Our Team

The People Behind Making a Little Difference in The World

Leadership

Program Leads

ADVISORS

TEAM

Amit Kumar Choubey

Founder & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Amit Kumar Choubey is the visionary force behind Sanmat, which he founded in 2007. As CEO, Amit connects organisational leaders, strategic partners, and external stakeholders to ensure Sanmat’s sustainable success.
Amit has also established a series of impactful social enterprises, including Banka Silk, a venture that empowers rural women artisans; Qsignage, a Singapore-based technology company offering smart signage solutions; the Bihar Social Entrepreneurs Association; and the Bihar School of Idea & Innovation. His initiatives are dedicated to transforming livelihoods, enhancing education, and improving healthcare access and quality for India’s most marginalised communities.
Amit’s leadership has garnered national and international recognition, which includes Youth Leader Award from UNESCO and his selection as a Chevening Gurukul Fellow for 2024.
Although Amit’s initial academic background is in engineering, his passion for creating an inclusive society by bridging the governance and implementation gaps in policies led him to pursue further education, earning an MA in Governance from the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex, UK, and a Master’s in Public Administration from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore.

Nitesh Kumar

Co-founder & Chief Growth Officer:

Nitesh leads the organisation’s strategic expansion efforts & operations. His focus is on scaling Sanmat’s impact in underserved regions, ensuring that the organisation’s initiatives reach and benefit those most in need. With a background in engineering from Dr. MGR University, Chennai, and a career transition from software development to social impact, Nitesh brings a unique perspective to Sanmat’s growth strategy. He leverages multiple certifications from the National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD) to drive Sanmat’s mission forward. Nitesh’s dedication to sustainable development and his strategic insights are crucial in expanding Sanmat’s reach and impact.

Dr. Dhananjay Singh

Executive Director

Dr. Dhananjay Singh plays a pivotal role at Sanmat, steering both our health programmatic interventions and executive functions, including fundraising, partnership building, and proposal development. With over 20 years of leadership experience at globally renowned organizations like WHO, UNICEF, PATH, and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Dr. Singh brings an unmatched depth of expertise in public health to our team.
His impressive academic background, which includes a medical degree from MGM Medical College, Jamshedpur, and advanced training in Public Health from the Global Open University, Nagaland, is further enhanced by specialized certifications from the Harvard School of Public Health.
Dr. Singh’s guidance ensures that Sanmat’s health programs are not only effective but also deeply aligned with our mission—to improve the quality of life for India’s marginalized communities

Ranjana Pandey

Chief People's Officer

Ranjana directs Sanmat’s HR and financial operations, ensuring our mission to empower marginalized communities is met with robust talent and effective resource management. With over 17 years of specialized experience in rural and tribal health, policy research, and nutrition, she brings a wealth of knowledge that enhances the organization’s effectiveness in this vertical.

Ranjana has been instrumental in shaping state-level policies, including the Weekly Iron Folic Supplementation Program and the Health and Wellness Centre under Ayushman Bharat. Her research encompasses tribal health-seeking behaviors, worm loads in school children, and identifying community influencers to combat misinformation in tribal societies. She has contributed to health reforms in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Jharkhand and helped implement Direct Beneficiary Transfers in the Swachh Bharat Mission, an innovative tech upgrade in India for DBT in grassroots interventions.

As a Master Trainer, she has led programs such as the Anemia Control Program, Deworming initiatives, and Ayushman Bharat. Her work in Social Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) and adolescent health continues to drive transformative changes, particularly in tribal communities across India. Ranjana is also a seasoned management trainer for senior officials of the Armed Forces and Paramilitary forces.

Regarding her educational background, she holds an MBA in Industrial Relations and Personnel Management, a PG in Computer Applications, and a Bachelor of Science from Kanpur University. Ranjana has completed training in Non-Violent Communication (NVC), Influence Without Authority (IWA), and holds certifications in rural development from NIRD, Hyderabad. Additionally, she is a CBCT practitioner from Emory International University.

Abhishek Kumar

Director ( Skills and Livelihood)

Abhishek is a dynamic leader with extensive experience in health, livelihood, and skill development. He holds an MBA and an LLB, alongside a graduate degree from NIT Patna. With over a decade of experience, Abhishek has contributed significantly to major government programs, including the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY). His leadership plays a critical role in driving SANMAT’s national initiatives, aimed at empowering vulnerable communities and advancing sustainable development.

Krishna Smita

Director of Program Strategy and Growth

Krishna leads Sanmat’s programmatic vision, ensuring that initiatives are impactful, innovative, and evidence-based. She identifies critical intervention areas, sets strategic priorities, and guides program teams in scaling programs while maintaining their quality and relevance. Krishna is also instrumental in integrating advanced methodologies and building strategic partnerships, driving Sanmat’s commitment to excellence and sustainable impact.
Her success in this role is grounded in nearly a decade of experience in the social development space and a strong academic foundation, including a Master’s in Public Policy from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, an M.A. in Development Studies from the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, and a B.A. (Hons) in Sociology from Hindu College, University of Delhi.

Gyan Prakash

Lead, Communitization

Gyan leads Communitization efforts within Sanmat’s livelihood initiatives, implementing government schemes. With over 10 years of experience in the social development domain, Gyan believes in the principle of Kaizen, emphasizing continuous improvement. He also brings more than 5 years of experience working in government organizations, focusing on training, operations, project design, and development.

Dr. Anvesha Pandey

Program Manager (Health)

As the Program Manager, Anvesha leads Sanmat’s health programs with a commitment to making a significant social impact. She hold an MSc in Epidemiology and Public Health from Central University of Tamil Nadu and a Bachelors in Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery from National Institute of Homoeopathy. Her expertise focuses on advancing community health by applying evidence-based research and strategic planning to create impactful and sustainable programs. She is dedicated to improving community well-being and advancing public health through innovative strategies.

Rupesh Kumar

Senior Program Manager

Rupesh leads the sustainable livelihood initiatives at Sanmat, where he plays a vital role in facilitating the Village Development Plan program under the Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana. With extensive experience in project management and the implementation of corporate social responsibility initiatives, Rupesh brings invaluable expertise to Sanmat’s community-driven efforts. His commitment to fostering sustainable growth and resilience in rural communities is reflected in the impactful work he leads, ensuring strategic partnerships and effective program delivery.

Heena Thakur

Project Manager (Health)

Heena manages the Maatrichhaya project at Sanmat funded by the State Bank of India Foundation. She brings a wealth of knowledge to her role, holding a master’s degree in public health with a specialization in Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCH+A), complemented by her nursing background.
Heena has also gained valuable experience through her previous roles with the Ministry of Women and Child Development and the National Institute of Health and Family Welfare in New Delhi, where she worked as a Research Intern. Additionally, she has contributed to various NGOs as Volunteer, and Crowdfunding Intern.

Akshay Patro

Program Manager, Accounts

With over 8 years of experience in accounts and finance, Akash holds a Master’s degree in Commerce (Finance) and is proficient in MS Office, Tally, and various accounting software. At Sanmat, he currently manages key programs, overseeing accounting records, budget estimates, internal audits, and compliance for our donors and partners. His expertise ensures smooth financial operations and strong accountability across our projects.

Rimsha Khan

Program Manager, Fundraising Projects (Crowdfunding)

Ms. Rimsha Khan has been with Sanmat for the past 3 years, primarily managing accounts for crowdfunding initiatives. In her role, she oversees the financial aspects of these projects, ensuring smooth processing, budgeting, and donor relations to support the organization’s goals. Her expertise in account management has been crucial in ensuring the success of Sanmat’s fundraising efforts.

Dr. Prabir Kumar Chatterjee

MBBS, MD-Advisor, Health

Dr. Chatterjee has over 30 years of experience in rural healthcare, focusing on tuberculosis, malaria, and immunization. He has served with UNICEF and Amader Haspatal, contributing extensively to maternal and childhood health programs in India

Dr. Monalisha Sahu

MBBS, MD -Advisor, Research

An Associate Professor at the All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Kolkata, Dr. Sahu specializes in maternal and reproductive health. With over 7 years of experience, she has worked with vulnerable populations and published research in leading journals.

Dr. Madhur Raimule

MBBS, MD - Advisor , Health

Dr. Raimule has expertise in public health, focusing on immunization and non-communicable diseases. He has worked with organizations like JHPIEGO and WHO, contributing to public health monitoring and program management.

Dr. Pavan Milkhe

MBBS, DGO -Advisor, Health

Specializing in maternal and child health, Dr. Milkhe has worked extensively in tribal and conflict areas. With postgraduate degrees in obstetrics and gynecology, he brings a deep commitment to addressing health disparities in underserved communities.

Mohit Anand

B.Tech, MSc – Advisor, Climate Change

Mohit Anand is an environmentalist and doctoral scholar specializing in AI for climate change research. Holding an MSc in Environmental Engineering from ETH Zurich, he brings expertise in water resource management and climate resilience.

Madulika Chaudhary

Advisor- Gender

Madhulika brings over 25 years of experience in designing and delivering impactful projects supporting marginalized and socially excluded communities in India and the UK. With a proven track record of collaborating with diverse stakeholders, she has worked extensively in gender integration, skill development, livelihoods, education, health, and social justice. She guides Sanmat on strategic gender initiatives, ensuring programs are inclusive and equitable.