Pravin Bhikadiya is a development professional with over 25 years of grassroots experience in water, sanitation, and livelihoods, rooted in equity and inclusive growth. With a background in agriculture and Gandhian rural studies, he began his journey with Utthan as a community mobilizer. He has since led major initiatives, including coastal programs and the People’s Learning Centre. His expertise includes participatory training, institutional development, and vulnerability analysis. Pravin also contributes to research and networks, representing Utthan nationally. He serves on key committees including Pravah, Janpath, and the National Coalition for Natural Farming. Since 2016, he has led Utthan as CEO.

Pallavi Sobti-Rajpal brings over 20 years of experience in gender justice and equity-based development. With 17 years at Utthan, she has led programme strategy, advocacy, organisational development, and community-led research. Her work focuses on strengthening women’s institutions, governance systems, and inclusive practices for resilience. She serves on the Board of the Society for Women’s Access to Land. Pallavi holds a Master’s in Sociology and a Bachelor’s in Economics from Delhi University. She has contributed to multiple publications and regularly speaks on equity, inclusion, and women’s leadership in national forums.

Trained as a civil engineer, Babu Prajapati transitioned from the private sector to join Utthan in his home region of Limkheda. Starting as a technical expert in watershed development, he aligned his skills with grassroots development goals. His focus lies in enhancing rural livelihoods and addressing migration through water conservation and resource development with a social equity approach. Over the years, Babu has taken on leadership roles in area management, programme execution, and participatory community planning. He continues to bridge technical solutions with community needs, ensuring that development remains rooted, inclusive, and sustainable in tribal areas.

V. Selvakumar has been working with Utthan since 2021, bringing prior experience in knowledge management, research, and partnerships. Holding a PhD in Social Work, he strengthens institutional learning and cross-sector collaboration. Selvakumar supports capacity-building, documentation, and monitoring across teams. He also engages with networks to connect field realities to policy spaces. As Lead, he promotes adaptive learning and inclusive dialogue to amplify Utthan’s impact.

Neeta Pattani has been with Utthan since 2004, contributing to information systems and digital tools. With a background in commerce and computer science, she has supported MIS development, field digitisation, and data flow. Neeta ensures real-time reporting, supports troubleshooting, and enables smooth programme operations. As Coordinator, she plays a key role in keeping Utthan data-driven and efficient

Suresh Makwana brings 23 years of financial management experience, grounded in academic training in accountancy and education. He joined Utthan to build strong financial systems that align with transparency and organisational values. Over the years, he has led budgeting, auditing, and compliance efforts while mentoring team members in finance protocols.  He supports statutory processes and liaises with auditors, donors, and statutory bodies. 

With over two decades of experience, Manisha Patel currently leads Utthan’s Gender-Based Sustainable Livelihoods Programme across five districts of Gujarat. Her career spans both the environmental and development sectors, with expertise in environmental due diligence, EIA review, and socio-environmental advocacy. She has led education projects for children and youth, established an NSDC-certified skill development centre, and managed a health programme supported by a 560-member volunteer cadre. Manisha holds a B.Sc. in Chemistry and a Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Science from M.S. University, Baroda.

Jaya Chavda began her journey at Utthan as a Community Organiser and, over 25 years, has grown into a key leader of the Coastal Programme. Her expertise lies in integrating gender perspectives, building women’s leadership, and strengthening value-based women’s collectives. A skilled trainer, she also contributes to Utthan’s external capacity-building efforts and represents the organisation in several networks. She serves as a Board Member, Agricultural Technology Management Agency, Bhavnagar and is Member, Advisory Committee of Lok Bharti, Sanosara, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Bhavnagar. Jaya holds a degree in Rural Studies and a Master’s in Social Work.

Arvind Panot brings over 23 years of experience in the WASH sector, with strong expertise in programme delivery, community mobilisation, and gender equity. He served as Regional Coordinator for Pravah, a state-level WASH network, across four districts for 11 years, and has been a senior trainer and leader at Utthan for the past five years. Arvind specialises in socio-technical aspects of WASH, behavioural change communication, and policy impact analysis for marginalised communities, especially women. He has trained NGO teams and communities across Gujarat and beyond, building capacity for inclusive, grassroots-led water and sanitation initiatives.

Monal Kapadia has been working with Utthan since 2022, contributing her skills in human resource management and team coordination. Backed by an MBA in Marketing from Amity University, she plays a key role in recruitment, onboarding, documentation, and employee engagement. Monal works to align HR systems with Utthan’s values of equity and inclusion. As Associate, she supports the development of a nurturing work environment that enables teams to function effectively and with purpose.

Sanjay Rathod joined Utthan in 2022 to strengthen sustainable livelihoods in coastal regions. With an MSW in Sociology from Bhavnagar University, he focuses on community-based planning, income generation, and team capacity-building. Sanjay works closely with grassroots teams to improve outreach and deepen programme impact. As Leader, he anchors the coastal livelihood programme with a focus on inclusivity, resilience, and dignity.

Lata Taviyad has been with Utthan since 2013, advancing gender equity and social justice in tribal areas. She holds an MSW in Social Work from Gujarat University and works to strengthen grassroots leadership, facilitate women’s collectives, and connect communities to their entitlements. Lata provides field-level support and strategic inputs to programme design. As Leader, she furthers Utthan’s mission of gender-transformative development in tribal contexts.

Jitendra Maru has been with Utthan since 2006, playing a key role in coastal area development. With academic training in rural management, education, and social work, he contributes to programme implementation, field mentoring, and institutional building. Jitendra facilitates community engagement and supports integrated development approaches. As Leader and Office Incharge, he anchors coastal livelihood efforts with a commitment to equity and local leadership

Megha Nimavat joined Utthan in 2016 to deepen gender-focused work in coastal regions. She holds an MSW in Sociology from Bhavnagar University and works on grassroots mobilisation, leadership development, and women’s rights advocacy. Megha supports planning, capacity-building, and team mentoring. As Leader, she strengthens gender-responsive approaches across Utthan’s coastal interventions.

Yogesh Vasava has been with Utthan since 2020, supporting community mobilisation and social inclusion in Bharuch. With a Master’s in Social Work, he works with local groups to strengthen livelihoods, improve service delivery, and promote participatory planning. Yogesh engages with both community members and institutions to build trust and accountability. As Community Facilitator, he plays a vital role in sustaining local change processes and linking grassroots realities to programme goals.

Govind Jadav joined Utthan in 2019 to support coastal community development. With a Master’s in Sociology, he works on group mobilisation, livelihood support, and participatory planning. Govind helps connect local communities to rights, schemes, and opportunities for sustainable living. He coordinates with teams and stakeholders to ensure effective delivery of field activities. As Community Facilitator, he contributes to strengthening coastal resilience and community-based leadership.

Janki Sarvaiya has been with Utthan since 2018, focusing on gender and community development in coastal areas. With an MSW and a strong background in field engagement, she supports women’s collectives, awareness-building, and access to legal and social entitlements. Janki plays a key role in fostering safe spaces for women’s voices and leadership. As Community Facilitator, she works to ensure inclusive and sustained community participation.

Rinku Chauhan joined Utthan in 2021 to support finance systems in tribal programme areas. With a B.Com in Advanced Accountancy from Gujarat University, she focuses on daily accounts, fund tracking, and compliance. Rinku provides backend support to field teams and assists in audit preparation. As Accountant, she contributes to transparent and efficient financial processes

Virji Bhagora is part of Utthan’s support team in Ahmedabad, where he provides daily office assistance. He contributes to logistics, internal coordination, and maintaining records. Though his formal education is limited, his commitment and years of service have made him a dependable support to the organisation. As Office Assistant, he ensures smooth day-to-day operations across the office

Babu Bharwad has been working with Utthan since 1998, providing long-standing support to the tribal area team. With deep field knowledge and practical experience, he assists with logistics, documentation, and coordination across locations. Babu supports smooth implementation by ensuring timely administrative assistance to staff and community activities. As Office Assistant, he plays a foundational role in maintaining daily operations in remote tribal regions

Jayanti Chauhan has been associated with Utthan since 2014, supporting coastal programme teams with logistics and office administration. With hands-on experience, he manages documentation, supplies, and meeting arrangements, ensuring that day-to-day field and office needs are met. As Office Assistant, he contributes to the smooth running of programmes and supports coordination with local teams.

Nayana Solanki has been with Utthan since 2023, working in tribal communities to promote gender equity and social justice. With an MA and MSW in Sociology, she facilitates group formation, leadership development, and rights awareness. Nayana supports community members in accessing entitlements and building local institutions. As Community Facilitator, she helps ensure inclusive, rights-based development in tribal areas.

Shailesh Makwana has been working with Utthan since 2023, supporting rural entrepreneurship in Bhavnagar. With an MSW in Social Work from Bhavnagar University, he focuses on enhancing the capacities of producer groups and linking them to markets. Shailesh mentors field teams, facilitates enterprise planning, and promotes financial inclusion. As Coordinator, he strengthens community-based enterprise models with a focus on sustainability.

Mohan Sangada joined Utthan in 2023 to support community mobilisation and field coordination. With a 12th pass education, he brings local knowledge and commitment to grassroots work. Mohan supports group formation, awareness sessions, and programme outreach in tribal areas. As Community Facilitator, he helps connect community members to entitlements and supports inclusive field implementation.

Vandana Vasava has been working with Utthan since December 2024, supporting field mobilisation in tribal areas. With a BA, MA, and MSW from South Gujarat University, she facilitates women’s groups, promotes awareness on rights, and connects communities to entitlements. As Community Facilitator, she contributes to inclusive, grassroots-led development in the region. She is especially passionate about empowering tribal women to lead change within their own communities. Vandana also supports planning and implementation of sustainable agriculture initiatives in remote villages. Her strength lies in building trust with communities and creating safe spaces for dialogue and collective action.

Riya Patel is a recent postgraduate in Mass Communication, Journalism, and PR from Gujarat University. Introduced to development communication during her curriculum, she discovered a strong personal calling to contribute to meaningful, equity-driven change. Drawn to Utthan’s grassroots work, she joined the organisation in 2025 to support internal knowledge processes, field-based storytelling, and programme visibility through creative content. As a new team member, Riya brings fresh perspective and dedication to amplify community voices, strengthen digital communication, and deepen the organisation’s engagement with diverse audiences.

Hetal Vasava holds a BRS and MSW in Rural Development from Saurashtra University and has been working with Utthan since May 2025. Her academic grounding and field exposure have shaped her commitment to community-led change, particularly in rural and agricultural contexts. At Utthan, she supports group mobilisation, promotes agriculture-based livelihoods, and facilitates awareness initiatives across communities in Bharuch. As Community Facilitator, Hetal plays a vital role in strengthening inclusive programming, enabling grassroots participation, and advancing the organisation’s vision of equitable development.