USA trained faculty neonatologist by profession, self-taught social scientist by passion and developmental researcher by preference; Dr. Anita Patil-Deshmukh is the executive director of Partners for Urban Knowledge Action and Research (PUKAR). Anita received her Master’s Degree in Public Health from Harvard and worked as a faculty Neonatologist in a teaching institute in Chicago for 20 years where she was the director of Ambulatory Pediatric Residency program for 9 years and Director of Continuous Medical Education (CME) department for 20 years. She played a major leadership role within India Development Service (IDS) a pioneering Chicago based organization supporting developmental projects in India. During her voluntary tenure of 15 long years in IDS, she visited 44 Integrated Rural Development Projects in 12 states of India and learnt about the developmental issues from grass root activists and practitioners. She relocated to India in 2005 to contribute to the developmental sector and joined PUKAR. Her research interests are urban poverty, social determinants of health and urban knowledge production through the lens of marginalized youth. She has built successful collaborations with major global academic institutions like Harvard, Columbia, University of Chicago Berkeley, Max Planck Institute Germany to name a few. She was a Founding Trustee of Commutiny (New Delhi) and Clinton Fellowship of AIF (USA) and served as a member of the Rockefeller Foundation Global Research Network on Urban Health Equity (GRNUHE) 2008-2010. For her pioneering work with Barefoot Researchers in slums, she was awarded Innovator of the Year Award from Harvard School of Public Health in 2012 and an honorary PhD from Bradford University in 2019. In July 2020 she was invited by the UN Foundation to speak at a UN event about digital divide as a part of her work with the World Benchmark Alliance of which she is a member.
Possessing experience of 38 years in the field of accounts, Dilip Makwana serves his expertise as the Assistant- Accounts at PUKAR. He has previously worked with export/import companies, engineering and construction companies, etc. His desire to learn accounting for a trust led him to join PUKAR.
Ishvar Solanki works with PUKAR as an accountant. He has been working in the field of accounts for 30 years. He has worked with Chartered Accountants, Tax consultants, trading firms, Manufacturing units, and also worked with various NGOs – The Hunger Project for 17 years, Swayam Shikshan Prayog for 3 years; Rotary Club of Bombay downtown for 3 years and Handspun for Urban Market for 5 years.
Ruman is studying to receive Bachelor’s degree in Management Studies. Ruman joined PUKAR as a Barefoot Researcher and later became the member of Healthy Cities Team, doing Community Based Research for 5 years in addition to his experience in hospitality industry and health services. All these experiences have given Ruman the expertise to negotiate many hurdles within governing systems as Administrative Assistant. Ruman is very creative person who looks to explore new things and gain new knowledge.
Shahazade first engaged with PUKAR as a Youth Fellow from 2011- 2012. Impressed by the congenial working environment in PUKAR and armed with his MBA degree as well as experience as Research Assistant for 1.5 years at TISS, Shahazade found PUKAR to be a perfect place to contribute his proficiency and build his own capacities further. He heads the HR Department at PUKAR, continuing to extend his administrative expertise in PUKAR’s smooth functioning and keeps the team on the track of meeting various deadlines. Reports etc all the time. From creating excellent HR Policies, MoUs and keeping track of legal and fiscal documentations, Shahazade ensures that all aspects of PUKAR’s organizational mandates are fulfilled accurately, effectively and efficiently.
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