Asst. Lead Operations Director, India joined in July 2013- School Leadership Development Program under UK- India Educational Research Initiative [UKIERI] - a bilateral arrangement between Government of India and Government of UK. This academic collaboration is between the National College for Teaching and Leadership, Nottingham University UK and the National Centre for School Leadership, National University of Educational Planning and Administration India [NUEPA] MHRD GOI, New Delhi. She works for NCTL UK and is responsible for program development, management and implementation in Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Puducherry.
Centre for Civil Society New Delhi: Worked briefly till mid July 2013, completing a research project on section 12 of Right to Free and Compulsory Education for Children Act 2009.
Program Lead, Azim Premji Foundation for Assessment & Accreditation, New Delhi, June 2011–August 2012
Worked on Education Policy Advocacy with focus on National Curriculum Framework 2005 and Right to Education 2009
Large scale engagement with stakeholders to create institutionalized impact on quality of education, ensuring implementation of RTE 2009 and NCF 2005
Teacher Education
Engagement with NCTE, MHRD, NCERT, NUEPA and Universities
Head Field Programs, Apne Aap Women Worldwide New Delhi- August 2010- May 2011
An initiative against human trafficking
(Supported by Clinton Global Initiative, Ministry of Human Resource Development, etc)
Worked on pedagogy and teacher training for children who had experienced sexual violence [Kasturba Gandhi Residential School, Forbesganj Bihar, Sonagachi West Bengal, GB Road Delhi, Najafgarh Delhi]
Worked on livelihood options for prostituted women
Facilitated documentation for advocacy at Global level with International Agencies such as CNN International
Facilitated Delhi Govt in setting up Gender Resource Centers at Najafgarh, Delhi
State Program Director, Mahila Samakhya Uttar Pradesh (MSUP) January 2006 – January 2010
A program of Woman Empowerment through Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development(MHRD), Government Of India, New Delhi. (Funded by DFID, UK Government’s Department for International Development).
Program Responsibility- As a full time State Program Director and team leader, had overall responsibility for program planning and implementation, financial management and administration
Policy intervention specific
To impact women empowerment and girl education –
- Facilitated the State Government to mainstream a gender perspective into key macroeconomic and social development policies and development programs. Pursued key State Govt. departments such as Home, Revenue, Vocational and Technical Education, Health and Rural Development to develop gender-sensitive budgets.
- Generated a significant number of replicable models of various interventions for evidence-based advocacy to impact policy formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
- Involved a large number of interns, scholars and researchers to raise new ideas and approaches to substantiate and validate its interventions
- Initiated social audit to encourage community dialogue and to improve accountability of stake holders
- Opened the practices to media audit for informed and supportive public action
- Presented a micro-analysis of Govt. policies on girl education and women empowerment and livelihood to Government of India.
Economic sustenance
- Enabled women to participate in National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS). Research showed Women’s earnings through NREGS had positive impact on girl education and health
- Enabled 18000 women to own their job cards under NREGA (Act) and voice for gender friendly implementation of NREGS.
- Facilitated Mahasanghas (Women Federations) to start income generation activities and linking them to Govt’s poverty alleviation programs.
Organizational efficiency specific
- Facilitated development of program of action to enable women for better health, education, economic empowerment and a rightful place in family and governance.
- Expanded processes of women’s empowerment using inter-sectoral approach and convergence with existing government program- facilitating understanding of organic link between different sectors.
- Worked on MSUP’s capability to cope with episodic crises, deep-rooted socio-cultural practices causing inequality, communal issues, illicit liquor, health and hygiene issues
- Modified training design to ensure all round development, training courses on integrated yoga/sports/aerobics, nutritional diet, health-hygiene and use of camera and computers.
- Improved utilization of management funds.
- Organized the program in Mission Mode, promoting team work and decentralization
Education
- Established 33 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Schools(KGBV-SSA) in 16 districts of the State of U.P. that benefitted around 3000 adolescent girls of socially, educationally and economically marginalized sections of society.
- Worked on health, nutrition and ‘missing childhood of girls’ in rural areas as a pre-condition to effective learning
- Contextualized curriculum, teacher training and teaching-learning methodology to suit girls coming from rural, socially, educationally, marginalized groups with the technical and financial support from UNICEF
- Created classroom - community interface.
- Life skills integrated with school processes
- Developed appropriate teacher training design
- Adopted strengths of MS- run Adolescent Forums and Women Learning Centers to enrich KGBVs
- Negotiated with the Govt. of UP as per the inviolable principles of MS and enabled Sanghas(collectives) to take over management of Mid Day Meal Scheme from errant Gram Pradhans in 600 schools.
- Ensured greater participation of adolescent girls in vocational and technical courses through appropriate educational and social interventions. To prevent child marriages, tied up with UNICEF Lucknow to establish Women Learning Centers - Technical (Mahila Shiksha Kendra)
Local governance
- Worked for improving understanding and skills related to leadership and good governance.
- Setting up and strengthening of Nari Adalat (informal structure for social justice) and federations.
- Facilitated gender sensitization of local bureaucracy to improve participation of women in local governance.
- Enabled Sangha women to contest panchayat elections. As a result 70 women elected as village heads and around 600 as members of gram Panchayat.
- Encouraged women collectives to participate in local governance and act as pressure groups for greater transparency and better implementation of government schemes.
- Organized exposure visits of women village- heads and members to places such as Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA) to learn about structure, system and working of local governance.
Consultant & State Coordinator (IGNOU- Distance Education), Education For All Project Board, Uttar Pradesh, District Primary Education Program and SSA, January 1998 – January 2006 (World Bank and GOI funded).
- Worked on universalization of elementary education of marginalized children such as children with special needs, working, aged and dropped out children with special focus on girls.
- Undertook a collaborative exercise for curriculum review, renewal and textbook development process with State Council of Educational Research and Training Uttar Pradesh.
- Developed in-service teacher training and follow-up modules for over all pedagogical improvement.
- Facilitated design of a system for comprehensive and continuous evaluation of pupil and teacher and relevant teacher training design to implement CCE.
- Prepared Distance learning (Audio-video-print) material and teacher training modules to enrich and support teachers training, document and disseminate good practices.
- In-service teacher training in face-to-face and distance mode
- Coordinated provision of downlink facility Direct Receiving Sets and other equipments at DIETs, SCERT as per International procurement norms for their use in teleconferencing to facilitate teacher training
- Facilitated regular use of the teleconferencing and video conferencing network to reach the unreached across UP to provide teachers, parents, Gram Pradhans with necessary training support in school improvement and management.
- Regularly prepared annual work plan and budget for District Primary Education Program.
- Prepared a large number of documents on various issues, such as project implementation plan, curriculum construction, textbooks development, teacher training, institutional capacity building, alternative schooling, distance education, governance of project, multi grade teaching, etc.
- Developed a manual on newsletter preparation for rural local newsletters, children's wall newspapers.
ACADEMIC PROFILE
- Ph. D. in Education, University of Lucknow, 1993
- Research Fellow in Education, University Grants Commission, 1986-1990
- M. Ed., University of Lucknow, 1985
- B. Ed., University of Lucknow, 1984
- B. A., University of Lucknow, 1983
- Proficiency in French, University of Lucknow, 1988
- Diploma in Computer Productivity Software, CMC, Ltd., 1988
RESEARCH WORK
- Case study of good practices to learn challenges of inclusive education under section 12 of RTE, Centre for Civil Society, New Delhi
- Impact of teacher training program on social emotional climate of classrooms, 1998, UP Education for All Project assisted by World Bank
- Wastage in Primary Education : Factors contributing to dropping out and criteria for the identification of potential drop outs in Primary Parishadiya Schools of District Nainital, U.P., 1996,Edcil, UP Education For All Project assisted by World Bank
- Education of children with special needs : Cerebral Palsy (Ph.D.), 1993, University Grant Commission
- A study of adult learners (M.Ed.), 1985, University of Lucknow
RESEARCH GRANTS
- Research fellowship, University Grants Commission, Government of India, 1986 for Ph.D.
- DPEP, Ed.CIL, MHRD Government of India
- State Institute of Educational Management and Training, Allahabad under UP EFA Project
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Member Joint Appraisal Mission on Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Teacher Education, GOI MHRD 2013-ongoing
Member National Focus Group on Systemic Reforms for curriculum change, National Curriculum Framework 2005, NCERT, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, New Delhi.
Member on the panel for Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal for International Fellowship Program (IFP) of Ford Foundation for the selection of IFP fellow for year 2009-10 and 2010-11
Member, Sub- committee of National Skill Development Coordination Board, Planning Commission, New Delhi on Evolving The Vision on the Status of Vocational Education and Training in Education System
Member, Institute Advisory board, PSS Central Institute of Vocational Education, Bhopal (NCERT, MHRD, GOI)
Life Member, Indian Association of Educational Planning & Administration, National University for Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA) New Delhi
Member, State committee on Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya, Basic Education, Government of Uttar Pradesh
Member, State Core Group (Integrated Education), Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Uttar Pradesh
Member, State Resource Group (Curriculum, Text Book,Teacher Training and distance education), Sarve Shiksha Abhiyan Uttar Pradesh
PUBLISHED WORK
- The Waste land, The Primary Teacher (NCERT, New Delhi, 2006)
- Five Resource documents on rights of children for UNICEF and Department of Women & Child Welfare, Government of U.P.,1993
- Education of Children with Cerebral Palsy : “Communication” (NCERT), August 1988
Articles in national level Daily Newspapers :
- Building fountain heads of joy, Hindustan Times. 28 Jan. 2001
- Breaking the Barriers, Hindustan Times, 17 Feb. 2001
- Pupil’s evaluation system, Hindustan Times, 24-25 June. 2001
- Things do not change within training halls only, Hindustan Times. 20 Dec. 2000
- Pass, Fail, is that All, Times of India. 9 – 15 July, 1994
- Educating Children with Cerebral Palsy, The Pioneer, 10 Jan. 1988
- In Need of Love, The Pioneer, 7 Feb. 1988
- Mind caught in Body , The Pioneer, 13 Dec. 1987
- Down’s Syndrome, The Pioneer, 27 Dec. 1987
Other works :
- Glimmer of Hope, EFA UP document
- Self- Instructional Materials for teachers, EFA UP
- SIM on hard spots in Mathematics at elementary level , EFA UP
- Bal Akhbar, EFA UP
- Training Films- Koshish, Mile stone, State Institute of Education Technology UP
PAPERS PRESENTED
Women Empowerment and Micro-Finance, National Seminar on Micro Finance, Issues and Challenges , Bankers Institute of Rural Development, Lucknow , 2009
SSA Partnership with Mahila Samakhaya: NPEGEL,KGBV and Mid Day Meal, Joint Appraisal Review Mission of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, MHRD,GOI and World Bank, European Commission, New Delhi,2009
A journey with the girls of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidayalya,National consultation on KGBV: An initiative of girl education ,NCERT and MHRD GOI,2008
Teacher Training Program under Education for All, Uttar Pradesh, The learning conference 2004 at Azim Premji Foundation, Bangalore
Information Technology to help teachers to reskill
International workshop on Information & Communication organize by District Primary Education Program(DPEP), at Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)
Case study presentation, Vikalp- A learning improvement program under DPEP-UP
International Seminar on Researches in Quality Education at Elementary level organised by National Council of Educational Research Training (NCERT) & Government of India (GOI) at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi , 1999
Can Management help to revitalize school effectiveness
National Conference, NIEPA (National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration on Reforming School Education, Issues in Policy Planning and Implementation Feb. 1-2, 1996. New Delhi
Identification of Potential Dropouts in Adult Literacy Classes
Seminar ‘Dimensions of Adult Education’ ,Department of Adult and Continuing Education and Extension. University of Lucknow, March, 1994
Resource Optimisation in Higher Education
Seminar ‘Reforming Higher Education’, Faculty of Education, Lucknow University May, 1993
Social Accountability of Universities
Seminar ‘Reforming Higher Education’ ,Faculty of Education, Lucknow University May, 1993
Community Based Rehabilitation of Children with Disabilities
Seminar ‘Rights of Children with Disabilities’ ,UNICEF in collaboration Department of Women and Child Welfare, Government of Uttar Pradesh. 15 November 1993.
PARTICIPATION
- Two day training on talent management at Indian institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi
- Education world Summit July 13-15,2011 New Delhi
- International conference of survivors of Sex trafficking, New Delhi, April 2-4, 2011
- Vital Voices of Asia, women’s leadership and training summit, Sept 14-17,2010.New Delhi, India, to recognize the critical role that women can and must play in moving the region forward socially, politically and economically.
- International Conference on Teacher Development and Management Udaipur, Rajasthan, DFID,UNESCO, UNICEF 2009(With support from MHRD,GOI, NCERT,NUEPA,NCTE)
- National Seminar on School Education in Rural Areas , NCERT, New Delhi,2009
- Social Development and Gender Issues in documentary films Magic Lantern Foundation, New Delhi,2008
- National Focus Group on Work and Education, NCERT , 2008
- Consultation Meeting on Health and Education, World Bank, 2007
- International Conference : Enhancing quality of elementary education ,New Delhi, Agha Khan Fondation,2007
- Workshop on Kasturba Gandhi Balika Awasiya Vidyalayas, CARE India and Govt. of Gujarat,2007
- National workshop on federations in Mahila Samakhya at Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, 2006
- The learning conference 2005 by Azim Premji Foundation, Banglore, Karnataka, 2005
- Training in use of new media in primary education, National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, August 2002
- Content development workshop for developing of CD ROMs at Azim Premji Foundation, WIPRO, Banglore, 2002
- Training for teleconferencing, Space Application Centre, Indian Space Research Organisation, Ahmedabad, Dec. 2001
- International Seminar on Research in School Effectiveness at primary stage organised by NCERT, MHRD at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi July 13-16, 1999.
- Workshop on Curriculum Development (Resource Person) Amba Ji, Gujarat, 5 Feb. 1998
- National Workshop on Multi grade Teaching / Learning, Ed. CIL., Ministry of Human Resource Development, GOI, New Delhi; at Gurgaon, Haryana, 28 Jan. – 1 Feb. 1998
- Workshop on Pedagogical Improvement, State Project Office, DPEP, Lucknow; Technical support Ed. CIL, New Delhi, Jan. 1998
- Visioning workshop of State Resource Group, DPEP, State Institute of Educational Management & Training, Allahabad, Nov. 1997
- Workshop on Integrated Education under DPEP and Department of Special Education, NCERT, Dec. 1997
- Planning workshop on Girl’s Primary Education Project, CARE India , Lucknow, Nov. 1996
- Workshop on Video Script Writing ,Trikal Informatics , University of Lucknow, Aug. 1995
- Workshop on Learning Disabilities, Chetna, Regional Training Centre, Lucknow U.P., 1994
Note : Above is only an illustrative List. Besides the above enumerated list, I have participated in a large number of Workshops and Conferences, as trainee or resource person, on significant educational issues
WORK WITH VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS
- Uttar Pradesh Center for Action Research in Environment and Development (launching Hindi edition of Monthly Review a research journal published from New York, USA from January 2009)
- Founder President, SPARC India, Lucknow (organisation for cerebral palsied children)
- Executive Member, Ankur Yuva Chetna Shivir (working and street children), Lucknow, 1994
HONOURS
- Recognized by Education World, a national monthly educational news magazine published from Bangalore as among 50 Leaders Redefining Indian Education, November 2008.
- Member, Program Advisory Board & National Steering and Monitoring Committee2010 onwards-, Mid-Day Meal, Govt, of India
- Member, Departmental Advisory Board of the Dept. of women Studies 2006 [NCERT, New Delhi]