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Meet Our Team
A committed team driving inclusion, dignity and change for migrant families.
Our People
Agrasar’s strength lies in its people - professionals, educators, and community mobilisers who bring empathy and expertise to every initiative. From leadership to field teams, each member works with dedication to ensure rights, safety, and opportunity for all.
Leadership
Chetan Kapoor
Co-Founder and Trustee
Chetan is a thought leader in the development sector with over two decades of experience across rural and urban landscapes. He currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Tech Mahindra Foundation, where he conceptualized and scaled the flagship SMART program—one of India’s largest urban skill development initiatives. He has been part of key committees including FICCI’s Skill Development Committee and the Curriculum Reform Committee of the Delhi Government. In his career, he has held leadership roles at Pratham, Bharti Foundation, and American India Foundation, and co-founded Agrasar. Chetan also led Edulever, a consulting firm supporting social sector organizations. He holds an MBA from the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi.
Sushmitha Paidi
Trustee
Sushmitha has been associated with Agrasar since its inception in 2011. She holds a BA in Economics from Lady Shri Ram College and an MSc in Development Studies from the London School of Economics, with over a decade of experience across education, health, employability, and livelihoods. She has worked with Times Foundation and Youthreach, managing CSR partnerships with GE Foundation, Nokia, PepsiCo, and Yum. A certified Master Trainer in Life Skills, she has trained NGOs in India and abroad. Now based in Washington DC, she supports school counselling and parent engagement while guiding Agrasar on corporate partnerships and community interventions.
Dr. Sunil Pahilajani
CEO and Managing Trustee
Dr. Sunil Pahilajani, Managing Trustee of the Board and the incumbent CEO, brings over four decades of leadership across industry and the social sector. He has served as CEO, MD, and Board Member in leading organizations such as Maruti Udyog, Mahindra Navistar, Suzlon Energy, and Greaves Cotton, with expertise in governance, change management, and strategic leadership. Passionate about social development, he has championed disability inclusion, having chaired Anushruti (a school for hearing-impaired children) and currently serving on the boards of Muskaan, Mission Chetna, and Sarthak Educational Foundation. An alumnus of IIT Roorkee, Dr. Pahilajani holds a PhD in Management and is a certified Independent Director and Coach.
Masab Shamsi
Director of Operations
Masab Shamsi brings over a decade of experience in project management, programme design, and operational strengthening in the social sector. He has worked extensively on expanding worker welfare and social security systems, with a focus on building efficient, scalable processes rooted in community needs. Prior to Agrasar, he served as National Head at the Safe in India Foundation, where he led the expansion of Worker Assistance Centres (WACs) and strengthened service delivery for ESIC-registered workers and their families. He holds a Master’s in Social Work from Jamia Millia Islamia. As Director, Operations, Masab supports Agrasar in strengthening organisational systems and driving programme scale-up across migrant communities.
Core Team
Rahul Kumar
Accounts & Admin Associate
Rahul currently serves as Accounts & Admin Associate at Agrasar, where he supports day-to-day accounting processes and administrative functions to ensure smooth organisational operations. He previously worked with Agrasar as a Project Associate under the Pravasi Programme and later gained corporate accounting experience as a Junior Accountant at Deginetone before rejoining the organisation. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce from Swami Vivekanand Subharti University and has completed CA Foundation training.
Shashi Ranjan Kumar
Program Lead, Agrasar Pravasi
Shashi Kumar is a development professional with over seven years of experience working at the intersection of labour migration, youth development, skills, and governance across multiple states. He currently leads the field execution of Agrasar’s programmes under the Agrasar Pravasi initiative, overseeing team management, stakeholder coordination, and deep community engagement to ensure effective last-mile delivery. Prior to joining Agrasar, he has worked with Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, Gram Vikas on the Odisha Disaster Recovery Project, IL&FS Skill Development Corporation, and J-PAL South Asia on large-scale education research initiatives. He holds a postgraduate qualification in Career Counselling from the Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development and is currently pursuing an LL.B. from Bhim Rao Ambedkar University, Agra.
Neeraj Kaushik
Lead, Accounts
Neeraj is a finance and compliance professional with over ten years of experience across corporate and non-profit environments. He currently serves as Lead – Finance at Agrasar, where he oversees financial governance, statutory compliances, and audit processes, strengthening the organisation’s financial systems and regulatory integrity. Prior to joining Agrasar, he held finance and HR roles with PAN Overseas Pvt. Ltd. and Super Chemfab Engineers & Consultants, gaining experience across manufacturing and export-oriented organisations. He holds an MBA in Finance and HR from Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science & Technology and a BBA from M.D. University, Rohtak, with additional training in GST practice and financial accounting.
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Hiya Ghosh
Co-Lead, Strategy and Communications
Hiya is a strategy and development sector professional with experience across governance, the social sector, research, impact evaluation, and public policy. She currently serves as Co-Lead, Strategy and Communications at Agrasar, where she works closely with the CEO, Director, and Board to drive organisational and programme strategy, governance, fundraising, and external communications. Prior to Agrasar, Hiya worked with Outline India, managing national and international development organisations and clients, and with the Indian Political Action Committee on large-scale political strategy and policy analysis, including engagements with the Government of West Bengal and the Chief Minister’s Office. Hiya holds a Master’s degree in Governance, Development and Public Policy from the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, and a postgraduate diploma in Urban Environmental Management and Law from National Law University, Delhi.
Nita Chauhan
Program Manager, Agrasar Pravasi
Nita is a development professional with over eight years of experience in community-based programmes, migrant worker welfare, and grassroots implementation. She currently serves as Project Manager – Agrasar Pravasi at Agrasar, leading field operations across Gandhinagar and Devilal Colony in Gurugram, with a focus on programme execution, team management, and community engagement. In her role, Nita works closely with migrant communities, women’s collectives, and government institutions to strengthen access to legal rights, education, and welfare schemes. She has played a critical role in large-scale community interventions, including mainstreaming migrant children into education, leading COVID-19 relief and vaccination efforts, and building partnerships with schools, health centres, and local authorities. Prior to Agrasar, she has worked with MRF Tyres, served as a school coordinator, and contributed as a Paralegal Volunteer with the District Legal Services Authority. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education from Agra University and brings deep field-based expertise in legal literacy, community mobilisation, and participatory development.
Niharika Jaiswal
HR Manager
Niharika is a human resources professional with over six years of experience across talent acquisition, employee relations, and HR operations. She currently serves as HR Manager at Agrasar, where she leads human resource functions and administrative processes to support organisational effectiveness and employee engagement. In her role, Niharika oversees recruitment, HR operations, and employee relations, and plays a key role in strengthening internal systems, policies, and workplace practices. Prior to joining Agrasar, she worked as an HR Manager across diverse organisations, managing end-to-end hiring, grievance redressal, employee engagement initiatives, and HRMS-driven processes. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Science from J.S. Institute of Education and a Mini MBA in Human Resource Management, with a specialisation in HR Management.
Shalini Sharma
Assistant Manager, Agrasar Bachpan
Shalini Sharma is an education professional with over eight years of experience across programme implementation, curriculum design, teacher capacity-building, and classroom instruction. She currently serves as Assistant Manager – Agrasar Bachpan Programme, where she leads the design and strengthening of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) interventions across partner schools. In her role, Shalini develops SEL curricula, pedagogical resources, and assessment and monitoring tools, and supports implementation through regular school engagements and teacher training across Delhi, Haryana, and Lucknow. Prior to joining Agrasar, she led Foundational Literacy and Numeracy programme implementation at United Way Delhi, contributed to curriculum-aligned digital content development at Unacademy and Swiflearn, and worked as a Primary Teacher in government schools, supporting student learning and parent engagement. She holds a Master’s degree in English from IGNOU, a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Delhi, and a Diploma in Elementary Teacher Education from DIET Moti Bagh, and is CTET qualified.
Megha Chaudhary
Regional Coordinator, Delhi
Megha Chaudhary currently serves as the Regional Coordinator in Delhi at Agrasar, where she supports programme implementation across partner schools with a focus on student well-being and safe learning environments. Prior to joining Agrasar, Megha was a Teach For India Fellow in Delhi, working in under-resourced schools to improve learning outcomes and holistic development, and later worked with iDreamCareer, supporting operations and programme coordination in the education and career guidance space. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in History from Lady Shri Ram College for Women and a Master’s degree in History from the University of Delhi, along with a B.Ed., and is CTET qualified.
Ravi Singh
Senior Coordinator
Ravi is a social work and labour rights professional with close to nine years of experience supporting migrant and informal workers through field-based service delivery and institutional coordination. He currently serves as Program Coordinator – India Labour Line at Agrasar, where he leads the operations of the Worker Facilitation Centre in Gurugram. In his role, Ravi oversees centre operations, outreach across industrial areas and labour chowks, stakeholder coordination, and case support for workers, including legal referrals. He works closely with government departments, legal professionals, and partner organisations to ensure timely resolution of worker grievances and effective service delivery. Ravi holds a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Indira Gandhi National Open University and is currently pursuing an LL.B. from Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar University, Agra.
Taruna Devgan
Senior Coordinator
Taruna is a development sector professional with over a decade of experience across community-based education interventions and grassroots programme implementation. She currently serves as Senior Coordinator at Agrasar, with a focus on community engagement and field execution.In her role, Taruna leads on-ground community engagement and local programme implementation. Prior to joining Agrasar, she worked with organisations including Sukarya, Vidya Roshan Charitable Trust, and JK Trust Gram Vikas Yojana, contributing to education programmes, community mobilisation, administrative coordination, and COVID-19 relief efforts. She holds a Master’s degree in History and a Bachelor of Education from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, and brings strong field expertise in participatory development and community-led interventions.
Neelam Gupta
Program Coordinator
Neelam currently serves as Programme Coordinator, Agrasar Pravasi, where she works closely with migrant communities to strengthen women’s collectives and enable access to social security and welfare entitlements. Prior to joining Agrasar, she worked with Sukarya and the Naandi Foundation in education and community development roles. She has also contributed field-level insights to research on migrant welfare, including collaboration with the Management Development Institute on the One Nation One Ration Card initiative. She holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from Indira Gandhi National Open University and a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from the University of Delhi, and brings strong field expertise in collective-building and participatory development.
Aruna Devi
Program Coordinator
Aruna currently serves as the Program Coordinator in Agrasar Pravasi, where she leads field implementation, team coordination, and community outreach across multiple settlements in Gurugram. Aruna plays a key role in organising camps and awareness initiatives and in strengthening the capacity of community leaders and Agrasar Saathis. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Arts from CSJMU University, Kanpur Nagar, and a technical diploma in apparel designing and stitching, bringing practical skills and deep community connection to her work.
Mahima Ahirwar
Program Coordinator
Mahima currently serves as a Programme Coordinator in Chatkeel which is a women-led livelihood initiative focused on skill development, income generation, and creative enterprise. In her role, Mahima coordinates training and capacity-building for women artisans, supports product development and quality monitoring, and works closely with communities to strengthen participation and financial literacy. She plays a key role in field coordination, data management, and centre-level implementation. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Arts from the University of Delhi (School of Open Learning) and brings strong on-ground experience in working with women, children, and migrant communities.
Jalaluddin Ansari
Senior Program Associate
Jalaluddin is a labour rights and social sector professional with over twelve years of experience working on worker welfare, grievance redressal, and field-based labour interventions. He currently serves as a Senior Program Associate at Agrasar, where he supports outreach, case management, and mediation for workers across multiple sectors. Prior to joining Agrasar, he worked with Gurgaon Shramik Sangathan and the Society for Labour and Development, gaining extensive experience across garment, construction, automobile, and domestic worker issues. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in History from J.P. University, Saran, Bihar, and has advanced training in computer applications.
Mallika Thakur
Program Associate
Malika Thakur currently serves as a Program Associate in Agrasar Pravasi, where she supports on-ground implementation of the program, and works closely with community members through field visits, walk-in support, documentation assistance, and outreach activities. Malika holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Delhi, and brings strong on-ground experience in community engagement and programme support.
Tanya Kaur
Program Associate
Tanya currently serves as a Program Facilitator in the Agrasar Bachpan Initiative where she conducts sessions with children in schools and contributes towards strategising the implementation of our SEL work. Tanya has previously worked as a Fellow with Teach for India in Delhi and as a Program Associate with Simple Education Foundation in Punjab.
Omveer Kushwah
Program Associate
Omveer currently serves as a Program Associate – APF Programme at Agrasar, where he supports on-ground implementation and works closely with migrant communities to facilitate access to identity documents and social security schemes. In his role, Omveer assists workers in linking to government welfare programmes, provides basic guidance on worker-related issues, supports data management and reporting, and contributes to community mobilisation efforts. Prior to joining Agrasar, he worked as an IT Trainer at the Agrasar Skill Centre in Mathura, building foundational digital skills among community members. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Science from Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar University, Agra.
Ravi Khare
Program Associate
Ravi currently serves as a Program Associate in Agrasar Pravasi, where he supports on-ground implementation and assists migrant workers in accessing government schemes and essential documentation. Prior to joining Agrasar, he worked in customer support roles. He works closely with the community and is currently pursuing his Bachelors in Social Work
Rekha Chahal
Program Associate
Rekha currently serves as Program Associate in Agrasar Pravasi, where she supports on-ground implementation and assists communities in accessing government schemes and essential documentation. Prior to joining Agrasar, she has worked in customer support and operations roles in the private sector. Rekha holds a Bachelor’s degree in Arts from Indira Gandhi National Open University.
