A CSE Seminar: Big Change is Possible

Ms Vini Mahajan IAS (Punjab: 1987) assumed the charge as Secretary in the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, here today. Ms. Mahajan is an MBA from Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta, where she was placed on the Roll of Honour.

Sunita Narain, is a Delhi-based environmentalist and author. She is currently the Director General of Center forScience and Environment (CSE) and Editor of the fortnightly magazine, Down To Earth. Dr. Narain plays an active role in policy formulation on issues of environment and development in India and globally. She has worked extensively on climate change, with a particular interest in advocating for an ambitious andequitable global agreement. Her work on air pollution, water and waste management as well as industrial pollution has led to an understanding of the need for affordable and sustainable solutions in countries like India where the challenge is to ensure inclusive and sustainable growth.

She was a member of the Indian Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change and has been awarded the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian honor. In 2005, the Centre for Science and Environment, under her leadership was also awarded the Stockholm Water Prize. In 2016, Time magazine selected her as one of the most influential people in the world. She received “The Order of the Polar Star” award from the Swedish Government in 2017. Penguin has recently published her new book Conflicts of Interest, in which she has written about CSE’s campaigns from air pollution to colas to tigers. She continues to serve on national and international committees on environment.

Sushmita Sengupta A geologist by training having more than 13 years’ experience in research on water management and sanitation in India and Global South. Her current responsibilities include capacity building, research, knowledge dissemination and policy advocacy in water management and sanitation. She has contributed in the writing, compilation and preparation of various scientific education materials in international journals, books and reports under the broad theme of rock, soil, aquifer, groundwater management, and sanitation. She is the also the programme Lead for KRC under Jal Jeevan Mission.

Depinder Singh Kapur is Director Water Program at Center for Science and Environment. A senior development and WASH expert, he has worked previously with the national government, international and national development agencies on water, livelihoods and disaster response. Has led research and advocacy initiatives in livelihoods and WASH, and contributed to the development of urban capacity development frameworks and approaches.

Yohannan A is currently holding the charge of the Tribal development Specialist and IEC Kerala Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency of Kannur Region. Government of Kerala.

Patel Nikunjbhai M is currently associated with Water and Sanitation Management Organization (WASMO) as District Coordinator. He has over 7 Year of experience in the field of rural water supply. He has rich experience in working at grassroot level.

Subash Dhakal, works in the Rural Development Department, Government of Sikkim and has been instrumental in the effective implementation of spring-shed and creating a scientific basis for the same. He has perceived and formulated Climate Change Project under the National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC) funded by MoEFCC for addressing water security in drought-prone areas of rural Sikkim which is being successfully implemented. He has experience working in flagship Rural Development Programmes of MoRD such as MGNREGA, SansadAadarsh Gram Yojana and National Rurban Mission.

B.Parameswaran is presently serving as Director, cum Joint Secretary Rural drinking water and Sanitation. Prior to this he was Director Land Records, Surveys and Consolidation, Odisha with additional charge of State Project Director for Higher Education Project for excellence and equity and IG of registration.

S.Navaneethan has over 18 years of working experience rural development. He has conducted various training programs and has been involved in state level capacity building programs. He has been also been involved in state level project monitoring and evaluation. He has also done various IEC and BCC awareness initiatives at district and block level.

Anjita Sahu is a Sarpanch for Patora Gram Panchayat and she is also a chairman for general administration committee in the village and looks after all basic requirements of the villagers and tries to fulfill them.

A. Shyam Kumar is currently working as an IEC Consultant, in State Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen), Hyderabad, Telangana. He holds a M.A (Economics), M.A (English),LL.B. He joined in 2016 and started working as Mandal Panchayat Officer, Warangal District, Telangana state.

Sujoy Mojumdar is an officer of the Indian Forest Service 1991 batch, Madhya Pradesh cadre. He has Masters Degrees in subjects of Physics and Forestry. He has worked in many capacities in the Forest Department of the Government of Madhya Pradesh as Divisional forest officer, Conservator of Forest and Chief conservator of Forests, and in the Forest Survey of India as Deputy Director. In 2010, he joined the Government of India as Director, National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) and continued in this position till 2013 when he was posted as Director of the erstwhile Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan (NBA).

In 2014 he was involved in the launch of the new Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM). He became the 1st Director Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) in the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, and was involved intrinsically in development of the new SBM Guidelines. Sujoy Mojumdar is working as Senior WASH Specialist in UNICEF, New Delhifrom March 2015.

Vijay Kumar Shivaji rao Patil is B.A., MSW in Human Resources Management. He has over 19 Years of Experience as a District Project Manager expert in Rural Development Planning. He has been involved in organizing and conducting advocacy meetings, Training for stakeholders, liasoning with various department and media for water and sanitation.

Gobind Kachhap has done B-tech (civil) IIT madras (2005-09). He cleared Jharkhand Public Service Commission to join as Assistant Engineer in Lohardaga, Daltenganj, Ranchi and Palamu. He is currently serving as Executive Engineer, Drinking Water and Sanitation Department (DWSD), Sahibganj District.

B. Parameswaran is presently serving as Director, cum Joint Secretary Rural drinking water and Sanitation. Prior to this he was Director Land Records, Surveys and Consolidation, Odhisa with additional charge of State Project Director for Higher Education Project for excellence and equity and IG of registration.

K. Revannappa has experience of more than 20 years in Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department as Rural Project Implementing Officer in Central and State Funded projects. With a total experience of more than 34 years in Government service, he has served at various Level as Deputy Secretary, Director, Commissioner and Managing Director at the Government Department like Zilla Panchayat, ST Welfare, DevrajUrs backward community corporation, Kaginele Development authority and also at different Districts of Karnataka