Uma is a social worker and has over 15 years of experience of working with the children at risk. Uma conceptualized and co-founded the RATI Foundation & it’s initiative – Aarambh India. At RATI, Uma leads the fundraising activities, strategic planning and implementation of on-ground interventions and advocacy with central systems. She is the primary master trainer who has been trained in both the International Break the Silence Module and the KNH Child Protection Module and has trained more than 5000 individuals. In 2017, the Ministry of Women and Child Development India honored her as an ‘Agent of Change’ in India. Besides her Masters in Social Work, she has completed a one month fellowship at the Oslo University College and an executive education program in Social Entrepreneurship from INSEAD School of Business, Singapore.

Siddharth has more than 15 years of experience in working with nonprofits across India. At RATI, Siddharth takes forward the digital safety, advocacy and resource center activities. He has completed the Executive Training program on Strategic Planning by Harvard Business School, India and now leads the strategic planning of online interventions and advocacy around the same. He has been trained in the Online Safety Module by CEOP UK and subsequently adapted it to the Indian context. He worked with the Union Ministry for Women & Children while they were setting up their own hotline, ECPAT-India in its research on online child sexual exploitation and UNESCO Asia-Pacific on coming up with a online safety framework. He has worked as a communications manager for Video Volunteers, and on several successful online campaigns including ARTICLE 17 and the Hunger Videos, a series of videos produced in collaboration with Red Cross. Prior to that, he worked with the Bangalore-based Centre for Information & Development Studies (CIEDS). He curated the ‘Cinema of Resistance’ package for World Social Forum 2007, Nairobi. He was the festival coordinator and curator for Voices from the Waters, one of the largest environmental film festivals in the country between 2007 and 2010.

Persis is a child rights and women’s rights lawyer. She has represented woman and children in cases of domestic and sexual violence for over 10 years. A graduate from Government Law College, Mumbai, she conceptualised and managed a socio-legal program for survivors of sexual violence at a Mumbai based NGO, before joining RATI. Persis is a master trainer and has trained over 5000 Police Officers across the country on laws relating to women and children. She has also trained Judges at the Maharashtra Judicial Academy and civil servants at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy Of Administration. She has also conducted awareness workshops for Public Prosecutors, Medical Officers, Civil Society Organizations, community leaders and young people on issues and laws related to violence against women and children. She has developed training and resource modules for the Police, Judiciary and Civil Society organisations on the POCSO Act, Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace and Domestic Violence. Persis has also assisted organizations and institutions with their Prevention of Sexual Harassment policies and systems. Her written work has been published in esteemed journals and portals including EPW and The Wire among others.

Pallavi has an M.Phil degree in Social Work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. Her thesis was on “Tribal School dropouts from the schools of Wayanad District”. She is currently pursuing her P.hD in Social Work from the same institute. She worked for two years as Assistant Professor at the School of Social Work, Marian College, Kuttikkanam, Kerala. Prior to which, she worked as Community Development Supervisor for the Jalanidhi project by Kerala State government. At RATI, along with other members of the research team, she is working as senior research officer conducting a research study on the impact of COVID 19 on online behaviors of children and young people from marginalized communities.

Sameer has completed his Bachelor’s from Aligarh Muslim University and his Master’s in Social Work from the Central University of Himachal Pradesh, Dharamshala. His postgraduate dissertation was titled ‘‘Issues and challenges faced by female street vendors with special focus on Aligarh district, Uttar Pradesh’. He has interned and volunteered with several international and national organizations such as EduCare & Read Global. His own organization in Aligarh works on empowerment of children and youth through exposure to scientific temperament. He has previously worked as a research assistant on an academic research project for the London Business School. At RATI, he is working with a team that is studying the impact of COVID 19 on online behaviors of children and young people from marginalized communities.

Saumya Nigam is a Counseling Psychologist. She completed her Masters in Clinical Psychology, PGD in Counseling Skills (TISS, Mumbai) & Basics in Addiction Management (NIMHANS). Post which she worked at UMMEED Centre for Child Development, Mumbai as intern, and volunteered at Aavishkar Centre for Self Enrichment, and Poddar Wellness. She was associated with iCALL, TISS as a Counsellor, providing psycho-social support via telephone and emails. She is peer mentor for Life Skills, CLL, TISS Mumbai and has delivered lectures on the same as Guest Faculty. As part of her association with TISS she has designed and worked on projects for Life Skills, Homemakers and has written papers on understanding Juvenile Delinquency. She has also taken workshops on Understanding & Managing Parental Fatigue and Managing Caregiver Burnout for the parents of Type1 diabetes.

Salman completed his Masters in Counseling Psychology at Shivaji University, Kolhapur. Post which, he worked with some of the leading organizations & institutions in his city for about five years such Sangli Mission Society, Lotus Medical Foundation and CPR Hospital. In Kolhapur he has worked on adolescent health in rural and urban schools as a counselor. He is one of the founders of We Care Social Foundation which works on issues such as mental health awareness, adolescent problems and social work.

Dinesh has an MBA in Information Technology. Additionally, He has completed certification in Language coding (dot.Net) and computer hardware. He has 13+ years of experience in tech support, training and development & project Management. He has experience in overseeing large teams across remote field areas in Maharashtra’s backward districts. He has worked on issues ranging from education and tribal development. He is as passionate about coding as he is about traveling. More than anything, he is proud that he has visited every state in India.

Urmila has a B.Com from Mumbai University and then completed her GDCA, Maharashtra Board. Post which, she worked for 15 years in the offices of CA Mahesh Madkholkar and Company and followed it up with a stint at Sapphire Hospital, Thane. Urmila is a proud mother of two children and passionate about accounts and finances.