Ankush Bhardwaj
Director
Ankush Bhardwaj is the founder and Director of Pahal. He has nurtured Pahal from a small operation into a professional entity executing multiple projects. Ankush holds a Master’s in Rural Development and an MBA in Development Management from S.P. Jain Mumbai. His two years in the Gandhi Fellowship program introduced him to community work in rural areas, focusing on rural development. Before Pahal, he held senior roles at Yuva Parivartan and Tata Trusts.
Ankush’s core strength is motivating his team to rise above challenges and excel. His vision is to empower the youth and make them productive for the nation. He is also a certified Master Trainer in the Entrepreneur’s Development Program from IIT Gandhinagar.
Vaishali Menon
Director
Vaishali Menon has over 26 years of professional experience in corporate and social sectors, spanning national and multinational organisations. She has made significant contributions at Pahal, deeply involved in the Transgender Project as Director and Team Mentor for 7 years.
Transitioning from the corporate sector to the social sector, her journey is marked by immense happiness and satisfaction. She has pioneered customised operations audit and process training in social sector organisations. Beyond work, Vaishali balances family responsibilities with her love for travel, exploring new places, and culinary pursuits.
Rohidas Rathod
Head – Maharashtra
Rohidas Rathod heads the Maharashtra operations at Pahal and has played a crucial role in growing Pahal since 2017. He holds a Master’s degree in Social Work and an MBA from S.P. Jain Management Institute, Mumbai.
With over 12 years of experience working with rural and tribal communities, he has collaborated with various government and social organisations. Rohidas has deeply impacted disadvantaged youth, helping them become independent and productive members of society. He is a travel enthusiast who loves learning from nature.
Ankit Roy
Head – Livelihoods
Ankit Roy’s social sector career began with a transformation from a professional mindset to ground reality as a Young Professional in CAPART. Over the past 10 years, he has conducted livelihood projects for 13 corporates in 8 states, impacting 1,92,456 youth.
Ankit holds an MBA in Rural Management from Lucknow University and is certified in a Leadership Program by American Express and Common Purpose. He is passionate about cooking and enjoys serving people.
Dinesh Chand
Head – Gujarat
Dinesh Chand, a Postgraduate in Development Management, has always dreamt of serving the community. Inspired by the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi and Vinoba Bhave, he prioritises community service in his life.
His simplicity and love for nature define his lifestyle. Dinesh joined Pahal in 2017, bringing extensive experience in skilling and community work. He consistently leaves a positive impact on every community he works with.
Sarita Shukla
Project Lead – Astitva
With over 11 years of experience in the social sector, Sarita Shukla began her career working to improve the lives of sex workers affected by HIV. She developed a strong inclination toward supporting the transgender community and recognising their vulnerability.
Since 2013, Sarita has passionately worked for transgender rights. She was selected for the Changelooms fellowship program and has been with Pahal since 2013, inspiring the lives of over 1,000 transgenders.
