Team

Yamini Aiyar, Director

Yamini Aiyar is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Policy Research and the Director of this initiative. Yamini Aiyar has extensive experience working on issues related to strengthening public service delivery systems by institutionalizing accountability mechanisms through greater citizen participation. Her work emphasizes action research to try and better understand the effectiveness of accountability tools. Prior to the Accountability Initiative, Yamini has worked at the World Bank, New Delhi Office and the Ford Foundation, New Delhi. Yamini has an MSc in Development Studies from the London School of Economics and received an M.A. degree in Social and Political Sciences at St. Edmund's College, Cambridge University, UK. She also holds a BA degree in Philosophy from St. Stephen's College, Delhi University.

Email: yaiyar@accountabilityindia.org

Ambrish Dongre, Senior Researcher

Ambrish joined AI in late 2010. Ambrish has recently completed a Ph.D. in Economics from University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC). His thesis rigorously analyzes the role of women 'sarpanch' in promoting child health, and the effectiveness of the 'Janani Suraksha Yojna' in increasing institutional deliveries. At AI Ambrish is responsible for leading AI’s quantitative research work. This includes designing the PAISA surveys and leading the data analysis process. In addition Ambrish is responsible for managing PAISA implementation in Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal. Ambrish holds Masters in Economics from University of Mumbai and Bachelors in Economics & Statistics from Ruia College, University of Mumbai.

Email: adongre@accountabilityindia.org.

Avani Kapur, Senior Research & Program Analyst

Avani Kapur has been with AI since 2008. Prior to AI, she worked at the Centre for Development and Human Rights (CDHR), with Dr. Arjun Sengupta. As part of her activities at CDHR, she was responsible for assisting Dr. Sengupta in his reports to the Human Rights Council as the ‘Independent Expert on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights’ and the ‘Right to Development’. At AI, she is involved in the research and implementation of the PAISA project. She is the lead coordinator of the project’s activities across various stakeholders and is responsible for managing the project in three states – Bihar, Himachal Pradesh and Maharashtra.  In addition, she anchor’s the budget analysis work at AI. Avani has an MSc in Development Studies from the London School of Economics and received a BA cum laude from Smith College, Massachusetts, USA.

Email: akapur@accountabilityindia.org

Gayatri Sahgal, Research Analyst

Gayatri is working on the PAISA project which is looking at tracking social sector expenditure. Prior to this, Gayatri worked as a research associate at the Centre for Equity Studies, an NGO headed by Harsh Mander. As part of her activities at CES she was responsible for coordinating and leading a research study on social protection for migrants from the unorganized sector. A graduate from Lady Shri Ram College for Women, she has completed her post graduation from the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex.

Email: gsahgal@accountabilityindia.org

Anirvan Chowdhury, Research Associate

Anirvan has joined AI as a Research Associate for the PAISA project. He has a master’s degree in economics from the Madras School of Economics and his research interests include public economics and development economics. Prior to joining AI, he has worked at Feedback Ventures Pvt, Ltd., a consulting firm in the infrastructure domain in India.

Email: achowdhury@accountabilityindia.org 

Laina Emmanuel, Communications and Technology Associate

Laina leads the Accountability Initiative’s research and advocacy work on technology and accountability. In addition, she anchors AI’s communication and knowledge management initiatives. Laina has previously worked with Infosys, Netapp and Video Volunteers. At Infosys and Netapp, her work involved Operating System and File System development. At Video Volunteers, her work involved introducing technology in the community media movement. A graduate from National Institute of Technology, Calicut, Laina has a B.Tech in Electronics and Communication.

Email: lemmanuel@accountabilityindia.org

Shailey Tucker, Programme Analyst

Shailey works on the PAISA project at AI, managing project implementation in three states. Based primarily in Hyderabad previously, she was involved with research on climate change and natural resource management at the Poverty Learning Foundation, and has also worked on other development issues such as rural employment, microfinance and education. Having completed a thesis on rural-urban migration in India, Shailey has a Research Master’s degree in International and Development Economics from Université Paris-Dauphine, France, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and International Studies from Case Western Reserve University, Ohio, U.S.A. During the course of her undergraduate studies, she also spent a year abroad at the Economics Department of the London School of Economics, U.K.

Email: stucker@accountabilityindia.org

Adarsh Namala, Research Associate

Adarsh is a Research Associate with Accountability Initiative (AI). He is currently working on the MGNREGA -Social Audit project. The project aims to analyse the efficacy of the social audit as a platform to capture the universe of complaints at a village/mandal and whether it leads to effective grievance redressal. He also aids the Communications and Technology Associate, handling the daily aspects of AI’s communication Initiatives. Before Joining AI, Adarsh worked with Safai Karmachari Andolan, a national campaign for the eradication of manual scavenging in India, and before that with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) as a software developer. Adarsh is an undergraduate in Computer Science and Engineering from Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT).  

Indrojit Banerji, Research Associate

Indrojit joined Accountability Initiative (AI)I in September 2011 to develop AI's work in the area of service delivery and accountability mechanisms; what structures exist, how effective they are and what impact they have. He is currently conducting a study into teacher monitoring mechanisms in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh which aims to suggest why existing mechanisms do not result in improvements to teacher attendance. Indrojit joins AI from the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit in the UK where he was responsible for ensuring the delivery of No.10's key priorities in the areas of the economy, climate change, immigration and housing. Prior to this, he was a Brand Manager at Unilever, UK.    

Our advisors

T.R.Raghunandan, Former Joint Secretary - Minister of Panchayati Raj

Mr Raghunandan is a public finance expert and an anti-corruption activist. He heads the Ipaidabribe initiative and is an adviser to the PAISA course. He was formerly Joint Secretary – Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India and Secretary-Rural development Karnataka before he took voluntary retirement from the Indian Administrative Service (after 26 years). He is presently a consultant and adviser to international development agencies on local government policy, fiscal decentralization and capacity development in local governance. A law graduate from Delhi University, Mr Raghunandan did his masters in Business Law at the National Law School of India, Bangalore.

Parimala Inamdar, Principal Consultant, Technology and Learning, Aquarians Management Consultancy (P) Ltd

Ms Parimala works on design innovation for technology in human learning, as well as research in pedagogy for technology enabled learning. Her work has spanned children and adult users, has targeted urban professionals as well as emerging/rural markets. She has been involved in a number of projects such India’s 1st interactive multimedia project, video based programs, ‘hole-in-the-wall’ project, web design, web content, curriculum, courseware, learning management system, knowledge management system, virtual classroom. She is most known for the ‘The Hole In The Wall’ project.  The Pompidou Center Paris, exhibited her work with French digital artist Pascal Monteil at ‘Design Aujourd’hui’ for 3 months (see Digital Art Project). She also serves on a number of international scientific panels for technology enhanced learning. You can read more about her here

Our PAISA associates

Poonam Choudhary, PAISA associate, Rajasthan – Poonam Joined AI in September 2010. She is managing PAISA Project activities in Jaipur district. Prior to her appointment in AI, Poonam worked with Reliance General Insurance Company Ltd. as a management trainee. A Science graduate in BioTechnology from University of Rajasthan, Poonam has completed her Post Graduate Diploma in Management from Aravali Institute of Management, Jodhpur (2008-10 Batch). She also did course in Environment Management from Centre for Environment Education, Ahmadabad (CEE) and Development Management from TARA Livelihood Academy, Development Alternative (DA) Orchha, Madhya Pradesh.

Ram Ratan, PAISA associate, Rajasthan – Ram Ratan joined Accountability Initiative as PAISA Associate in October 2010. He has completed his M.A. (Sociology) from Rajasthan University, Jaipur. Starting his career with GVNML Jaipur, Ram Ratan has over the years worked with several grassroot NGO’s in the state. His core areas of expertise include; agriculture and animal husbandry development, livelihood development, and elementary education.

Dinesh Kumar, PAISA associate, Bihar –Dinesh has worked with the Bihar Education Project – Vaishali as a VSS and VSC trainer from 2002 to 2005. Subsequently, he worked with Pratham first as a district-coordinator of their Sankalp program for two years and then as Divisional Co-coordinator BEC and Sankalp for 6 months. He joined ASER in 2010 and has been working on the PAISA project. Dinesh has graduated in History from the University Muzaffarpur.

Seema Muskan, PAISA associate, Bihar  – A B.A.Honors graduate from J.D.Women’s College, Patna, Seema has been working in ASER since 2005. She joined the PAISA project in 2010.

Venugopal Kalokota, PAISA associate, Andhra Pradesh - A BSc, Bed graduate from Kakatiya University, AP, Venugopal worked with Pratham for five years before joining the AI team in 2010. He is in parallel studying to be a Master of Social Work from Nagarjuna University, AP.

Manjula Budarapu, PAISA associate, Andhra Pradesh – Manjula is an M.Sc in child guidance and family counseling from ANGRAU university. Her thesis was on “Social behavior of children in conflict with Law: An observational study” and as part of her course work has worked on issues affecting villages.

Anil Baber, PAISA associate, Maharasthra – Anil is an M.A, B.Ed from Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Marathwada university, Aurangabad. He earlier worked as a district coordinator in PRATHAM before joining Accountability Initiative as a PAISA associate.

Swapna Ramtake, PAISA associate, Madhya Pradesh – Swapna joined Accountability Initiative in October 2010. She has completed her MSW from Amaravathi University Maharasthra. She started her career with PRATHAM Mumbai in 2003 where she was responsible for setting up and managing community based learning centers for children in 7500 villages.

Vinod Verma, PAISA associate, Himachal Pradesh – Vinod is a PGDRD from IGNOU and a graduate in public administration from Govt. Degree College Sanjauli. Prior to joining Accountability Initiative Vinod had been working as District Coordinator with the Nehru Youth Club.

Suddhasatwa Barik, PAISA associate, West Bengal – Suddhasatwa is a Post Graduate in International Human Rights and Duties from University of Calcutta and a B.Sc graduate in Botany with the University of Calcutta. Prior to joining AI in 2010, he worked as a research officer in PRIA-DFID on a Prison Research Project and as a research assistant for a Government of West Bengal project “Tribal culture in West Bengal”