Manovikas Charitable Society · Delhi, India · Since 1997
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Accountable · Expert-led · Since 1997

Governance & People

Manovikas is guided by national leaders in disability policy, psychiatry, rehabilitation science and inclusive education — and governed to the Code of Governance for Voluntary Organisations.

These are the people who guide Manovikas.

They are experts in disability, health and education.

They make sure our work is honest and good.

Patrons

Our Patrons

Mrs. Stuti Kacker, IAS (Retd.)

Patron & Mentor · Former Secretary, GOI — Dept. of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (MSJE)

Former Chairperson, NCPCR and Chancellor, Subharti University. She anchors Manovikas to the highest standards of public accountability in disability policy.

She led disability work for the Government of India. She guides us as our Patron.

Full profile →

Dr. Umesh Sabharwal

Patron

A long-standing patron supporting Manovikas programmes and students.

He supports and guides Manovikas.

Full profile →

Dr. Nilima Sabharwal

Patron

A long-standing patron supporting Manovikas programmes and students.

She supports and guides Manovikas.

Full profile →

Governing Body

An elected board — including self-advocates

Manovikas is governed by an elected Governing Body of 15 trustees under the Societies Registration Act 1860 — President Dr. Nimesh G. Desai, two Vice Presidents, a Treasurer, and governing members who include special educators, a Supreme Court advocate, a chartered accountant, and self-advocates with IDD as full voting members.

A board of 15 people leads Manovikas.

Some board members have IDD themselves. Their vote counts the same.

Meet the full Governing Body →

Nothing about us, without us

Self-advocates and family stakeholders hold seats on our Governing Body — inclusion practised at the highest level of decision-making, not only in classrooms.

People with IDD help make our biggest decisions.

Mentors

Counsel from the very top of the field

Our mentors have led India's apex institutions for disability — the National Trust, RCI, IHBAS and the national institutes.

Dr. Nimesh G. Desai

President & Mentor · Former Director, IHBAS

Professor of Psychiatry; Humphrey Fulbright Fellow (Johns Hopkins), MRCPsych (UK), 70+ scientific publications.

A senior doctor of the mind. He is our President.

Full profile →

Mrs. Aloka Guha

Mentor · Former Chairperson, The National Trust (MSJE, GOI)

Mentors Manovikas on national disability-trust frameworks, guardianship and community inclusion.

She led the National Trust of India. She is our mentor.

Full profile →

Dr. A. T. Thressia Kutty

Mentor · Veteran of vocational training for persons with IDD

Former HOD at NIEPID, Secunderabad. Manovikas confers a national appreciation award in her name.

She is a leader in job training for people with IDD.

Full profile →

Dr. J. P. Singh

Mentor · Former Member Secretary, RCI

Rajiv Gandhi National Awardee in Disability Rehabilitation (2008); led national studies for MSJE, MHRD and the Ministry of Health.

He led India's council for rehabilitation.

Full profile →

Dr. Himangshu Das

Mentor · Former Director — NIEPVD, NIEPMD & NIEPID

Has led three national institutes under DEPwD (Divyangjan), MSJE; PhD in Special Education.

He has led national institutes for disability.

Full profile →

Dr. Roma Kumar & Mr. J. C. Gupta

Mentors

Dr. Kumar — Vice Chairperson (Psychology), Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. Mr. Gupta — Senior Rehabilitation Consultant and Advisor to MIHE.

They guide our psychology and education work.

Dr. Kumar → Mr. Gupta →

Advisory Committee

Independent advice, formally constituted

Chaired by Sh. M. M. Vidyarthi, the Advisory Committee reviews programme quality, ethics and institutional direction.

A special committee checks that our work is good and fair.

Members

Sh. M. M. Vidyarthi (Chairperson) · Dr. Lalit Narayan · Mr. S. K. Dua · Dr. Rita Malhotra · Col. H. C. Vyas

Five members advise Manovikas.

Expert Resource Faculty

National experts who teach and examine with us

Our seminars, CRE programmes and assessments are led with faculty from India's national institutes, leading hospitals and pioneering NGOs — NIMHANS, NIEPID, IHBAS, Action For Autism, Com DEALL and more.

Top experts from all over India teach with us.

Prof. (Dr.) M. Thomas Kishore
Professor of Clinical Psychology, NIMHANS, Bengaluru

Prof. (Dr.) Jayanthi Narayan
Former Deputy Director, NIEPID · Visiting Professor, University of Northampton (UK)

Dr. Prathibha Karanth
Speech-Language Pathologist · Founder, The Com DEALL Trust

Mrs. Merry Barua
Founder-Director, Action For Autism

Dr. D. K. Menon
Former Director, NIMH (now NIEPID)

Dr. L. Govinda Rao
Former Director, NIMH

Dr. Bhushan Punani
Executive Director, Blind People's Association

Mr. Akhil S. Paul
Founder, Sense International India

Mr. T. D. Dhariyal
Former Deputy Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities

Shri K. V. S. Rao
Director, DEPwD, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment

Dr. Himangshu Das
Former Director — NIEPVD, NIEPMD & NIEPID

Dr. J. P. Singh
Former Member Secretary, Rehabilitation Council of India

Dr. A. T. Thressia Kutty
Veteran of vocational training & employment for persons with IDD · Former HOD, NIEPID

Dr. Roma Kumar
Vice Chairperson (Psychology), Sir Ganga Ram Hospital

Prof. P. Jeyachandran
Veteran special educator

Dr. Varsha Gathoo
Formerly AYJNISHD (Divyangjan), Mumbai

Prof. (Dr.) Saroj Arya
Formerly NIEPID, Secunderabad

Dr. Amar Jyothi Persha
Formerly NIEPID — early intervention

Mrs. Suvarna Raj
Para-athlete & disability rights advocate

Dr. Reeta Peshawaria

Dr. Madhavi Latha Kari Maganti

Dr. Sharada Fatehpuria

Dr. Mereen Punnen

V. R. P. Sheilaja Rao

Dr. Sanjay Kant Prasad

Dr. Pooja Jha Nair
Rehabilitation Psychologist

Simmi Santha

Shri Arvind Sharda

Shri R. Muralidharan

Saswati Dalal

Indu Chaswal

Mr. Anil Joshi

Mr. Rajesh Trivedi

Mr. Manoj Kumar Nirala

CA Shivani Lohia

IHBAS faculty — Dr. Deepak Kumar (HOD, Psychiatry), Dr. Jahanara M. Gajendragad (HOD, Psychiatric Social Work), Dr. Praveen B. Yanawar — chair and examine across our seminar series.

Team & Community

The people who run it every day

Academic leadership

Mrs. Indira Alok — Principal, Manovikas School for Inclusion · Ms. Pooja Kanojia — Programme Manager, TEED · Mrs. Sangeeta Malhotra · Mrs. Rubi Kumari · Mrs. Sonam · Ms. Tanya

Our teachers and managers run the schools every day.

Self-advocates in leadership

Self-advocates serve as governing members and programme voices — see the Governing Body.

People with IDD lead with us.

Community supporters

Families and well-wishers — including Manav and Manpreet Grover — stand with Manovikas as long-term community partners.

Families and friends support our work.

Awards & Recognition

Dr. A. T. Thressia Kutty's Appreciation Award

A national appreciation award conferred by Manovikas for the best paper and poster presentations at our seminars — honouring the veteran of vocational training for persons with IDD in whose name it is given.

We give an award for the best research presentations at our seminars.

NSMH-03 (2021) — Good Health & Psychological Well-Being

1st — Mrs. Rakshita Shekhar (Autistic identity & mental health) · 2nd — Ms. Monica Kahlon · 3rd — Ms. Marya Haque & team; Ms. Vanshika Mahindroo & Shefali Dahiya

NSMH-02 (2020) — Mental Health & Social Inclusion

1st — Dr. Nazia Ali · 2nd — Ms. Susan James; Ms. Preeti Jain · 3rd — Ms. Reshma Shah; Ms. Alphonsa Joseph

NSMH-01 — Mental Health & Social Inclusion for PIDD

1st — Ms. Aanchal Harjai (early intervention & autism stigma) · 2nd — Dr. Dipti Yadav · 3rd — Ms. Naynee Singh

Think College State Conference (2019)

1st — Mrs. Indira Alok (NSQF) · 2nd — Ms. Sonam Qureshi ("Stone to Apple") · 3rd — Mr. Rishi (exam accommodations for students with IDD — Manovikas experience)

Partners & Affiliations

A network built over 28 years

Manovikas works within India's statutory disability framework and with academic and community partners in India and abroad.

We work with the government and with partners in India and other countries.

The National Trust — SNAC Rehabilitation Council of India IGNOU Special Study Centre NIOS Accredited Central Sanskrit University (MIHE affiliation) Jamia Millia Islamia (MoU) Shri Khushal Das University (MoU) Home of Hope Inc., USA — since 2000 Think College network International Dance Council CID (UNESCO partner) NGO Darpan

Shown as name cards. Logos appear only where written permission exists. All wording is factual.

How we are governed

Standards you can verify

Manovikas Charitable Society is registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860 and complies with 12A, 80G and FCRA. We follow the Code of Governance for Voluntary Organisations: an elected Governing Body, an Advisory Committee, an Academic Council, and audited annual reporting.

We follow the rules of the Government of India.

Our accounts are checked every year.

Read our annual reports →

Work with this team

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