Jahid Akhter Sheikh is a development professional with 11+ years of experience working across government initiatives, nonprofit organizations, and CSR partners to address grassroots challenges and deliver sustainable, measurable impact. As Director of Social Impact & Entrepreneurs at WE HUB Foundation, a Government of Telangana initiative, he leads strategic efforts to strengthen the social innovation ecosystem, enable women-led MSMEs, scale high-impact programs, and build multi-stakeholder partnerships.

He has led and managed large-scale, multi-sector programs, including District Mineral Foundation Trust (DMFT) initiatives spanning 9+ districts across three state governments, strengthening critical sectors such as health, education, and livelihoods through improved planning, convergence, and effective utilization of public resources. During the COVID-19 period, he played a pivotal role in district-level preparedness and response, working closely with the Health Department and other line departments to support coordination, monitoring, and overall management; his contributions were recognized twice by senior bureaucrats. He has also supported district administration during two major democratic exercises, one State Assembly election and one Parliamentary election, strengthening planning, coordination, and on-ground execution.

Raised in a rural part of Jaipur district, Rajasthan, Jahid’s commitment to the social and development sector is deeply personal. A BBA graduate, he shaped his early perspective for the social sector during his post-graduation, where he engaged closely with communities, institutions, and grassroots groups, building a grounded understanding of socio-cultural and economic realities and a long-term commitment to working at the intersection of governance and community needs.

His formal work in the social sector began with Manav Vikas Sansthan in Banswara district, where he partnered closely with the District Administration to support the planning and implementation of multiple development initiatives. He later served for two years as a Gandhi Fellow in the remote, difficult-terrain block of Kapkot (Bageshwar district), an experience that deepened his understanding of last-mile service delivery and community challenges across diverse geographies. Working alongside schools and local communities, he contributed to strengthening education systems through initiatives such as establishing functional libraries and facilitating career guidance programs.

Dr. Neha Tanwar currently holds the position of Assistant Professor of Psychology at IILM University, Gurugram. With a dedicated academic journey spanning ten years, Dr. Tanwar has demonstrated scholarly excellence. She achieved the NET-JRF in Criminology and earned her Doctorate in Criminal Psychology from the Central University of Rajasthan. Her academic pursuits also include post- graduation in Criminology from the National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Science, complemented by a Post Graduate Diploma in Counseling and Guidance. Dr. Tanwar’s professional experience extends to diverse field exposures, including Tihar Prison, Central Prison of Jaipur, and Drug De-addiction Centers in Delhi and Jaipur. Furthermore, she has a commendable track record as a Research Consultant, dedicating over two years to esteemed organizations such as the Bureau of Police Research and Development and the Center of Policy Research and Governance (Think Tank).Commencing her career as a Rape Victim Counsellor at the South West Delhi Women Association in collaboration with Delhi Police, Dr. Neha Tanwar has demonstrated a commitment to addressing critical societal issues. Her academic expertise spans Criminal Psychology, Juvenile Justice, Social Psychology, and Research Methodology. Dr. Tanwar’s significant contributions to the field of research are evident through her active involvement in various government projects and the publication of research articles. Dr. Neha Tanwar’s professional journey reflects a combination of academic rigor, practical experience in diverse settings, and a commitment to making substantial contributions to the fields of psychology, criminology, and social policy.

Dr. Harish Samaria is an accomplished academician, disaster management specialist, researcher, and policy practitioner with over a decade of experience in higher education, disaster risk reduction, climate resilience, and environmental management. He currently serves as Assistant Professor of Geography at R.B. College, Dalsinghsarai, Bihar, and has previously held key positions as Consultant and Senior Consultant in the Disaster Management, Relief & Civil Defence Department, Government of Rajasthan.

Throughout his professional journey, Dr. Samaria has contributed significantly to disaster preparedness and resilience planning by leading the development of important state-level initiatives, including the Rajasthan State Heatwave Action Plan, Lightning and Thunderstorm Action Plan, Flood Management Plan, and Makar Sankranti Safety Advisory. He also served as Nodal Officer for Rajasthan Mission-2030 and played a pivotal role in testing and strengthening the Early Warning Cell Broadcasting System in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

A dedicated scholar and educator, Dr. Samaria has extensive teaching experience at undergraduate and postgraduate levels and has served as a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Department of Geography, University of Rajasthan. His expertise spans disaster management, environmental sustainability, climate change adaptation, urban and regional planning, and community resilience. He has delivered lectures and training programmes at prestigious institutions including HCM Rajasthan State Institute of Public Administration (HCM-RIPA), Rajasthan Police Academy, RTI Jaipur, and various universities and government colleges.

Dr. Samaria has published research papers in reputed journals, presented papers at numerous national and international conferences, and actively contributes to academic discourse and policy development in the fields of geography and disaster management. As an Academic Counsellor with IGNOU and a member of various scientific and technical committees, he continues to bridge the gap between research, policy, and practice to promote sustainable development and disaster-resilient communities.

Dr. Raj Sikandar Meena is a distinguished psychologist, counselor, and mental health professional with extensive experience in psychological counseling, guidance, and capacity building. He holds a Ph.D. in Psychology, along with a Master’s degree in Psychology (M.A.), a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology (B.A.), and a Postgraduate Diploma in Guidance and Counseling.
Currently, he has been serving as a Counselor with the Government of Delhi since 2022, where he provides psychological counseling, career guidance, and socio-emotional support to students. Previously, he served as a Counselor at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, contributing to student development and well-being. In addition, he has three years of clinical experience as a Psychologist in a hospital, working in the areas of psychological assessment, psychotherapy, behavioral interventions, and mental health care.
Dr. Meena has conducted counseling sessions, awareness programs, workshops, and training initiatives on mental health, stress management, adolescent well-being, life skills, career guidance, emotional resilience, and psychosocial support. His approach combines evidence-based psychological practices with practical strategies to empower individuals, educators, students, and communities.
With a strong commitment to promoting mental health and holistic development, Dr. Meena actively contributes as a Resource Person, Trainer, and Speaker for educational institutions, government organizations, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Ms. Rinku Kumari is an accomplished Agriculture Counselor, Agricultural Extension Professional, and Resource Person with expertise in sustainable agriculture, organic farming, agricultural innovation, and community capacity building. She possesses a strong interdisciplinary academic background with a B.Sc. in Agriculture, MBA (Agriculture), M.A. in Psychology, B.Ed., a Diploma in Guidance and Counseling, and a Diploma in Naturopathy.
She serves as a Resource Person (RP) for educational and community-based initiatives in Delhi, including PM SHRI Schools, where she promotes experiential learning, agricultural awareness, environmental sustainability, and skill development among students and educators.
Ms. Kumari has extensive expertise in organic farming, natural farming, climate-smart agriculture, agricultural innovation, kitchen and nutrition gardens, soil health management, sustainable crop production, and eco-friendly farming practices. She is committed to translating scientific knowledge into practical, field-oriented solutions that enhance agricultural productivity while conserving natural resources.
Her multidisciplinary background enables her to integrate agricultural science with counseling, education, and community engagement. She has actively facilitated training programmes, workshops, awareness campaigns, and capacity-building initiatives for students, teachers, farmers, women, and rural communities. Her areas of specialization include organic farming, agricultural entrepreneurship, innovation in agriculture, environmental education, nutrition-sensitive agriculture, and sustainable rural livelihoods.
With a learner-centered and participatory approach, Ms. Kumari is dedicated to empowering individuals and communities through knowledge sharing, innovation, and sustainable agricultural practices. She continues to contribute as a Trainer, Facilitator, Agriculture Counselor, and Resource Person for government departments, educational institutions, NGOs, CSR initiatives, and development organizations, fostering resilient and environmentally responsible agricultural systems.

Dr. Prem Raj Meena is a microbiologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Biotechnology at Delhi Technological University (DTU), Delhi whose research focuses on deciphering the molecular mechanisms that govern bacterial pathogenesis, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and host-microbe interactions. His work integrates microbiology, genomics, microbiome science, computational biology, and nanotechnology to understand how bacterial pathogens evolve, adapt, and persist within diverse host and environmental niches. A central theme of his research is the development of innovative therapeutic strategies to combat multidrug-resistant pathogens by targeting bacterial signalling networks, evolutionary pathways, and microbial communities within the One Health framework.

Dr. Meena obtained his Ph.D. in Microbiology from the Central University of Rajasthan, where he investigated the zoonotic transmission and molecular epidemiology of extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) across the food chain. He subsequently held several research and academic positions, including Postdoctoral Research Scientist at the Institute for Medical Research Israel–Canada (IMRIC), The Hebrew University–Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem; Project Research Associate at CSIR–National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR–NIScPR), New Delhi; Research Associate at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi; Assistant Professor at the Central University of Rajasthan; and Consultant Research Scientist at Seloi Healthcare Pvt. Ltd. His research interests encompass antimicrobial resistance (AMR), microbial pathogenesis, host–pathogen interactions, microbiome and metagenomics, One Health, gut microbiota, bacterial evolution, drug discovery, nanotechnology-based antimicrobial therapeutics, and AI/ML-driven approaches for infectious disease surveillance.

Dr. Meena possesses extensive expertise in microbiology, molecular biology, microbial genomics, bioinformatics, cell biology, animal models, protein expression, and advanced microbiome analyses. He has published numerous research articles in leading international peer-reviewed journals, including Journal of Applied Microbiology, Environmental Microbiology Reports, Letters in Applied Microbiology, International Journal of Food Microbiology, Archives of Microbiology, ACS Omega, and Biotechnology and Applied Biochemistry. His research aims to develop innovative strategies to combat antimicrobial resistance and infectious diseases through interdisciplinary approaches integrating microbiology, genomics, nanotechnology, and computational biology within the One Health framework. He has received several prestigious fellowships and recognitions, including the National Overseas Postdoctoral Fellowship, the DBT Research Associateship, the UGC National Fellowship, and CSIR-NET/JRF and GATE, reflecting his commitment to advancing translational microbiology and global health research.

Karishma Choudhary is a geospatial scientist and disaster risk reduction professional specializing in remote sensing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), climate resilience, and environmental sustainability. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Remote Sensing and GIS with specialization in Natural Hazard and Disaster Risk Management from the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS), ISRO, and a Master’s degree in Geology from Banasthali Vidyapith.

She has served as a Young Professional at the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, where she contributed to national initiatives on disaster risk reduction through research, policy support, capacity building, documentation, and the design and implementation of training programmes on geospatial technologies and disaster management. Her professional experience also includes coordinating multidisciplinary development projects focused on community awareness, education, and resilience-building interventions.

Her research interests encompass Earth observation, geospatial modelling, climate change adaptation, disaster risk assessment, environmental monitoring, and the application of spatial technologies for sustainable development. She has published research in the peer-reviewed journal Current Science and received the Best Paper Award at the National Seminar organized by IIRS–ISRO for her work on global disaster data analytics. She has further enhanced her academic profile through international training programmes conducted by the Oxford Climate Society and the University of Leeds.

Her work reflects a strong commitment to advancing evidence-based research and the application of geospatial science for disaster resilience, environmental governance, and sustainable development.

Dr. Rajendra Rao is a distinguished Kathak exponent, folk dance choreographer, and cultural educator from Jaipur with over 38 years of dedicated experience in Indian performing arts. Trained under the legendary gurus Pt. Vidyadhar Maharaj (Kathak) and Pt. Banwar Lal Rao (Tabla), he has dedicated his life to preserving and promoting the rich traditions of Kathak and Rajasthani folk dances through performance, choreography, teaching, and cultural mentorship.

Over the course of his illustrious career, Dr. Rao has choreographed and directed numerous prestigious cultural productions, including Republic Day Parade tableaux, Lokrang Mahotsav, and national-level cultural festivals. He has trained thousands of students across educational institutions and cultural organizations and has served as a Visiting Lecturer in Folk Dance at IIHMR University, Jaipur. His international engagements include conducting Kathak and Rajasthani folk dance training workshops, performances, and cultural exchange programmes in Czech Republic, Singapore, and Nepal, promoting India’s vibrant dance heritage on global platforms.

Widely respected for his artistic excellence and lifelong commitment to cultural preservation, Dr. Rajendra Rao has received numerous honours and recognitions for his outstanding contribution to Indian classical and folk dance. Through his performances, choreography, research, and mentorship, he continues to inspire new generations of artists while strengthening the appreciation of India’s rich cultural traditions both nationally and internationally.