Governing Body
Mr. Prafulla Saikia
Chairperson
Mr. Saikia is a technocrat – engineering graduate- and also a Post Graduate in Arts. He served as Managing Director of Assam Industries Infrastructure Development Corporation and Additional Director of Department of Industries, Government of Assam. Mr. Saikia also worked as General Manager of Northeastern development Finance Corporation on deputation. He is a very dynamic and down to earth technocrat, always thoughtful about
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Mr. Saikia is a technocrat – engineering graduate- and also a Post Graduate in Arts. He served as Managing Director of Assam Industries Infrastructure Development Corporation and Additional Director of Department of Industries, Government of Assam. Mr. Saikia also worked as General Manager of Northeastern development Finance Corporation on deputation. He is a very dynamic and down to earth technocrat, always thoughtful about the development of Assam. Very dedicated professional and has association with most of the entrepreneurs in Assam in one or the other way. Always inspires the youths’ becoming entrepreneurs.
Dr. Karuna Kalita
Vice-Chairperson
Dr. Kalita is a professor at IIT Guwahati with the Mechanical Engineering Department. To his credit he has got over 50 Publications. He has grassroot understanding and experience in livelihood, Community Development, participatory decision making, development administration, civil society, land food and development.
Ms. Iaishah Rymbai
Member
Iaishah Rymbai is a dedicated entrepreneur, master weaver, and social leader with over 20 years of expertise in handloom weaving and natural dyeing. She is the Founder & Director of Eri Weave Pvt. Ltd., a pioneering initiative promoting sustainable Eri silk weaving while empowering artisans, particularly women, in Meghalaya.
Her leadership extends to community-driven enterprises as Founder Secretary of Raid Iapngar
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Handloom Weavers Cooperative Society (since 2009) and President of the Cluster Level Federation, Bhoirymbong under NRLM (since 2023). She also serves as a Non-Official Member of the District Planning and Development Council, Ri Bhoi District (since 2024), advocating for rural development and livelihood enhancement.
Recognized among the Top 50 Entrepreneurs in Meghalaya’s PRIME Cohort 2.0, Iaishah’s work centers on sustainable livelihoods, skill development, and cultural heritage preservation. Her journey continues to inspire artisans and entrepreneurs, fostering economic resilience and social empowerment.
Mr. Sarat Chandra Das
Secretary
Mr Sarat Chandra Das brings with him more than 25 years of experience as a social entrepreneur. He worked with RGVN, Sa-Dhan, HDFC Bank etc and founded Grameen Sahara in 2002 a not-for profit social enterprise namely. He has got extensive experience in the development sector – Social mobilization, institution building, community development, enterprise building, natural resource management, social innovation, education, etc and also has got experience in
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Mr Sarat Chandra Das brings with him more than 25 years of experience as a social entrepreneur. He worked with RGVN, Sa-Dhan, HDFC Bank etc and founded Grameen Sahara in 2002 a not-for profit social enterprise namely. He has got extensive experience in the development sector – Social mobilization, institution building, community development, enterprise building, natural resource management, social innovation, education, etc and also has got experience in banking and microfinance. Grameen Sahara has grown to today’s stature under his untiring commitment and engagement as a leader. Microfinance program of Grameen Sahara has been successfully transformed into GDF, an NBFC-MFI registered with RBI.
He has strong understanding of community development challenges and strategies with clear grasp of grass root. He is known in the sector as a key strategist and one of the successful social entrepreneurs in the regions. He has been profiled by VikasAnvesh Foundation, a Tata Trusts initiative – in their book “Gems of Purest Ray, Serene” among 22 outstanding social entrepreneurs in India. He has extensively worked in social mobilization, system innovation, facilitation, process mapping, system development and support etc. Mr Sarat Chandra Das, a graduate in Fisheries Science from Assam Agricultural University, has a Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Development, an Executive MBA from IIBM, a Certified Expert in Micro-Finance from Frankfurt School of Finance and Management. He also attended Middle Management Program in IIM, Ahmadabad, and a Programme on Organized Farmers a Partner in Agri Business in CDI, Wageningen University. He also has an Executive Certificate in Strategy and Leadership from Jack Welch Management Institute to his credit. He also completed PGD in Environmental Law and Policy from National Law University, PGD in Agriculture Extension Management from MANAGE and Master Degree in International Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid from KALU Institution.
He has strong understanding of community development challenges and strategies with clear grasp of grass root. He is known in the sector as a key strategist and one of the successful social entrepreneurs in the regions. He has been profiled by VikasAnvesh Foundation, a Tata Trusts initiative – in their book “Gems of Purest Ray, Serene” among 22 outstanding social entrepreneurs in India. He has extensively worked in social mobilization, system innovation, facilitation, process mapping, system development and support etc. Mr Sarat Chandra Das, a graduate in Fisheries Science from Assam Agricultural University, has a Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Development, an Executive MBA from IIBM, a Certified Expert in Micro-Finance from Frankfurt School of Finance and Management. He also attended Middle Management Program in IIM, Ahmadabad, and a Programme on Organized Farmers a Partner in Agri Business in CDI, Wageningen University. He also has an Executive Certificate in Strategy and Leadership from Jack Welch Management Institute to his credit. He also completed PGD in Environmental Law and Policy from National Law University, PGD in Agriculture Extension Management from MANAGE and Master Degree in International Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid from KALU Institution.
Mr. Biswanath Sinha
Member
Biswanath Sinha is a social development specialist with over 27 years of diverse experience across strategy, partnership, grant making, program designing and scaling up, and policy formulation. His strengths lie in deep understanding of Indian social issues, on boarding different stakeholders and creating successful development
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Biswanath Sinha is a social development specialist with over 27 years of diverse experience across strategy, partnership, grant making, program designing and scaling up, and policy formulation. His strengths lie in deep understanding of Indian social issues, on boarding different stakeholders and creating successful development models which have been scaled up by mainstream agencies creating larger social impact. He has worked with best of Indian non-profit organizations with different approaches: hardcore implementation to policy formulation. His professional commitment extends to undertaking research work which is well read in his domain fields. He played a pivotal role in shaping strategy and bringing in institutional partnership for achieving scale for Tata Trusts, India's oldest and largest private philanthropy, and principal shareholder of the Tata Group.
In Tata Trusts he has played a leadership role in thematic engagements in Rural Livelihoods, Natural Resources Management, Energy, Health Care, Disaster Management, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Promotion and Sports for Development. He has been a member of various Government committees for policy formulation. As founding member and governing board member of various nonprofit organizations, he has played a key leadership role in creating some high performing organizations in the nonprofit sector. He also played a key role in putting systems and ensuring compliances.
Since July 2022 he has been working as the Director, Policy and Technical Support of WaterAid India. Before that he worked in Tata Trusts, Mumbai for 17 years. Prior to Tata Trusts he worked in Sa-Dhan for 1 year; Society for Promotion of Wastelands Development (SPWD), and PRADAN for 5 years each.
In Tata Trusts he has played a leadership role in thematic engagements in Rural Livelihoods, Natural Resources Management, Energy, Health Care, Disaster Management, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Promotion and Sports for Development. He has been a member of various Government committees for policy formulation. As founding member and governing board member of various nonprofit organizations, he has played a key leadership role in creating some high performing organizations in the nonprofit sector. He also played a key role in putting systems and ensuring compliances.
Since July 2022 he has been working as the Director, Policy and Technical Support of WaterAid India. Before that he worked in Tata Trusts, Mumbai for 17 years. Prior to Tata Trusts he worked in Sa-Dhan for 1 year; Society for Promotion of Wastelands Development (SPWD), and PRADAN for 5 years each.
Dr. Deepika Das
Member
Dr. Deepika Das is a faculty at Chhaygaon College, Kamrup Assam with the department of Economics. She is a Ph.D. in economics from Guwahati University. She has strong grassroot understanding and experience in livelihood, Community Development, participatory decision making, development administration, civil society, land, food
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Dr. Deepika Das is a faculty at Chhaygaon College, Kamrup Assam with the department of Economics. She is a Ph.D. in economics from Guwahati University. She has strong grassroot understanding and experience in livelihood, Community Development, participatory decision making, development administration, civil society, land, food and development. Dr. Das also served as the coordinator of the IQAC of Chhaygaon College. To her credit she has several research papers published in reputed publications.
Mr. Bipul Borah
Member
Bipul Borah is a postgraduate in Development and Planning from University College London, and he also has a master’s in agriculture from Assam Agricultural University.
Currently, Bipul has been working as Senior Social Impact Manager for India and Sri Lanka with Twinings’ Social Impact & Sustainability team. As part of his 8job his responsibilities includes engaging with different stakeholders in the tea and agriculture supply chains to improve ethical performance and ...(Read More)
Currently, Bipul has been working as Senior Social Impact Manager for India and Sri Lanka with Twinings’ Social Impact & Sustainability team. As part of his 8job his responsibilities includes engaging with different stakeholders in the tea and agriculture supply chains to improve ethical performance and ...(Read More)
Bipul Borah is a postgraduate in Development and Planning from University College London, and he also has a master’s in agriculture from Assam Agricultural University.
Currently, Bipul has been working as Senior Social Impact Manager for India and Sri Lanka with Twinings’ Social Impact & Sustainability team. As part of his 8job his responsibilities includes engaging with different stakeholders in the tea and agriculture supply chains to improve ethical performance and to drive responsible business expectations. His professional interest includes creating shared value for making impact on business, society, and in the environment more specifically around livelihoods, gender, water and sanitation, carbon management, human rights, and development administration.
A Ford Foundation fellow, Bipul before joining Twinings, was associated with different national and International NGOs. He worked extensively in the development, humanitarian, and sustainability sector in India, Sri Lanka, and briefly in the UK, Tanzania, and Indonesia. A trained Corporate Shared Value and sustainability professional, he worked closely with grass root communities, local opinion leaders, government, NGO, research institutions, private sector, and UN bodies. Bipul likes to continue developing and nurturing business relationships with the local, national, and international stakeholders, working with the supply chains for assessment and monitoring, designing, and launching new and innovative programmes and tools to improve social, economic and environment conditions for the farmers, workers, and the communities in the last mile of the supply chains.
Currently, Bipul has been working as Senior Social Impact Manager for India and Sri Lanka with Twinings’ Social Impact & Sustainability team. As part of his 8job his responsibilities includes engaging with different stakeholders in the tea and agriculture supply chains to improve ethical performance and to drive responsible business expectations. His professional interest includes creating shared value for making impact on business, society, and in the environment more specifically around livelihoods, gender, water and sanitation, carbon management, human rights, and development administration.
A Ford Foundation fellow, Bipul before joining Twinings, was associated with different national and International NGOs. He worked extensively in the development, humanitarian, and sustainability sector in India, Sri Lanka, and briefly in the UK, Tanzania, and Indonesia. A trained Corporate Shared Value and sustainability professional, he worked closely with grass root communities, local opinion leaders, government, NGO, research institutions, private sector, and UN bodies. Bipul likes to continue developing and nurturing business relationships with the local, national, and international stakeholders, working with the supply chains for assessment and monitoring, designing, and launching new and innovative programmes and tools to improve social, economic and environment conditions for the farmers, workers, and the communities in the last mile of the supply chains.
Vikramaditya Das
Ex-offecio
Mr. Das is a management graduate from Dibrugarh University. He joined the organization as a Project Manager way back in 2008 and successfully implemented the Golden Weavers Project and transformed the project into a Producers’ Company under his leadership. He worked as the Managing Director of the Producers’ Company – Grameen Silk Producers’ Company prior to joining Grameen Sahara as Executive Director. In 2016 he joined Grameen Sahara back as the Executive Director
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Mr. Das is a management graduate from Dibrugarh University. He joined the organization as a Project Manager way back in 2008 and successfully implemented the Golden Weavers Project and transformed the project into a Producers’ Company under his leadership. He worked as the Managing Director of the Producers’ Company – Grameen Silk Producers’ Company prior to joining Grameen Sahara as Executive Director. In 2016 he joined Grameen Sahara back as the Executive Director and the organization has been doing well under his leadership. Prior to his engagement in Grameen Sahara he worked for an IT based MNC in India. He has been associated with Grameen Sahara for 15 years now.