Anand had graduated in engineering from IIT Kharagpur. For a short while he worked in a private industry and could have easily chosen the beaten path towards prosperity. But he decided that he would utilize his intelligence and skill for the development process. This attempt though was extraordinary on the personal front but was also in harmony with the contemporary social conditions. In 1970 youth had joined hands together for social transformation getting inspirations from the social movement under the leadership of late Jayprakash Narayan. Thousands of young boys and girls willingly jumped in the movement for rural development and social transformation. Anand was a representative of that generation. He worked along with Kusum tai who shared his views. This was something special because we find many social workers who work single handedly but working full time for the society along with your family required extreme courage and loyalty.

She had done her Masters in Psychology. She was a founder member of Shashwat Trust having 47 years of work experience. She started working with tribals in Ambegaon, Junnar and Khed talukas of Pune district in Maharashtra since 1981 with the objective of reducing poverty of displaced tribal communities and to empower the tribal communities to address their concerns related to their entitlements, livelihood, human rights and social justice. A dynamic personality with recipient of 7 awards for her valuable contribution in the social field.

Dr. Vinayak Kale is MBBS, DNB (Medicine) from BJ Medical College, Pune. He has also completed his graduate diploma in Diabetes from Australia. A consultant physician, diabetologist having 30 years experience. He has his private clinic and he is attached to Lokmanya Hospital, Nigdi, Pune. He is responsible for implementing board’s decisions and for overall governance as well as responsible for driving strategic goals and objectives.

An Employee Relations & Human Resources professional with 38 years of experience in corporate sector. He is a Commerce graduate with Masters in Personnel Management and PGD in Ecology. Worked in senior managerial capacity with Kirloskar group for 20 years and with Mercedes-Benz India, Pune for 18 years having good track record in building Interpersonal Relationships and Human Resources Management. He was also responsible for CSR initiatives at Mercedes-Benz India, Pune.

A technically qualified craftsman from Tata Motors Limited, Pune. Having 22 years of work experience in manufacturing sector at Bajaj Auto Limited, Pune. He has spent his childhood in Maharashtra Arogya Mandal, Narodi. He is one of the founder members of Shashwat Trust. Worked closely with Ms.Kusum Karnik and Late Anand Kapoor for last 20 years. Having strong inclination for working in social field especially for betterment of deprived communities.

Dr. Aparna Watve is a botanist and has doctorate in vegetation ecology with 25 years of experience working in Western Ghats hot-spot region. She is currently Coordinator of the IUCN SSC Western Ghats Plant Specialist Group. She has served as a member of HighLevel Monitoring Committee of Mahabaleshwar Panchgani Eco sensitive Area and is currently Member, Expert Committee of the Maharashtra State Biodiversity Board. She has taught interdisciplinary subjects and contributed to trandisciplinary teaching programmes on Environment and Society Interactions at the Tata Institute of Social Science, MIT World Peace University, Bharati Vidyapeeth Environment Education and Research Institute and ePG Pathshala.

She is a qualified Nurse by profession. Working with Shashwat Trust for last 10 years as Health Co-ordinator. She has completed her ANM Nursing Course and worked with various hospitals in Pune namely; Sancheti Hospital, Sant Dnyaneshwar Hospital, YCM Hospital and DY Patil Hospital as Nurse. She also worked at Government Residential School at Sonawale, Junnar as Superintendant.

She has done her graduation in Arts and Education as well as she has completed her Diploma in Child Guidance & School Management. Working with Shashwat Trust since 2003 and responsible for overall Administration of Residential School run by Shashwat Trust at Aghane village, Taluka Ambegaon as well as supports Shashwat’s Office Administration since 2006. She is also responsible for Shashwat Trust’s Balwadi’s Training & Administration.

He has done his Master’s in Pharmacy from Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT/ UDCT), Mumbai . He has Supported implementation of projects related to land rights and livelihoods of marginalised communities in Maharashtra. Worked on issues related to Adivasi culture, land rights, conservation of agrobiodiversity; village-level grain banks, medicinal plants conservation, traditional medicine; water conservation, bamboo craft; food processing; NTFPs; horticulture; etc. Collected and compiled up-to-date information on conservation of medicinal plants and identified NGOs for implementing an ex-situ medicinal plants conservation project in South India. He is mainly responsible for land rights, livelihood and NTFP related projects.