TEAM PUKAR

USA trained faculty neonatologist by profession, self-taught social scientist by passion and developmental researcher by preference; Dr. Anita Patil-Deshmukh is the Director- Programs and Principal Investigator in 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.

Anuradha joined in June 2022 as a Project Coordinator in the Sanvedana Fellowship, before that she was a Youth Fellow with PUKAR from 2019 to 2020, researching on the youth’s awareness about the constitution. She completed her masters in commerce, sociology, and social work as well as her L.L.B. Anuradha being an integral part of the team believes strongly in the values of equality, equity, and freedom. For the last four years, she has been promoting the values of the constitution in various districts of Maharashtra. For the last twelve years, she has been working on gender, equality, and women empowerment. She has been recognised as ‘Dhadpadnari Navi Mule’ by Rashtra Seva Dal.  In her spare time, her personal interests and hobbies comprise of writing articles, poems, and blogs.

A kind natured person with a curious mind, Jatin Tike joined PUKAR as the Project Assistant in the Youth Fellowship Program. He completed his degree in Psychology and Philosophy and aims to pursue his career in the social sector. As a Research fellow in Youth Fellowship Program in 2021-22, Jatin along with his group conducted insightful Research on ‘menopause’ fulfilling his commitment to understanding and addressing a crucial health topic. Apart from academics, he is passionate about exploring technology and interacting with people from different walks of life. He aspires to take a challenging path in the social field, especially working with downtrodden communities in the education sector where he can make a tangible difference in communities and empower future generations.

Nagma started her journey in PUKAR as a Youth Fellow in 2017. She later got the opportunity to be the Advance Youth Fellow in September 2021. She is now the part of Youth Fellowship Team as the Project Facilitator. The Youth Fellowship Program is PUKAR’s flagship program and it involves working with the youth, researching, and writing on various social issues. She has completed her masters in economics and is currently pursuing her masters in social work. Her values match the team as she believes in equality, equity, and social justice. In her spare time, she loves to write poems and articles.

Nilesh(he/she) joined PUKAR as a Youth Fellow working on a project related to tribals and nature in Nalasopara during 2012-13. Following his/her fellowship, he/she completed his/her Graduation in Zoology, Post Graduation in Oceanography and worked with Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute for three years. In 2016, he/she joined PUKAR’s ‘Healthy Cities Wealthy Cities’ Team as a ‘Project Coordinator’ where he/she worked on various health and urban related projects for three and half years. Nilesh continues his/her impactful work as a ‘Field Researcher/Facilitator’ in ‘Journey Towards Dignity’ project since 2023 by working with Adolescents on topics related to Gender, Health, Nutrition, etc. Nilesh is also keen on exploring new places, cuisines, bird watching and cooking. His/Her passion for Gender studies has led him/her to attend numerous fellowships and workshops related to Gender in which he/she aspires to build his/her career.

Nilesh’s rich blend of academic knowledge, professional experience and diverse interest makes him/her a valuable asset to our Team.

When Vishal joined as Barefoot Researchers in PUKAR’s Flagship program of Youth Fellowship in 2014, he chose a very unusual topic for his research.  “Kamathipura, The Name, Fame and Fortune”.  His research on this most unfortunate community of Prostitutes in Mumbai’s Red-Light Area gave Vishal’s basic nature of care, empathy and sense of justice a great platform. Armed with an extensive experience in paraprofessional counselling Vishal worked with patients suffering from TB, HIV and Leprosy. He always worked with and worked for some of the most neglected and excluded people of his city. It is this proclivity for the poor and the excluded that makes Vishal an outstanding mentor and facilitator for the younger and marginalized youth. Vishal aspires to impart leaderships skills in himself as well as the youth he mentors.