Our Team

Dharmendra Gwal
Sponsor Coordinator for Indigenous Tribal People’s Rights and Van Panchayat Governance

Dharmendra Gwal, a resident of Ghatibagad and a member of the Bhotiya tribe, serves as a dedicated social worker with ARPAN. His work focuses on advancing the rights and inclusion of children and the Van Raji community through education and awareness. Deeply rooted in his community, Dharmendra strives to ensure that every child and marginalised group has access to opportunities, dignity, and a voice in shaping their future.

Focus Areas: Child Rights | Raji Community | Education and Inclusion
Experience:  9 years in community work

Ganga Basera
Senior Member at ARPAN

Ganga Basera, from Askot in Pithoragarh, has been a steadfast partner of ARPAN for nearly two decades. With over 20 years of dedication to grassroots development, she embodies the spirit of community leadership and collective action. Ganga’s long association with ARPAN reflects a deep commitment to empowering local communities through compassion, resilience, and sustained efforts toward social change.

Focus Areas: Community Empowerment | Leadership | Collective Action
Experience: 20 years

Jyoti Parki
Cluster Coordinator, Adolescent Empowerment

Jyoti Parki, from Boragaon in Didihat, is a B.A. graduate with a deep enthusiasm for dance, culture, and community engagement. She works closely with young people to raise awareness on social issues and inspire active participation in local initiatives. Combining creativity with commitment, Jyoti brings energy and empathy to her work, helping to strengthen youth engagement and education within her community.

Focus Areas: Youth Awareness | Cultural Engagement | Education
Experience: Emerging Community Worker (1.5 yrs.)

Khadyot Kumar
Program Coordinator for Indigenous Tribal People’s Rights and Van Panchayat Governance

For the past nine years, Khadyot Kumar has been a dedicated member of the ARPAN team, working closely with communities across 35 villages in the blocks of Kanalichhina, Didihat, and Dharchula. His work centres on strengthening the identity, dignity, and livelihoods of women farmers while advancing the rights and welfare of Rajee communities, adolescents, and children. Deeply rooted in community engagement, Khadyot plays a vital role in building awareness, fostering inclusion, and promoting sustainable rural development.

Focus Areas: Women Farmers | Livelihood | Raji and Adolescent Development
Experience: 9 years

Mahesh Kohli
Finance Officer

Mahesh Kohli, from Pithoragarh, holds a Master’s degree in Commerce and brings over a decade of experience in financial management and institutional accounting. As ARPAN’s accountant, he ensures accuracy, transparency, and efficiency in the organisation’s financial operations. His meticulous approach and strong administrative skills play a vital role in maintaining ARPAN’s accountability and smooth functioning.

Focus Areas: Finance Management | Institutional Accounting | Administration
Experience: 10 years

Neetu Pokhariya
Field Coordinator for Indigenous Tribal People’s Rights

Neetu Pokhariya, from Bhagichaura, holds a Master’s degree and brings a spirited, dynamic approach to her work with ARPAN. With a background in NCC and adventure sports like paragliding and rafting, she combines discipline and resilience in her community engagement efforts. For the past two years, Neetu has worked closely with Raji women and elected women representatives, strengthening leadership capacities and promoting active participation in local governance and decision-making.

Focus Areas: Women’s Leadership | Rajee Community Engagement | Field Coordination
Experience: 2 years

Neha Pal
Program Coordinator for Single Women and Land Rights and Elected Women Representative

Neha Pal has been an integral part of ARPAN for the past eight years, bringing dedication and insight to her work with mountain communities. A graduate of 2019, she focuses on strengthening women’s political participation and leadership, advancing the rights of single women, and addressing social, economic, and land-related challenges at the grassroots level. Through her consistent engagement, Neha has become a trusted bridge between communities and local governance systems, ensuring that women’s voices are heard and represented in decision-making spaces.

Focus Areas: Women’s Political Participation | Land and Social Rights | Governance
Experience: 8 years

Pooja Deopa
Cluster Coordinator, Adolescent Empowerment

Pooja Deopa, from Athkwali village, holds a Master’s degree and brings several years of experience in the social sector to her role as Field Coordinator at ARPAN. She leads and supports a range of programmes focused on women’s empowerment, leadership, and community development across multiple blocks. With a strong commitment to gender equity and participatory development, Pooja plays a key role in strengthening grassroots initiatives and ensuring meaningful community engagement.

Focus Areas: Women’s Empowerment | Field Coordination | Community Development
Experience: 1.5 years

Priyanka Digari
Program Coordinator, Young People Initiative and Climate Action with Youth

Priyanka Digari, from Kanalichhina in Pithoragarh district, works with ARPAN on adolescent empowerment and community awareness initiatives. As an NYCC Fellow, she actively leads efforts to promote climate change awareness and action among young people. Guided by a strong belief in the power of youth and collective action, Priyanka envisions fostering positive social change through community-driven awareness, participation, and leadership.

Focus Areas: Adolescents | Climate Change | Community Awareness
Experience: 1 year with ARPAN | NYCC Fellow

Renu Thakur
Founder and CEO

With over three decades of grassroots experience, Renu Thakur is the visionary leader behind ARPAN’s mission and impact. A passionate advocate for justice, equity, and inclusion, she has dedicated her life to empowering communities and amplifying the voices of those too often unheard. Under her guidance, ARPAN has championed causes ranging from ending gender-based violence and advancing child rights to securing land and forest rights for indigenous and marginalised groups. Her leadership and contributions have been recognised by both government bodies and philanthropic organisations. Renu’s enduring commitment continues to inspire ARPAN’s work in building awareness, resilience, and sustainable change across Uttarakhand’s mountain communities.

Experience: 30 years

Rohit Kumar
Assistant Accountant

Rohit Kumar serves as Assistant Accountant and Supporting Documentation Staff at ARPAN. Known for his diligence and attention to detail, he plays an important role in maintaining accurate financial records and ensuring smooth documentation processes. His curiosity and eagerness to learn new skills continually enhance the team’s efficiency, contributing to ARPAN’s commitment to transparency and effective programme management.

Focus Areas: Accounting Support | Documentation
Experience: Emerging Professional

Vijay Samant
Digital Communication and Documentation

Based in Pithoragarh town, 29-year-old Vijay Samant combines creativity and technical expertise in his role at ARPAN. For the past three years, he has managed the organisation’s digital communication — overseeing social media content, website updates, digital documentation, and internal communication systems. Passionate about music, gardening, biking, and travel, Vijay brings a dynamic and innovative spirit to his work, helping ARPAN strengthen its digital presence and outreach.

Focus Areas: Digital Media | Communication | Technical Support
Experience: 3 years