Vippan brings a fascinating over forty year mix of military, corporate and educational experience to his role as the Director at Saahas Foundation Inclusive Resource Centre. An alumnus of Rashtriya Indian Military College (R.I.M.C.), Dehradun, he served in Air Defense Artillery and then made his mark in the corporate field.

Vippan was associated with the automobile industry for almost twenty years, and found a place in the Limca Book of Records as having led, in 1997, the largest contingent of Royal Enfield bikers to Khardungla (highest motor able road in the world).

Since the last fifteen years, Vippan has been in educational administration and presently heads the Unison Group as Director, Projects and Planning. The Unison Group comprises of many educational institutions including the Unison World School and IMS Unison University, where Vippan also serves as member of the Board of Governors.

Shahab strongly believes that education and skills, along with research and development, are the building blocks of economic growth and social development worldwide. Possessing a master’s degree in Computer Science Applications, Shahab’s extensive professional work experience includes consulting on project planning and business communication.

In the last five years, Shahab has primarily focused on the design, deployment and operations of social ventures. His empathy and research in providing livelihood and entrepreneurship development to the differently-abled led to his setting up the SAAHAS FOUNDATION INCLUSIVE RESOURCE CENTRE in December 2017.

A sports enthusiast and keen observer of popular culture, Shahab brings passion to his engagement in developmental sciences through what he calls ‘an application of silent pluralism’.

Savita Varde-Naqvi is a programme management advisor with over 23 years of international experience in strategic planning, implementation and evaluation of rights-based, sustainable humanitarian initiatives. Having retired last year from UNICEF as Regional Advisor for Communication for Development (West and Central Africa), she is currently working as an independent consultant.

Savita has also built technical capacities to help foster inclusion of marginalised sections of society, and has developed media assets and curricular materials based on adult education principles.

Her international experience spans journalism and humanitarian advocacy with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and UNICEF, and Savita’s expertise as a social and behaviour change specialist is of immense value at Saahas Foundation.

Meeta is currently a project manager at the NGO Angels at Work, which provides skill development training to differently-abled persons, and has also campaigned for inclusive housing for special-needs persons.

As an environmentalist, Meeta has spread the message about organic farming and rooftop gardening using a soil-less medium. As a member of the Lions and Rotary Club, she has also done extensive volunteering with various organizations and has taught English Literature and Language to undergraduate and graduate students.

Meeta has a Master’s degree from the University of Rajasthan. Having good communication skills, she is excellent at connecting with people.

Nilam possesses an impressive track record in project management with over 22 years of professional experience in building capacity in gender equality and rights of disadvantaged groups (with focus on inclusion in disability sector) at various organizations in India, Sri Lanka, Switzerland and Papua New Guinea.

She has a Master’s degree in Social Work, and is also a Consultant Occupational Therapist at special schools and hospitals. Nilam’s expertise encompasses programme development; evaluation, appraisals and reviews as well as training and workshop facilitation.

Nilam is currently a consultant and advisor with various organizations and has previously managed the Sanjeevan Deep Paraplegic Foundation.

Anjali has had extensive experience in campaigning for inclusive education for the hearing impaired and towards general empowerment for persons with multiple disabilities. She has presented papers at numerous seminars and conferences and is currently the Vice-President of the Uttarakhand Dyslexia & Disability Association (UDAAN).

With a Master’s degree in education, Anjali is also the course coordinator at the Bajaj Institute of Learning for IGNOU’s special courses, where she is also responsible for the training of skills/techniques associated with hearing impairment.

In recognition of her excellent work in the field of social upliftment and empowerment of the disabled, Anjali has been honoured by many organizations including the Uttaranchal Mahila Association.

Col Arun Mamgain (retd.), hailing from Molthi, Pauri Garhwal, joined the prestigious Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) Dehradun in 1962 as a cadet where he completed his schooling. He then joined the armed forces in 1971 and proudly served thirty-three years in the Mahar Regiment of the Indian Army. He was posted as the Commandant, RIMC from 1997-2004, and has since then been a trustee at the institution.

Post-retirement, Arun has been actively involved with academic projects for children of marginalized sections of the society. During 2013 – 18, he served as the Director to the Tata Uttarakhand Program for immediate relief and recovery, rehabilitation in the flood-affected areas of Uttarakhand.

Arun’s association with Saahas is crucial, particularly for community service in rural regions. His skills and experience in education and training, along with comprehension of complex social issues and interventions for overcoming topographic challenges are of immense value to Saahas.

Arun lives in Dehradun and loves to read, travel, trek and golf.

Born in Varanasi, Rana taught History and English as a Second Language at international schools in Dubai and Jeddah before she moved to Canada in 2008, and is currently an ESL supply teacher in Toronto.

A published author, Rana has also been a freelance writer for almost 20 years and volunteers as a creative writing facilitator with the Toronto Writers Collective.

Her commitment to social justice has led Rana to work for a charity that seeks to provide employment opportunities for marginalized populations. She is also associated with several health equity initiatives and runs an advisory group to address mental health issues in South Asian communities.

Aruna Devi Tomar is an artist with a particular interest in various folk arts. She studied art at the Maharaja Sayaji Rao University, Vadodara, and followed her passion for art experimenting in various styles and medium like Picchwai, Warli and Madhubani.

Aruna holds a master’s degree in English Literature, as well as certification in the teaching of English as a Foreign Language.

Pursuing her lifelong passion for art she returned to it through group shows and solo exhibitions. She continues to experiment with various art forms in novel ways and techniques.

Aruna acknowledges with gratitude the lasting impression her own art teachers (K.G. Subramanyan, Jyoti Bhatt and N.S. Bendre) have left upon her career as an artist, and she imparts her knowledge with a deep passion that can only benefit all of us at Saahas Foundation.

Sneh’s academic, professional experience and abilities were utilized in different fields. Her strength includes strong administrative, leadership skills par excellence with a broad background in alternative medicine, academics, office coordination, management, transcription, business marketing and promotion, teaching and counselling spanned for over fifteen years.

Sneh possesses a bachelors’ degree in alternative medicine and has made remarkable work contributions in the leadership role cross industry. She has served with the Unison World School (Director – Admissions) and Jindal Hospital & Research Centre – a wing of Jindal Steel Group (Administrative Head), SRP Ltd. during her employment tenure.

Sneh is a strong team player and a sports enthusiast. She loves cycling, badminton and is also inclined towards cooking, interior designing. The optimism and the spirit Sneh carries, builds a deep insight and knowledge to the project.