Roots Foundation

Harnoorpreet Kaur: Champion Boxer Emerging from Bhairupa, Bathinda, Punjab

Harnoorpreet Kaur is a student of Government Senior Secondary School (Girls) in village Bhairupa, district Bathinda, Punjab. She is only 14 years old and a boxing champion. Her family comprises one younger sister, one younger brother, and her parents. Her father is a carpenter who works as a contractual worker whenever work is available. Her mother is a homemaker.

Harnoorpreet started playing boxing in the year 2022. In both morning and evening sessions, she has been trained under our Sports lab coach, Nirmal Singh. She is quite regular in her attendance and has shown remarkable achievement in the last year.

She has won 2 gold for the district and one gold for the state at Khedan Wadan, a tournament organized by the state. She also won a silver medal and bagged a second position at the Open District held in June 2023. She also won gold this year and bronze at the School State tournament last year.

She is extremely grateful for the sports lab program that provided her with the equipment and infrastructure, as well as the right coach who mentored and guided her to all her accomplishments. She found the career counselling sessions under this program extremely insightful, informative, and inspirational. She regards the Sports Lab program as a unique platform to promote sports and also hone and support young talents in the sports domain.

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Sahil Sharma

 

With a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture from Maharishi Markandeshwar University and currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Environmental Science, Sahil is an Agriculturist committed to leveraging his skills and experience for organizational success. His passion lies in Sustainable Agriculture, and he is dedicated to driving positive change in farming practices.
Throughout his career, Sahil has excelled in promoting Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and raising awareness about Crop Residue Management (CRM). His expertise encompasses various aspects of agriculture, including crop maintenance, agronomy, organic farming, beekeeping, and rural development.
Currently, Sahil is actively involved in implementing Agriculture strategies across four Haryana districts, namely Jind, Sonipat, Hisar, and Fatehabad, implementing innovative and sustainable agricultural solutions.

Dr. Vinod Aggarwal

Dr Vinod Aggarwal is a 1980-batch Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer who retired as Secretary of the Government of India. His last posting was Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. Prior to joining the Indian Administrative Services, he completed his MBBS from AIIMS. He has also graduated in International Trade from Australia and recently completed a PG Diploma in Geriatric Medicine. Post-retirement, he has been associated with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) as a Rapporteur, where he is evaluating various government-run programs like ICDS, MGNREGA, etc. His passion lies in designing innovative solutions that assist specially abled individuals. He is pioneering a telemedicine venture to make healthcare more accessible, especially for people living in rural areas.

Adwait Nautiyal

Adwait Nautiyal

Adwait Nautiyal is an accomplished professional with a robust background in Communication Design and Brand Marketing. With a Bachelor's degree in Fashion Communication from NIFT and an MBA in Digital Marketing from MICA, he brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the field. Adwait has successfully designed and led digital campaigns in the beauty and fashion industries, and has developed comprehensive communication strategies for the retail sector. His passion for sustainability and circular economies drives his approach to marketing, ensuring that his strategies are not only innovative but also environmentally conscious. Adwait believes that the role of a marketeer extends beyond brand building to include a commitment to safeguarding our people and planet. His work reflects a harmonious blend of creativity, strategic thinking, and a deep sense of responsibility.

Shekhar Anand

Shekhar Anand, with an M.Sc from the London School of Economics, UK, and a postgraduate diploma in Rural Development from India, boasts extensive experience with organizations like Oxfam, CARE, CIDA, and national governments across South and East Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and ex-Soviet countries. Formerly based in the UK for over eight years as Global Advisor Resilient Livelihoods, he specializes in leading economic justice, food security, and gender value chain development programs. With a strong background in managing large-scale initiatives on sustainable economic and social development, livelihood recovery, and private sector engagement, Shekhar is also dedicated to supporting young adults with mental health conditions and advocates for Autism awareness through his son's journey.

AP Sinha

A.P. Sinha

A.P. Sinha has more than 20years of experience in the agribusiness domain in Asia, Africa, and Europe, as well as global conglomerates and start-ups. A Dairy Technologist from the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) – Karnal, AP has a PG Diploma in Business Management from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad. In the past, AP has headed marketing and sales functions for prominent agri-input companies like Bayer, P.I. Industries, etc. He has also worked with McCormick (World’s largest spices, seasoning and flavour conglomerate), where he was instrumental in launching McCormick products in India. He has worked as a supplier to many corporates in their agri-supply chain ventures – Mahindra Shubh Labh, ITC e-Choupal, etc. AP has overseen, as CEO, the setting up of India’s largest integrated (from grass to glass) dairy project. AP is currently working on a farm-to-fork food supply venture.

Ritwik Bahuguna

Ritwik Bahuguna

Founder and General Secretary

Ritwik has 15 years of experience in the global agribusiness and sports industries. In the past decade and a half, Ritwik has collaborated closely with the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India, contributing to the drafting and updating of guidelines for flagship schemes like Mega Food Parks and Integrated Cold Chain, as well as participating in the formulation of the 12th Plan Document for the food processing sector's development. Furthermore, he has served as an advisor to numerous central and provincial governments across Asia and Africa, assisting in policy formulation, and consulted for the World Bank Group on agribusiness and dairy development initiatives in India and Africa.

Ritwik has played a pivotal role in establishing some of India's most successful mega food parks and large-scale food processing units while driving market expansion and business growth for leading FMCG companies. As a former national-level football player and an economist by training, Ritwik ensures that his entrepreneurial ventures prioritize business growth and social impact.

HR Manager

Manju Nishad

Manju handles core HR operations at Roots Foundation, overseeing the entire employee lifecycle from onboarding to compliance and performance reviews. With over 3 years of professional experience, she brings a solid mix of academic knowledge and hands-on execution. A graduate of ITM Dehradun, she is skilled at aligning HR processes with organizational goals. Manju is known for her empathetic leadership and focus on building a positive workplace culture. Her work plays a central role in talent retention and organizational growth.

Ridhima Bahuguna

Ridhima Bahuguna

Founder and President

With over 10 years of experience in the textile and apparel sector in India and the United Kingdom, Ridhima is a seasoned textile designer currently employed at one of India's leading luxury design brands. Her expertise stems from training at renowned institutions like the London Business School (Creative Entrepreneurship) and Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, University of Arts London (Future Textiles), following her graduation from the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), New Delhi in textile designing. Ridhima has held roles at prominent Indian brands such as Fab India, Satya Paul, and Taurus Exports/Address Home, where she contributed to product development, sourcing, designing, branding, and marketing. Additionally, Ridhima has been empanelled as a Designer at the Ministry of Textiles (MoT) since 2008, overseeing integrated design projects and collaborating with artisans and craftsmen nationwide. She has actively participated in MoT schemes and conducted workshops and seminars to promote the Government of India's skill development initiatives in the textile sector.

Anmol Pandey

Anmol Pandey

Head – Finance & Accounts

Anmol leads Finance and Accounts at Roots Foundation, managing budgeting, taxation, audit, and regulatory compliance with over a decade of experience. His career spans consulting, nonprofits, and corporates, giving him a well-rounded perspective on financial strategy and operations. Anmol holds a PGDM from Symbiosis and a B.Com from CSJM University. His strengths lie in financial planning, reporting, and building systems that ensure transparency and efficiency.

Trapti Moonat

Trapti Moonat

Head – Partnerships and Business Development

Trapti is a social impact professional with over 9 years of experience in CSR, sustainable development, and rural finance. She leads partnerships and program strategy across three mission-driven organizations under the Roots ecosystem. With a strong start in agri-lending and product development in the BFSI sector, she later transitioned to the development space, working on skill-building, micro-entrepreneurship, and environmental resilience. She also oversees a vocational college and advises a microfinance firm. Trapti holds degrees from IIFM Bhopal, LSE (Sustainability), and MICA. Her work bridges finance, policy, and grassroots transformation.

Vidula Chopra

Vidula Chopra

Program Manager

Vidula is a former Gandhi fellow who has worked extensively in aspirational districts in Jharkhand in the education sector. Her areas of expertise include community engagement, education, gender, and women’s empowerment.
She holds a graduate degree in Business Economics from the University of Delhi and a Master’s degree in Gender Studies from Ambedkar University, Delhi.

Bhoop Singh

Bhoop Singh

Head of Operations

Bhoop brings over 13 years of experience in managing programs across sectors such as agriculture, sports, education, and healthcare. He has worked extensively across Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan, leading implementation for large-scale, impact-driven projects. He holds an MBA in Marketing, a PG Diploma in Counselling, and is currently pursuing a PhD. Known for his practical leadership and people-centered approach, Bhoop ensures operational excellence at every level. He excels in team coordination, stakeholder engagement, and last-mile delivery of interventions.

Debolina Ghosh

Senior Program Manager

Debolina Ghosh is a development professional, with a decade of experience working in the social sector. She has collaborated across different organizations ranging from local NGOs, International NGOs, and the CSR wing of the corporate organization. She has worked with diverse stakeholders and beneficiaries on managing and leading robust and large-scale employability, skills development, and entrepreneurship programs.
Further her education in Political Theory from DU and a specialization in Women Studies from TISS, Mumbai have given her added impetus to analyze and study the development issues from a gendered lens and lay a critical framework thus challenging the existing structure towards equity and empowerment of the disadvantaged.

Prashasti Yadav

Prashasti Yadav

Assistant Manager – Communications

With 4 years of experience in the development sector, Prashastiis a branding and communication professional. She has demonstrated proficiency in formulating comprehensive 360-degree communication plans designed to enhance awareness, foster engagement, and showcase impactful outcomes.
During her tenure with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and L&T, she has gained experience in stakeholder mapping and the strategic execution of communication plans. Her journey in the sector encompasses diverse areas such as CSR, Geriatric Social Work, Correctional Social Work, and Psychiatric Social Work, enabling her to bring to light the complexities of the development sector from the margins to the mainstream.

Anamika
Anamika

Anamika focuses on creating engaging and informative agricultural content aimed at benefiting farmers. Her primary responsibilities encompass data management, analysis, research, and content creation, all geared towards assisting farmers in making informed decisions and optimizing their yields and income. 

Anamika holds a Bachelor's degree in Agriculture and a postgraduate diploma in Food Safety and Quality Management. She had been actively engaged in the agriculture sector, collaborating closely with farmers and stakeholders.

Anirudh Singare

Anirudh Singare

Senior Program Manager

Anirudh is a development sector professional with over 5 years of experience in education, youth engagement, and systemic reform. He began his journey as a Gandhi Fellow with Piramal Foundation and later worked with UNDP and the Ministry of Youth Affairs as a National Specialist. Trained as an engineer, he brings analytical rigor to program design and grassroots implementation. His work focuses on multi-stakeholder coordination and building inclusive sports ecosystems. At Roots Foundation, he leads sports-based youth development initiatives with a vision to create lasting impact. Anirudh combines a passion for fieldwork with a strong grounding in public policy and community building.

Vijay Singh

Vijay Singh

Vijay has over 21 years of working experience in different capacities in the voluntary, humanitarian as well as the private sector. Vijay holds a Post Graduate Diploma in CSR & Sustainability from the Swedish Institute, Stockholm. An M.A. in Public Administration and a Post Graduate Diploma in International Human Rights Law from The Indian Academy of International Law & Diplomacy.
Vijay has worked with the voluntary sector in Canada, U.K. and India. In the CSR Domain, Vijay has worked as Lead CSR with Times Group, DLF Ltd and Sahara Group as CEO for Sahara Welfare Foundation and now with PI Industries Ltd and the likes.