Niramaya
Health Foundation

Our Board

Our Board Members

Dr. Madhav Chavan, Founder- Honorary Director

Dr Madhav Chavan, a social activist and entrepreneur is the co-founder of “Niramaya Health Foundation”. He is also the co-founder of the educational non-profit, Pratham. He acquired a PhD in Chemistry at the Ohio State. In 1989, while teaching at the University of Mumbai, he started mass scale work for adult literacy in the slums of Mumbai as a part of the National Literacy Mission. Dr Chavan has spent over twenty years pioneering large-scale innovative programs in the field of education in India.

Dr Chavan was also awarded the 2012 WISE Prize for Education instituted by the Qatar Foundation at the World Innovation Summit for Education, which is equated with a “Nobel for Work Done in Education”. He was also the 2011 recipient of the “Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship”. Dr Chavan has also been named a ‘Game Changer’ by the Asia Society in New York.

Shubhalaxmi Patwardhan, Honorary Director

Ms. Shubhalaxmi Patwardhan is a consultant in Human Resources Development. She has studied Masters in social sciences from TISS and BA in Economics, University of Bombay. She has keen interest in Yoga education and holds a Diploma in Yoga – Education from Kaivalyadham Mumbai.

In the last 26 years as an independent consultant, the main areas handled are

Some of the topics covered are, motivation, interpersonal relations, Leadership, Personal effectiveness, Communication skills, Negotiation skills, Presentation skills, Emotional Intelligence, Time management, Presentation skills, Customer care, Quality management, Managerial effectiveness, Projects, Stress management, Team work, Collaboration, Vision, Creativity and many more behavioral sciences based inputs.

Some of the special projects done were preparation for relocating, VRS, Merger, Assessments, Re-training, Culture building, Coaching for succession and growth, Mind-set change for re-engineering.

Provide technical support in creating and running of the social welfare and development projects for the employees and community.

She have conducted workshops on Yoga for corporate like Indian Oil and Hindustan petroleum.

The client list over the 20 years includes over hundred large companies, Educational institutes and Social Development organizations. Some of the clients are Godrej, L and T, Greaves, Ceat, Colgate, Goodyear Tyres, Excel Industries, Bombay Chamber of commerce and Industry, Nirlep, Colgate, Cargill, Pidilite, Sandoz, Hindustan Lever, Boots, Astec, Deepak Nitrite, Standard Chartered Bank, Deogiri Nagri Sahakari Bank, UNICEF, FPAI, Govt. of Maharashtra, Dr Hedgewar Rugnalaya, Room TO Read, ICICI Bank and ICICI Securities and many more.

In addition she has prior ten years of full time job experience working with Cadbury, Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizer and International Council for social Welfare.

Dr. Anita Panot, Honorary Director

Dr Anita Hiralal Panot is Associate Professor at College of Social Work, Nirmala Niketan since 1995. She is also the Coordinator for online “Peace and Conflict Program” conducted by Peace and Conflict Studies, Tokyo University Japan. She has studied Master in Sociology and MSW from Mumbai University. She earned PhD in Social Work on thesis title “Maternal Health Care Practices and Treatment Seeking Behavior of Tribal Women in Mumbai”. She is an Executive member Joint Secretary for Maharashtra Association for Trained Social Worker (MASWE) and various other Associations of Social Work like Bombay Association for Trained Social Worker (BATSW) also a faculty representative in College Development Committee since 2015. She has various publications in Newsletters, Journals; reviewed several books pertaining to social work and issues. She has been a Key Trainer for training programs of Director of Health Services Maharashtra, Government of Maharashtra on HIV/AIDS and Master Trainer Social Justice and Equality, Social Welfare Department, Government of Maharashtra.

She has been conducting sessions for Para Professional Social Workers Course and for Health and Peace Education. She has presented several research papers in various National Seminars and also been part of various workshops and seminars. She has been part of the committee for Preparation of Multiple Choice Questions Covering entire syllabus of Social work and Psychiatry Social Work for Directorate of Medical education and Research, Government of Maharashtra in 2015.

She is part of International Exchange Programs for social work in Finland and Switzerland.

Dr. Ravindra Narkar

MBBS, DGO, DPH, DHA

Dr. Narkar has more than 30 years’ experience in Public Health department, MCGM, Mumbai, Maharashtra. He has served the department in different capacities ranging from Assistance Medical Officer in Primary Health Center to Senior Medical Officer in MCGM ward office. He has also worked on NUHM (National Urban Health Mission) programs for 5 years. Currently, he is working as Medical Officer, ART center, Mulund under HIV/AIDS program. He has vast experience in Medical Termination of Pregnancy, Family Planning, Government Health Programs, Child and adolescent Health.

Dr. Veena Yardi, Honorary Director

Dr. Veena Yardi is MPhil and PHD holder in Home Science- Foods and Nutrition. She was associated with Dept. of Foods, Nutrition & Dietetics, College of Home Science, Nirmala Niketan, Mumbai as Associate Professor and Coordinator for Self-financed courses.

She is currently associated with Nutrition Society of India, Mumbai Chapter as Treasurer.

Dr. Veena has oorganized and conducted several Nutrition Education & Extension Activities for many NGOs, government organizations, academic institutes, Industries, women’s organizations working in Rural, Tribal and Urban Areas.

Dr. Prasanna Patil, BAMS

Dr. Patil is associated with Dr. Hedgewar Hospital, Aurangabad as Project Director for past 29 years. He opted to reside in one of the slums of Aurangabad with his family and implement various Medical and social projects for betterment of slum communities. He is Founder Member of Savitribai Phule Mandal, Aurangabad which supports more than 68 high need slums, 700 villages from Aurangabad through its various Health, Education and Livelihood Projects.

He is an active Member of Samajik Samrasata Manch (सामाजिक समरसता मंच) since year 1993. Dr. Patil is well-known for his articles and speeches on current social issues.

Dr. Milind Shejwal, MBBS (Mumbai), DCH, MCPS

Dr. Milind Shejwal is a pioneer medical writer and was a successful General Practitioner for more than 37 years who provided quality medical service to underprivileged slum population. His medical books are in multiple editions and are popular among General Practitioners and medical students of the country. He is also a Poet and Gazals writer.