BOARD MEMBERS

Sachidananda Mishra

Sachidananda Mishra is an experienced development practitioner with over 23 years in collaboration with both governmental and non-governmental organizations. He holds a Master’s degree in Sociology, specializing in the Sociology of Environment. His work focuses on youth empowerment, ecological conservation, gender equality, and child rights. Sachidananda has led a national youth organization for over a decade and trained over 200 entities in youth development. He serves on various committees, including those related to gender studies and internal complaints. Currently, he operates as a freelance consultant and storyteller, with a dedication to enhancing leadership and grassroots organizations within sustainable development initiatives.

Anupama Rout

Ms. Anupama Rout is a dedicated social development professional with over 20 years of experience in women’s empowerment, livelihood promotion, and the development of marginalized communities. Despite facing gender-based discrimination in her early life, she pursued higher education with determination, completing an M.A. in Oriya and a Master’s in Social Work. She began her career as a volunteer and has worked extensively with tribal and rural women in Odisha. Since joining JEETA in 1996, she has contributed significantly to women’s rights initiatives in Deogarh district and has served as Secretary since 2002. Ms. Rout has also been a member of the Juvenile Justice Board in Deogarh and actively participates in various district and state-level alliances. She is skilled in writing and composing issue-based songs and articles that are widely used for awareness and advocacy. Known for her strong networking and mobilization abilities, she has successfully collaborated with government departments to leverage resources for community development.

Malaya Padhan

Malaya Padhan has over two decades of experience in the development sector. A native of Sambalpur, Odisha, he holds a Bachelor of Education, Master’s, and MPhil in Sociology. He served as Director–Programmes at Patang, where he designed and implemented several education and youth initiatives. His key contributions include developing the Community Youth Volunteering Programme and innovative education models for out-of-school children, multilingual education, STEM for Girls, and learning improvement programmes. He has extensive experience in instructional design, life skills education, and facilitation, and has conducted and presented research on education, youth development, gender, and tribal issues. Malaya has also supported numerous organisations in areas of organisational development, education, youth leadership, and SRHR. He continues to contribute through various committees and networks at local, state, and national levels.