lives across India, and Gayathri has been recognized with the prestigious 'Social Entrepreneur of the Year' award from the Schwab Foundation and the 'Entrepreneur of the Year' award from the National HRD Network, among others. She holds a Master's degree in Social Work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences.

Dr. Gayathri Vasudevan

Chairperson, LabourNet

Mr. Pranay Bhargava

Founder, Wee Cee Fund

Pranay, as a serial social entrepreneur, has founded three social ventures, each with significant returns ranging from 1X to 5X. Pranay has over 15 years of work experience. At Wee Cee, Pranay is pioneering micro-equity financing for climate-positive, women-managed micro enterprises in low-tech businesses and sustainable agriculture sectors in India. His first venture played a role in designing a national scheme, showcasing his ability to create innovative solutions that have a broader impact. His second venture became the IT backbone for the implementation of a national scheme, highlighting his expertise in leveraging technology for social development. Pranay holds a CFA Charter, an MBA from AIM Philippines, and a B.Tech from IIT Varanasi.

Mr. Pranay Bhargava

Founder, Wee Cee Fund

Mr. AR Rahul Nadh

District Collector - Chengalpattu, Government of Tamil Nadu

Mr. A.R.Rahul Nadh IAS is the District collector in Chengalpattu District of Tamil Nadu. He is an Indian Admirative Officer of 2012 batch. He is a seasoned civil servant having spent eventful stints at the State Secretariat for nearly a decade before assuming his present office as District Collector. During his dynamic leadership as the district has witnessed remarkable progress in the areas of development and welfare administration. It is his hard work and dedication that has brought the Kovalm Beach of Chengalpattu District, the iconic Blue Flag Beach status during his tenue. His diligence and impeccable leadership have made the 44th Chess Olympiad, which was hosted at the historic town of Mahabalipuram in Chengalpattu district during the Months of July-August 2022, a monumental success.

Mr. AR Rahul Nadh

District Collector - Chengalpattu, Government of Tamil Nadu

Mr. SM Vijayanand

Former Chief Secretary, Government of Kerala & Former Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India

Mr. SM Vijayanand is a seasoned bureaucrat who served as the Secretary in the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India. He has also served as the chief Secretary to Government of Kerala. Mr. Vijayanand has made significant contributions to rural development through his work in the ministry. During his tenure, he played a crucial role in implementing various initiatives and policies aimed at strengthening the Panchayati Raj system and empowering local self-governance in rural areas. He did post graduation in English literature from the University of Kerala.

Mr. SM Vijayanand

Former Chief Secretary, Government of Kerala & Former Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India

Prof. Partha Mukhopadhyay

Senior Fellow, Centre for Policy Research

Prof. Partha Mukhopadhyay is a Senior Fellow at the Centre for Policy Research (CPR), an independent think tank in India. His contributions in the field of rural development include extensive research, policy analysis, and advocacy. His work at CPR has focused on addressing key challenges in rural development and promoting sustainable solutions. Mr. Mukhopadhyay has authored numerous publications and articles on rural development, governance, and public policy. He was previously part of the founding team at the Infrastructure Development Finance Company (IDFC). He received his PhD in economics from New York University and an MA and M.Phil from the Delhi School of Economics.

Prof. Partha Mukhopadhyay

Senior Fellow, Centre for Policy Research

Mr. Madan Padaki

Founder & Chief Executive Officer, 1Bridge

Mr. Madan Padaki is a visionary entrepreneur and the Founder and CEO of 1Bridge. With a dynamic work experience spanning over 20 years, he has been a driving force in rural development. Mr. Padaki's journey began as a co-founder of MeritTrac, a leading skills assessment company. He later co-founded and served as the CEO of Head Held High Foundation, an organization focused on rural youth empowerment. With 1Bridge, he has revolutionized last-mile connectivity, bridging the gap between rural communities and essential services. Mr. Padaki has authored influential publications, including "Rural Transformation: Empowering Grassroots Communities." He holds a Bachelor's degree in Engineering from Visvesvaraya Technological University, graduating in the year 1995.

Mr. Madan Padaki

Founder & Chief Executive Officer, 1Bridge

Ms. Sarada Muraleedharan

Additional Chief Secretary, Local Self Governance Department, Government of Kerala

Sarada Muraleedharan is an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer who is currently serving as the Additional Chief Secretary of Local Self Government in the Government of Kerala. She has played a key role in the implementation of various projects related to urban and rural development in Kerala, including the successful implementation of the 100% waste segregation project in Kochi and has been instrumental in spearheading various innovative initiatives such as the ‘My City Beautiful City’ project.

Ms. Sarada Muraleedharan

Additional Chief Secretary, Local Self Governance Department, Government of Kerala

Mr. Anjani Kumar Singh

Senior Program Officer, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Anjani Kumar Singh is a Senior Program Officer and Country Lead -Women’s livelihoods at the Gates Foundation. He leads the foundation work in India related to community platforms and Gender Equality. Works very closely with the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) and several State Rural Livelihoods Missions and other development institutions around issues of Women’s Economic Empowerment. He has more than 25 years of experience in designing and operationalizing large-scale rural development programs. Anjani has 360-degree experience in the development sector. Anjani is a graduate of Columbia University, School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), NY, USA and has studied at Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai and Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa, India.

Mr. Anjani Kumar Singh

Senior Program Officer, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Mr. Shaji KV

Chairperson, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)

Shaji K V assumed charge as Chairman of NABARD. He was instrumental in implementing initiatives like software based supervisory inspection, Data-warehouse, process re-engineering and improvement in the risk management practices besides conceptualising the ambitious scheme of computerising Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies (PACS). Before joining NABARD, he worked in Canara Bank in various capacities for 26 years. He has been a member of many National Level Expert Committees. Mr. Shaji is a post graduate in agriculture and holds PGDM in Public Policy from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad apart from Diploma in Treasury, Investment & Risk Management.

Mr. Shaji KV

Chairperson, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)

Mr. CS Reddy

Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Andhra Pradesh Mahila Abhivruddhi Society (APMAS)

Mr. CS Reddy is the Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Andhra Pradesh Mahila Abhivruddhi Society (APMAS), an organization that promotes sustainable livelihoods and poverty reduction in rural India. He is also the President of Sadhikaratha Foundation, a non-profit that focuses on community-based approaches to development. Mr. Reddy has over 30 years of experience in the development sector, particularly in the microfinance and livelihood sectors focusing on community based model of microfinance. Mr. Reddy has extensively written and spoke about the SHG movement in India and the strategies to sustain the movement. Mr. Reddy worked with CARE International in India for a period of 12 years. He is an alumnus of university of Hyderabad.

Mr. CS Reddy

Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Andhra Pradesh Mahila Abhivruddhi Society (APMAS)

Ms. Reema Nanavaty

Director, Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA)

Ms. Reema Nanavaty is a dedicated professional associated with SEWA Bharat, an organization committed to empowering women in the informal sector. With a comprehensive work experience of over 15 years, she has made significant contributions to rural development. Reema has worked closely with marginalised women, implementing transformative initiatives such as the Livelihood Promotion Program and the Financial Inclusion Project. Her expertise and insights have been showcased through publications like "Women's Empowerment through Collective Action" and "Transforming Lives: Case Studies in Rural Development." Reema holds a Master's degree in Social Work.

Ms. Reema Nanavaty

Director, Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA)

Prof. MS Sriram

Chairperson, Centre for Public Policy, IIM Bangalore

Prof. MS Sriram is the Professor and Chairperson of the Public Policy Area at IIM Bangalore. He is a graduate of the Institute of Rural Management Anand and a PhD from IIM Bangalore. He was a faculty member at IRMA and a Professor at IIM Ahmedabad. He has over 30 years of experience in the field of banking, financial inclusion, and public policy. He has also served on the Financial Inclusion Advisory Committee of the Reserve Bank of India. At IIMB, Mr. Sriram has been involved in research, teaching, and capacity-building initiatives focused on public policy and financial inclusion. His research has covered a range of topics, including financial inclusion, rural banking, and microfinance. He has also authored several publications on these topics, including books and research papers.

Prof. MS Sriram

Chairperson, Centre for Public Policy, IIM Bangalore

Mr. Bjorn Schrijver

Project Manager, Rabobank

Schooled in History and Economics, Mr. Bjorn Schrijver joined the cooperative Rabobank in 2001.As a Sr. project manager at Rabo Partnerships, he manages several programmes across countries on cooperative’s transformation & digitisation. He acted as Rabo Partnerships’ Lead in executing the joint programme with World Bank on strengthening Cooperative Financial Institutions/Networks across multiple countries. Bjorn has working experience in Africa, Eastern Europe, Middle East and extensively worked in South and South-East Asia. Between 2013-2016 He worked as Team Leader in India within the vast cooperative credit structure (about 3,300 locations) in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. He is currently leading Rabo Partnerships Inclusive Venture Building initiatives for Asia.

Mr. Bjorn Schrijver

Project Manager, Rabobank

Mr. Rahul Kumar

Chief Executive Officer, Jeevika

Mr. Rahul Kumar is the Chief Executive Officer of JEEVIKA , Bihar Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society. He has been instrumental in initiating various exemplary programs for social change as District Magistrate of Gopalganj, Begusarai and Purnea districts. Mr. Rahul has been awarded numerous honours & awards throughout his tenure. Few prominent ones are Best District in Skill Development by the Governor of Bihar, best District award in sanitation among others.

Mr. Rahul Kumar

Chief Executive Officer, Jeevika

Ms. Greta Bull

Director, Women's Economic Empowerment, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Greta leads the Foundation’s work on Women’s Economic Empowerment, where she oversees a portfolio of investments covering gender data and evidence, women’s economic collectives (WECs) and livelihoods development for poor women. Greta has over 20 years of experience in development finance, focused on small and medium enterprise finance, microfinance, digital financial services, payments and livelihoods. She has worked with financial services providers, development partners and policy makers. Her clients and partners have included banks, microfinance institutions, mobile network operators, fintechs and bigtechs. Greta has a Master’s degree in Public Policy from Harvard University and an undergraduate degree in International Studies from the University of Washington.

Ms. Greta Bull

Director, Women's Economic Empowerment, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Mr. Amit Arora

Senior Rural Finance Specialist, The World Bank

Amit is a commercial banker turned rural development finance specialist with World Bank Group since 2016. Amit has worked for over 27+ years now across the financial sector. In the last one decade, as a development banker, Amit has worked as Sr Rural Finance Specialist with German Development Corporation (GIZ) before starting his current role with the World Bank Group in 2016. Presently, Amit has been a senior task team member of several projects at World Bank Group (IFC & WB), with focus on Digital Financial Inclusion, Agriculture & MSME Finance wherein gender , rural and demand side capacity building are cross cutting intervention areas across all projects.

Mr. Amit Arora

Senior Rural Finance Specialist, The World Bank

Mr. Sivasubramanian Ramann

Chairperson & Managing Director, Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)

Sivasubramanian Ramann, the Managing Director of SIDBI, has been instrumental in spearheading various initiatives to support small and medium enterprises in India. Under his leadership, SIDBI has launched several schemes to enhance the accessibility of finance for MSMEs, including the COVID-19 Emergency Credit Line, the Asset Repayment Support, and the Stand-Up India Scheme. He has also focused on promoting digital finance and improving financial literacy among MSMEs.

Mr. Sivasubramanian Ramann

Chairperson & Managing Director, Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)

Mr. Pravin Raghavendra

Deputy Managing Director, State Bank of India

Mr. Pravin Raghavendra is a seasoned banker, with a rich experience of more than 32 years in various capacities in State Bank of India. His experience includes Commercial and Development Banking, with expertise in new business initiatives and business development. He is Deputy Managing Director at SBI, heading the MSME, Agriculture and Financial Inclusion vertical. In his previous assignment, he led Mumbai Metro Circle as Chief General Manager and was responsible for driving business growth across asset and liability products, other income, P&L Management, Compliance, and administrative functions. He joined SBI as a Probationary Officer in 1990 and has held various leadership position in Guwahati, Jamshedpur, Patna and Chandigarh. He is Law Graduate, with BSc Honours. He recently completed a course on Strategy from London School of Business.

Mr. Pravin Raghavendra

Deputy Managing Director, State Bank of India

Ms. S Divyadharshini

Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women & Chief Executive Officer, Tamil Nadu Rural Transformation Project / Tamil Nadu State Rural Livelihoods Mission

Ms. S Divyadharshini is the Managing Director of the Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women, which is a government agency that works to promote the socio-economic development of women in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. She is also CEO of Tamil Rural Transformation Project Ms. Divyadharshini has over 10 years of experience in the public sector, and has served in various roles within the Tamil Nadu government. In her current role at TNCDW, Ms. Divyadharshini is responsible for implementing a range of programs and initiatives aimed at promoting women's empowerment and economic development. Ms. Divyadharshini holds a Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from the Anna University in Chennai, India, and a Master's degree in Public Administration from Harvard.

Ms. S Divyadharshini

Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women & Chief Executive Officer, Tamil Nadu Rural Transformation Project / Tamil Nadu State Rural Livelihoods Mission

Mr. Jiji Mammen

Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer Sa-dhan

Mr. Jiji Mammen

Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer Sa-dhan

Ms. Hemalata Mahalingam

South Asia Manager, International Finance Corporation

Ms. Hemalata Mahalingam is the Regional Industry Manager, South Asia at IFC. Hemalata has a career spanning 25 years in the financial services sector, including ten years in the World Bank Group. Prior to that she was the Hub Leader for India, responsible for managing dynamic relationships across the financial services sector handling both new business and portfolio. Prior to IFC, Hemalata worked at Standard Chartered Bank managing relationships in the financial services sector in South India, and at ICRA Ltd. where she was the lead for financial sector ratings. Hemalata is a Chartered Accountant and holds a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Gujarat University, India.

Ms. Hemalata Mahalingam

South Asia Manager, International Finance Corporation

Mr. Nagendra Nath Sinha

Secretary, Ministry of Steel, Government of India

Mr. N.N. Sinha is a distinguished retired bureaucrat who served as the Secretary in the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India. With an extensive work experience of over three decades, he has made significant contributions to rural development. Mr. Sinha's notable initiatives include the implementation of flagship programs such as the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), aimed at improving housing and providing employment opportunities in rural areas. Mr. Sinha holds a Master's degree in Public Administration.

Mr. Nagendra Nath Sinha

Secretary, Ministry of Steel, Government of India

Mr. Vijay Mahajan

Secretary & Chief Executive Officer, Rajiv Gandhi Foundation

Mr. Vijay Mahajan is an internationally known Indian rural development professional, social entrepreneur and a policy analyst. He is the founder of reputed organizations such as Pradan NGO and the Basix Social Enterprise Group. He has also served on the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India Rangarajan Committee on Financial Inclusion and the Raghuram Rajan Committee on Financial Sector Reforms. He has published over 20 papers in prestigious Indian and international journals, contributed chapters in 15 academic books and has authored over 70 papers/articles in the area of rural development, livelihood promotion and employment, microfinance, financial inclusion, social innovations and entrepreneurship. He is an alumnus of IIM, Ahmedabad and IIT, Delhi.

Mr. Vijay Mahajan

Secretary & Chief Executive Officer, Rajiv Gandhi Foundation

Prof. Ramesh Chand

Member, NITI Aayog

Prof. Ramesh Chand is currently Member of NITI Aayog (in the rank of Union Minister of State) and Chairman of the Institute of Economic Growth, New Delhi. He has a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi. In the past, he was also a Member of the Fifteenth Finance Commission. Prof. Chand has authored seven books and published more than 150 research papers in reputed national and international journals in the areas of agriculture, growth, food policy, farmers’ issues, markets and trade. In recognition of his contributions, Prof. Ramesh Chand has received several national and international awards.

Prof. Ramesh Chand

Member, NITI Aayog

Mr. Oliver Braedt

Practice Manager, Food and Agriculture Global Practice, The World Bank

Mr. Oliver Braedt is the Practice Manager for the Food and Agriculture Global Practice at the World Bank. He is responsible for providing strategic leadership to the practice, which focuses on improving food security, increasing agricultural productivity, and promoting sustainable agriculture in developing countries. Mr. Braedt has over two decades of experience working in international development, with a focus on agricultural and rural development. Prior to joining the World Bank, he worked at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Mr. Braedt has also worked for the European Commission, the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ), where he worked on projects related to rural development, agriculture, and environmental management. Mr. Braedt holds a Master's degree in Agricultural Economics and a Bachelor's degree in Agriculture.

Mr. Oliver Braedt

Practice Manager, Food and Agriculture Global Practice, The World Bank

Mr. Raghvendra Pratap Singh

Director, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India

Raghvendra Pratap Singh is from Indian Ordnance Factories Service, Year 2000. He pursued his B. Tech from M. M. M. E. C. Gorakhpur and M. Tech from NIT, Kurukshetra. In the year 2017, he joined as Director, Mahatma Gandhi NREGA in Ministry of Rural Development. He is presently Director, DAY-NRLM, Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), leading Financial Inclusion, Non-Farm Livelihoods and Marketing Initiatives for strengthening community institutions. In his more than 2 year’s work at DAY-NRLM, he has successfully implementation of PFMS and has worked with full vigour for promotion and marketing of SGH products by not only organising Nationwide SARAS Melas but also by building partnerships with various e-Commerce platforms like Amazon, Flipkart and Meesho.

Mr. Raghvendra Pratap Singh

Director, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India

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