Meet the People Behind the Insights.

A multidisciplinary team of practitioners, policy experts, and field professionals shaping India’s inclusive and green rural transformation.

From fieldwork to boardrooms, EcoKargha’s strength lies in combining practical experience with strategic thinking.

Meet the Co-Founders

Co-Founder & Director

Yachna Srivastava

Research, Monitoring & Evaluation Expert with deep experience in women’s economic empowerment, financial inclusion, and institutional strengthening.

Worked with PRADAN, BASIX, JEEVIKA, CARE, Digital Green, Louis Berger, PATH, SRIJAN, DECODIS etc.

Pioneering role in creating community institutions for poultry & NRM during her stint in PRADAN and creating Banking Correspondent Model with GIZ.

M.A in Social work from TISS in 2004.

Online PGP in Data Science and Business Analytics from Texas McCombs School of Business, USA, 2022

Chevening Gurukul Fellowship for Leadership & Excellence, University of Oxford, U.K., 2025

Co-Founder & Director

Dr. Ravi Chandra

Rural Development Expert with deep expertise in agriculture value chains, women’s economic empowerment, livelihoods promotion, green economy, and inclusive growth.

Worked with UNDP, UNEP, FAO, World Bank, and IFAD, Grameen Foundation, Palladium, MicroSave, etc.

Has leadership experience with UNDP on farm & non-farm value chain and livelihoods with pioneering role in creating models of gender mainstreaming in market facing roles in agriculture value chains.

Has led the development of two value chains ( Bamboo & Tusser Silk) and launched incense stick (Sugandh Vihar) and Handloom Saree & Stoles (EcoStree) brand in market.

Development Marketplace Winner 2011

PGDRM from IRMA in 2006.

BDS from Manipal University, 2003

Team

Dedication. Expertise. Passion.

EcoKargha works with a dynamic network of associates, sector specialists, and field facilitators with experience across India and expertise in more than 30 value chains. Together, they deliver research, advisory, and training services to governments, development agencies, private sector, philanthropic institutions, impact investors, and producer institutions.

Partner

Saurabh Kumar Sinha

Management Leader with experience in government and business advisory, policy formulation, program management, investment promotion, MSME and startup ecosystem development, financial analysis, and value chain studies.

Partner

Vinod Trimbak Raut

Expert in program management, capacity building, agri-business, and startup ecosystem development. Worked with UNDP, GIZ, L&T CSR, MAVIM, MSRLM, etc. Co-Founder Vruksha Synergy & Shuddha Space

Domain Leader- Women Economic Empowerment

Aarti Dayal

Expert in sustainable livelihoods, women’s economic empowerment, social protection, just transition, large-scale programme development and multi-stakeholder partnerships. Worked with UNDP, World Bank, Technoserve, etc.

Domain Leader- Agriculture & Financial Inclusion

Lokesh Singh

Expert in sustainable agriculture, agri-market systems, start-up ecosystem development, and policy advisory. Co-Founder of Sanchetna, FarMart. Worked with SKS Microfinance, MicroSave

Domain Lead -Enterprise Promotion

Swaminathan S

Expert in collective enterprises, social enterprise, micro and nano enterprises, and employability-led livelihood development. A communication expert also and NRLM National Resource Person

Domain Lead-Environment

Mani Prakash

A legal expert specializing in environment, gender, and human rights. Work on forest and tribal rights, and led research, training, and policy advocacy to strengthen compliance with national and international human rights and environmental standards.

Specialist- SDG Localisation

Rahul Singh

Expertise in government advisory, SDG, strategic communication, multi-stakeholder project management, GovTech and Digital Governance. Founder of NeoQasi.

Specialist- Green Economy

Shashvat Singh

Expert in public policy specializing in sustainable development, climate diplomacy, governance reform, SDG localization, and leveraging green finance for inclusive growth.

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Specialist-MSME

Gaurav Srivastava

Expert in social welfare, MSME, government relationship management. Founder of Inner Soul

Domain Leader-Social Inclusion

Bhanu Shyam Nakka

Expert in Financial Inclusion, Social Security, Livelihoods, Social Inclusion, Skill Development, Project Management and Monitoring & Evaluation.

Domain Lead-Gender

Vandana Mishra

Expert in gender integration and economic empowerment for women and girls

Domain Lead- Supply Chain

Manish Chandra

Expert in business strategy, operations management, retail category management,sales & distribution and Supply chain management . Worked at Amul, Reliance Industries and Walmart .

Our Advisors & Mentors

Our work is strengthened by a panel of advisors and mentors who bring diverse expertise in rural policy, agribusiness, green economy, women economic empowerment, and sustainable finance.

Dr Alka Parekh

Mentor & Advisor

Prof. Ajit Mani

Mentor & Advisor