ALUMNI YEARBOOK T H E S T O R Y O F N AT I O N B U I L D E R S 2 0 1 7
Vision India Foundation is a non-profit initiative by faculty and alumni of various IITs. We are a platform for the brightest youth of the country to participate in the modern nation-building movement. We invest in human capital to bring about systemic transformation through public policy and governance. In this collection, we feature 21 change agents.
1 Abhinav Jain Farmer. 28. Madhya Pradesh. Abhinav Jain, a bachelor in Information Technology from Vellore, worked for TCS for a while. Soon, his sight for village issues made him pursue a six month Agro-Ecology course from Kolkata and to ameliorate the meager farming practices that were being followed by the farmers. His idea of change is to bring back the dignity in farming. To effectuate the needed change, he is currently practicing full-time farming in Agar Malwa district of Madhya Pradesh. VIF for me is a journey which refined my rational thinking specific to the basic issues of the country.
2 Aditya Kesanupalli Entrepreneur. 27. Telangana. Aditya studied B.Tech in Electronics and Communication from SRM Chennai and then worked in the oil and gas industry in Dubai. His interests in understanding the society and the country took him to Ashoka University for the one-year Young India Fellowship. Later, he participated in the Policy BootCamp and worked as a consultant to Andhra Pradesh government. He has been an active volunteer for Youth for Seva. His long term plan is to reduce unemployment through his own start-up. VIF doesn t offer suggestions. It offers you a network that is certain to help you in your ambitions
3 Aditya Lolla Researcher. 27. Tamil Nadu. Aditya Lolla pursued B.Tech in Chemical Engineering from Osmania University and holds an MSc in Sustainable Energy Systems from The University of Edinburgh. VIF Policy BootCamp was an exciting proposition for him as he was exploring various career options within the domain of energy policy. Through the medium of public policy, he wants to position himself to deal with overarching challenges such as energy poverty and climate change. Aditya currently works at IIT Madras for the Secretary Advisor to Ministry of Power, Minster of New and Renewable Energy. VIF for me is the promise of being in the presence of some of the most inspiring personalities who are also actively involved in shaping modern India.
4 Agastya Yeachury Public Sector Consultant. 24. Assam. Agastya studied B.Tech from SRM, Chennai. He worked as a public consultant for Grant Thornton and is currently employed in PricewaterhouseCoopers. Working as a consultant with the public sector gave him a perspective to look at a wider horizon of a particular issue. It triggered him to have a better understanding and go for the VIF Policy BootCamp. During PBC he interacted with various speakers and delegates from different backgrounds that gave him a better and a broader overall perspective on issues. Agastya is a contributing author to Public Policy - A Citizen s Guide. He plans to pursue Masters in Public Policy/Administration and work with Indian Government as an advisor. VIF for me is digging deeper and delving into the depths for a better understanding of current policy regime.
5 Amanat Boparai Defense Analyst. 23. Haryana Amanat Boparia, having studied Computer Science from Punjab Engineering College, works at American Express. She also worked as a research assistant to a professor in JNU on Security Studies. She was one of the 20 chosen delegates for the World Governance Expedition 2016 held in the USA. Also, she was one of the 40 delegates for the meeting held at UNESCO week on Peace and Sustainable Development. Post the expedition, Amanat became certain to have a profession in the public sector. She intends to pursue her Masters in Public Policy soon. The VIF delegation is extremely diverse, ranging from students to entrepreneurs to public policy practitioners. How different people approach different issues was a great learning experience.
6 Ankit Jain Engineering Student. 23. Tamil Nadu. Ankit Jain is a final year student Mechanical Engineering at IIT Madras. He joined Policy BootCamp 2016 at a time when he was figuring out ways to integrate what he was studying in IIT and where is passion lies. According to him, the guidance he got from the speakers and the interactions he had with the delegates aided him in setting his sight on pursuing a career in public policy. Ankit would be joining CleanMax Solar as a Business Development Manager and would focus on Energy Policy in his extra time. He aims for Masters in Public Policy and Economics and wishes to work at the intersections of Policy, Technology and Business in future. Ankit was among the 200 delegates selected for WB Group Youth Summit happened in World Bank Hq. in Washington DC, Nov 2016. He is also the co-founder of Vande Mataram, a lecture group at IIT Madras. The BootCamp changes your perspectives and shapes your thinking so that your engagements in life align with your passion.
7 Ankita Singh Developmental Worker. 26. Uttarakhand. Ankita who has been a part of Good Governance Yatra as well as the Policy BootCamp, finished her B.Pharma from Mumbai University and MS in Pharmacology from Long Island University. The Good Governance Yatra instilled confidence in her and she decided to work in the social sector. The BootCamp gave her an overall picture as to how policies are managed in real life. At present, she is working towards improving the health care services in villages in Uttarakhand. She aims to establish better health care services in India. There are very few organizations that have clarity about their mission and goals, and thrive to achieve them which makes VIF one of a kind.
8 Brahmaiah Manam Politician. 40. Andhra Pradesh. Brahmaiah Manam is an alumnus of J.N.T.U., Andhra Pradesh. He worked for IBM for a couple of years and then for Computer Science Corporation. However, his urge to work for governmental issues and serve the nation made him quit his business to wind up plainly as a full time politician. VIF Policy BootCamp came in his life when he didn t know what strategies he ought to adopt to do what he wished to do in life. The 21-day intensive Policy BootCamp provided profound experiences to the approaches required in the administration. VIF is not just about the BootCamp but rather the people you meet and the experiences you get.
9 Jigar Inamdar Socio-political Activist. 37. Gujarat. Jigar Inamdar did graduation in commerce and law, and a post graduate in political science. He is currently pursuing PhD in Public Administration. At present, he is a member of the senate and the syndicate of The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. Previously, Jigar has contested for MLA in 2007 as youngest candidate of Bharatiya Janta Party. The VIF PBC was in complete synchronization with his interests and aspirations. It proved to be the perfect platform to grasp what is out there in the policy space. His current engagements also include research to initiate PIL (Public Interest Litigation) on a few fundamental issues for the betterment of society. By going back to classroom, I could upgrade and update myself, and connect to the next generation.
10 Kushal Sagar Policy Analyst. 26. Delhi. Kushal hails from Giridih, a small town in Jharkhand. He is an Economics Graduate from SRCC and has been a Young India Fellow at Ashoka University. Being a national director of AISEC, he has worked on various developmental projects focusing on education in South East Asia and on HIV & AIDS in Africa. His focus at augmenting development through working with government and government agents & understanding the strategies in administration made him go for the Policy BootCamp 2015 which gave him the needed exposure and guidance. He is currently working with Wadhwani Foundation as a Policy and Research Analyst. VIF for me is awareness on what exists out there in the policy domain. It empowered me to take decisions that aligns more with my career ambitions.
11 Lakshmi Narasimha Development Worker. 33. Andhra Pradesh. Lakshmi Narasimha was born and brought up in a small village Yazali in Andhra Pradesh. His believes whatever we have is because of society. Giving back is not serving but it s our responsibility. This made him lay the foundation for Yazali Naa Janmabhumi which aims to uplift his village in the areas of agriculture, rural development, public sanitation, rural inhabitation, education etc. Also, he co-founded an old age home which is currently serving 23 senior citizens in his village. He wishes to increase the romanticism in farming which would make people want to be a part of this important occupation. VIF triggered me to quit my IT job and take up full time farming to serve my village.
12 Mayank Jain Agriculture-entrepreneur. 26. Bihar. Mayank Jain, who has been a part of the inaugural Good Governance Yatra 2015, is a graduate from NSIT in Manufacturing Processes and Automation. His interest for public policy and to understand how things function at various levels made him go for GGY. He is the co-founder of Microx Foundation, working on creating sustainable agrarian livelihood and food and nutrition security in Gaya, Bihar. He is presently engaged with more than 500 farmers in Gaya and strives to achieve sustainable livelihood for them. Good Governance Yatra offers you thoughts to ponder upon and experiences to cherish.
13 Narasimha Donthineni Management Student. 26. Haryana. Narsimha Donthineni is a bachelor in mechanical engineering from CBIT Hyderabad, and is currently pursuing his post-graduation programme in Finance and Marketing from IIM Rohtak. He aims to play a part in nation building through active participation in politics. He had contested as the youngest candidate for Hyderabad municipal election. BootCamp appealed to him as it provided him with the needed knowledge and guidance on formation as well strategies of implementation of policies. He founded a Policy Club in IIM Rohtak as well owing to the stimulation by VIF PBC. In this policy club they regularly organize Youth Parliament. He got media eyes when his activism forced the Hyderabad government to release alloted money for libraries in the city. VIF for me - Second Innings of my life
14 Pradeep Karuturi Environmentalist. 24. Andhra Pradesh Pradeep pursued B.Tech in electronics. His desire to work in the social sector urged him to go for the Policy BootCamp 2016. He is working with the special representative to the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. They are working to improve the quality of education in government schools and to digitize the targeted 5000 government schools. He is an activist on water and environment conservation. He wishes to pursue his Masters in public policy to aid him in his aims and plans. He has also travelled to Antarctica to raise awareness on environment. VIF provided me with a stage to meet diverse people and learn to look into the profundities of matters with discussions.
15 Rohit Parakh Social Entrepreneur. 25. Karnataka. Rohit Parakh, a graduate from Manchester University, left his job at Deutsche Bank in UK as a business analyst after he realized that he wants to work for the nation. He attended the VIF Policy BootCamp for getting better insights into the policy domain which opened his psyche for various possible opportunities to accomplish his objectives. He is currently engaged with Rang De which provides micro-credit to low income entrepreneurs and students. Few people who have a passion get the circumstances to work for that passion. VIF offers you those circumstances.
16 Shreemathi Tumkur Policy Student. 26. USA. Shreemathi Tumkur, a graduate in Information Technology from Bangalore, attended the Policy BootCamp 2015 and was a part of Good Governance Yatra 2015 as well. As an engineering graduate, Shreemathi shifted gears into the education space and took up the Teach for India fellowship for two years. VIF s vision- mobilising youth for nation building made her go for the Policy BootCamp and then Good Governance Yatra. Shreemathi wants to bring about systemic changes by being at the intersection of technology, policy and governance. She is currently studying Masters in Public Administration at the School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University. VIF s mission of working on talent and thought is a perfect amalgamation to transform India
17 Shubham Verma Policy Researcher. 31. Delhi. Shubham Verma graduated in software engineering from RGPV Bhopal, did Masters in Social Work from Mahatma Gandhi Chitrakoot University, MP, followed by a post graduate in Community Media from TISS Mumbai. Policy BootCamp provoked him to work at a systemic level for grassroots change. The shift in his work frame, from ground to research, made him pursue a research fellowship at Public Policy Research Center. Under this, he continues to research on various projects like Open Defecation as well as Swachh Bharat. VIF for me - A place to associate with people from different fields and to gain from everyone.
18 Smrthi Harits Journalist. 22. Karnataka. Smrithi is in her fourth year of engineering from PESIT, Bangalore. She attended the Policy BootCamp 2015 in view of her interests in policies and legislative issues. VIF Policy BootCamp laid the road for achieving her objective of entering politics. It provided her the right network to grow as a public leader. Currently, she works with The logical Indian. Through her initiative called Kagakka Gubakka, she helps children to get a deeper experience of their culture. VIF for me is a platform that provided me with the required networks and guidance.
19 Somya Bajaj Policy Researcher. 23. Odisha. Somya studied economics at Christ University. Heeding to her inquisitiveness for policy, she left her job at Goldman Sachs and joined the Policy BootCamp 2015. Somya has worked for creating an implementation programme for SAGY (Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana). Her resume boasts of a project with Himachal Pradesh that focused on improving the quality of education sector as well as Haryana Government s Good Governance Project. She is working in Odisha for Tata Steel to configure a rehabilitation model for backward areas and has been selected at Harvard Kennedy School for a Masters in Public Administration. VIF for me is perspectives & opportunities, citizen engagement & implementation
20 VIF has been a motivating factor for me to join, sustain and contribute in social sector Syed Khamaroddin Non-profit Worker. 26. karnataka. Syed Khamaroddin is a graduate in Electrical Engineering from PESIT, Bangalore. He joined Azim Premji Foundation as Fellow in public education as he was looking for a space to think, reflect and create direct impact. Policy BootCamp provided him the platform to get an exposure of various policy processes and created an interest in governance. Syed is presently working as a Program Manager with Azim Premji Foundation. He aims to provide quality education to all irrespective of any socio-economic barriers.
21 Vivek Dhandapani Entrepreneur. 28. Tamil Nadu. Vivek, an alumnus of IIT Madras, was a delegate at the VIF Policy BootCamp 2015. His enthusiasm for strategy issues made him go for the Policy BootCamp. It was an incredible learning experience for him all throughout the program. At present, he heads TheHashtag.in, which is incubated at IIT Madras, working on media management and analytics for the public sector. His long term plan is to have an office in each district of the country. Standing by the motto of Be & Make, VIF BootCamp sets the right platform for any citizen who is interested in policy making.
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