Akshay Baisane (Documentation & Communication Officer)

Ganesh Madiwal (Project Officer)

Nilesh Zagade (Project Officer)

Nilesh completed a master’s degree from Azim Premji University Bangalore in Public Policy and Governance.  He completed graduation from Yashwantrao Chavan School of Social Work Satara, in social work.  He joined AROEHAN in April 2023 as a project officer. Nilesh worked with Shantilal Muttha Foundation on the Government of Maharashtra’s Model School Programme, as a District Transformation Officer (DTO) to establish select government schools in districts as exemplary sites of learning. Nilesh worked as Block Mentor at the Entrepreneurship development institute of India (EDII).  He worked for the implementation of the Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme. His role and responsibility for the creation of livelihood opportunities for the rural poor through non-farm enterprises. Also, he worked with Sulochana Thapar Foundation (Avantha Foundation)  as a project officer.  His roles and responsibilities for village level and Block level Nutrition Specific and Nutrition Sensitive department’s convergence. For that, he worked with selected Gram panchayats to improve nutrition outcomes. Also, he facilitated a capacity-building session for Panchayat Raj members.

Mangesh Adhao (Project Officer)

Mangesh Adhao has worked on different projects in the social development sector for 7-8 years. Mr. Adhao has worked with ICDS and health departments in various NGOs focussing on malnutrition, maternal and child health, nutrition, and early childhood education. He worked as a block officer for 2 years in the Early Childhood Development Project with UNICEF. At present, he is working as Health Project Officer in the Dahanu block for AROEHAN.

Suryakant Gavit (Project Officer)

Mr. Suryakant Gavit has been part of AROEHAN team for over 6 years. Mr. Gavit graduated from Mumbai University under Bachelor’s of Commerce. He later was an Operation Theater Assistant for 1 year at a private hospital. In 2019, Mr. Gavit joined AROEHAN as Project Community Mobiliser for Mother and Child health and nutrition in our project area. As of June 2023, Mr. Gavit is a Health Project Officer for AROEHAN in Dahanu block.

Krishna Bajare (Project Officer)

Mr. Krishna Balasaheb Bajare has experience of more than 8 years in Health, Nutrition, and Education. He achieved Post Graduation (B.A., B.Ed) at Niphad & Sinner and completed his M.S.W. from the College of Social work, Nashik. Mr. Krishna has led multiple roles in BARTI, Sulochana Thapar Foundation, SATHI, Yuvamitra, and AROEHAN. Mr. Krishna has worked for 2 years on Education, Gram Panchayat, and Government Schemes in Nashik District as Taluka Co-ordinator at BARTI Institute, Pune. He worked in project B-CAN as Project Associate in SATHI Organizations, Pune which was spread out in Pune, Amravati, Nashik, and Thane districts.  He worked in Palghar as a Project Coordinator at YuvaMitra Organization, Nashik.  At present, Mr. Krishna is working as a project officer in MCHNI Project in 50 Villages/padas in AROEHAN At Jawhar.

Sneha Gamre (Project Officer)

Sneha completed her Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Mumbai in 2014 and Master’s degree in Rural Development and Governance from Tata Institute of Social Sciences in 2018. Before joining TISS, she worked as Field Investigator with Department of Economics and Public Policy under the guidance of Prof. Neeraj Hatekar and Prof. Sandhya Mhatre on Thane District Human Development Report. After Completion of Master’s degree, she joined as Research Associate with Prof. Ashwini Chhatre of Indian School of Business wherein she worked with Forest Governance Team on Research database on forest products. Sneha started working with AROEHAN in June 2022 where she is responsible for improving health, nutrition, and governance practices. Her area of interest lies in governance, community development, and livelihood promotion.

Naitri Patel (Documentation & Communication Officer)

Naitri completed Bachelor’s degree in Mass Media from the University of Mumbai in 2018 and PGDM in Communication for Development, programme initiated by UNICEF, from Xavier’s  Institute of Communications, Mumbai. Previously a full-time journalist, Naitri is an avid writer and advocates for feminism, gender-based equality, LGBTQIA+ community, mental health, and education for all through their blogs and other mediums since 2016. Naitri, also known as Kāl, goes by pronouns they/them and has written over 700 news articles and opinion-based articles for media agencies under both names. In 2023, they were one of the 17 fellows selected for  ‘Likho With Pride’ – Citizen Journalism Fellowship supported by Humsafar Trust. Naitri is also skilled at graphic designing, photography, and video editing and facilitates workshops on same for capacity building of employees. Naitri joined AROEHAN in March 2022 and is incharge of Documentation and Communication in the organisation.

Bharat Chaudhari, Project Officer

Bharat Chaudhari studied Bachelor in Commerce from Mumbai University. He worked three years as an operator at R.T.O Check Post at Dapchari and later as Tax Office Assistant. Bharat worked as Office Assitant at N.A. Maniyar Consulting & Taxation Services at Jawhar and has 5 years of accounting work experience within Palghar District. At present Bharat is Project Officer for Finance & Administration at AROEHAN.