Our Team
Board of Trustees
Keshar Kumar
Chairman, Labour and Social Research Institute
Central Committee Member, INTUC
Keshar Kumar is a passionate advocate for labor rights, social equity, and sustainable development. He currently serves as Chairman of the Labour and Social Research Institute (LSRI) and a Central Committee Member of the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC).
An alumnus of Hansraj College, University of Delhi, Keshar holds a Master’s degree in Globalization and Labour from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, and has also studied at Wits University, Johannesburg, South Africa. He brings a unique blend of global academic exposure and grassroots organizing experience.
Under his leadership, LSRI has become a hub for research, advocacy, capacity building, and field-based training focused on informal and marginalized workers. His areas of work include unemployment, distress migration, income insecurity, social impact analysis, human rights, gender justice, and the future of work in the age of artificial intelligence.
Keshar has led numerous baseline, midline, and endline studies, shaping labor-centric development policies. He actively collaborates with trade unions, academic institutions, civil society organizations, and international forums.
His work continues to champion inclusive growth, dignity of labor, and empowered worker participation in democratic processes.
Jayant Gaurav
Human Resource & Labour Relations Professional | Researcher | Conflict Resolution Specialist
Jayant Gaurav is a dedicated professional in the field of human resources, labor relations, and conflict resolution. He holds a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management and Labour Relations from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Alternative Dispute Resolution from NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad. He began his academic journey with a B.Tech in Civil Engineering from KIIT University, Bhubaneswar.
Jayant currently contributes his expertise to People’s Advisory Services, where he engages in strategic consulting, organizational development, and labor policy advisory. His research interests span human behavior, employee relations, trade unions, affordable social housing, land reforms, and leadership studies. He brings particular strength in Grounded Theory research and ethnographic emergence, providing rich, context-driven insights into social and workplace dynamics.
Blending academic insight with practical field experience, Jayant is committed to advancing inclusive and sustainable development. He emphasizes participatory methods and evidence-based practices in all aspects of his work, from research to advisory.
Jayant continues to collaborate with civil society, labor institutions, and development practitioners to promote equity, dialogue, and systemic transformation in the world of work.
Sohail Akhtar
Sohail Akhtar is a dedicated social worker and public health advocate, committed to fostering equity and resilience in underserved communities. He is the founder of Nazariyaa Foundation, a grassroots initiative working in the flood-prone Seemanchal region of Bihar. Hailing from Barsoi in Katihar district, Sohail’s early education took place in Raiganj, West Bengal.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Aligarh Muslim University, along with dual Master’s degrees—one in Sociology from IGNOU and another in Social Work (Public Health) from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai. Additionally, he has completed an Advanced Diploma in International Humanitarian Law from NALSAR University of Law, equipping him with a strong foundation in human rights and justice.
Sohail’s work is deeply rooted in field experience, particularly with Scheduled Caste and marginalized communities in rural Bihar. His efforts through Nazariyaa Foundation focus on addressing systemic inequalities by promoting public health, disaster resilience, and social justice. Guided by a vision for inclusive development, he is building pathways for sustainable change in regions often overlooked by policy and aid—ensuring that the voices of the most vulnerable are heard and centered in the process of transformation.
Ritesh Kumar
Ritesh Kumar is currently enrolled as a Ph.D. scholar in Human Resource Management at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta, where his research continues to explore the intersections of labour, migration, and organizational transformation. He holds a Master’s in Human Resource Management and Labour Relations from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Lucknow University. He has also been associated with the Uttar Pradesh Social Science (UPSS) network, strengthening his interdisciplinary foundation.
Ritesh’s academic and professional journey reflects a deep commitment to social equity, grassroots empowerment, and inclusive policy design. His research focuses on labour migration, human capital displacement, and livelihood resilience among tribal populations, particularly the Gond tribe of Central India. He is also deeply interested in livestock-based rural livelihoods, recognizing their economic and cultural significance.
At IIM Calcutta, his work emphasizes building bridges between communication strategies and industrial needs, aiming to align workforce development with evolving organizational dynamics. With rich field experience and a passion for participatory development, Ritesh engages with academic, civil society, and policy platforms to advocate for fair labour practices, sustainable development, and human-centered organizational practices.
Niranjan Kumar
HRM & Labour Relations Professional | Poet | Researcher
Shri Niranjan Kumar is an alumnus of the prestigious Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, where he earned his Master’s degree in Human Resource Management and Labour Relations. He also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from NIT Agartala, bringing a unique blend of technical and social science expertise.
Deeply engaged in the intellectual and literary circles of India, Niranjan is widely recognized for his contributions to Hindi literature, particularly poetry. His creative works have received accolades across leading online poetry platforms, where his voice resonates with themes of human emotion, social justice, and cultural introspection.
In addition to his literary achievements, Niranjan is actively involved in academic and management discourse. His research interests focus on leadership styles of great personalities, organizational behavior, and human development. He combines analytical thinking with a philosophical lens to explore how leadership and values shape individual and institutional growth.
Balancing professionalism with creativity, Niranjan Kumar stands at the intersection of human resources, social inquiry, and poetic expression, continuously contributing to both scholarly conversations and cultural enrichment.
Board of Governors
Chandra Prakash Singh
Chandra Prakash Singh is a prominent trade union leader with a strong background in science, printing technology, and management. A Science Graduate with a T.A. in Offset Printing, he also holds a Diploma in Management and PMCD for WEI from Israel. He currently serves as the President of INTUC, Bihar, and National Secretary of INTUC, India.
With decades of commitment to workers’ welfare, Mr. Singh has represented India at various international industrial and educational forums across countries including Russia, Ukraine, Italy, Japan, Israel, South Africa, France, and Switzerland, advocating for skill development and labour rights.
He holds the distinction of being the first trade union leader nominated to the Bihar State Child Labour Commission and the Bihar State Legal Services Authority, chaired by the Hon’ble Chief Justice of Patna High Court. He is also a long-serving member of the Employees’ Provident Fund Regional Board for over two decades and has completed two terms as a member of the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation, nominated by the Ministry of Labour, Government of India.
Mr. Singh has dedicated his life to improving the conditions of unorganized and marginalized workers, ensuring their access to social security, healthcare, insurance, and pension benefits, and empowering them towards economic self-reliance and dignity.
Dr. Nandita Mondal
Dr. Nandita Mondal is an Assistant Professor at the Centre for Labour Studies, School of Management and Labour Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai. A trained social worker from Visva Bharati, Santiniketan, she completed her Ph.D. from the University of Mumbai, where her research focused on the empowerment of Koli fisherwomen in Mumbai.
With close to three decades of professional experience, Dr. Mondal has worked across diverse sectors—including government agencies, NGOs, corporate bodies, and academic institutions—bringing together practical field insights and academic depth. Her work is grounded in a strong commitment to social justice and participatory development, particularly in the context of gender and labour.
Her research spans critical themes such as women in the informal workforce, dignity of women’s labour, cooperative governance, child labour, and corporate social responsibility. She is especially focused on making visible the contributions and challenges of women in precarious and undervalued forms of work.
Dr. Mondal has several peer-reviewed publications and has presented at various national and international platforms. Through her academic and field engagements, she continues to advocate for inclusive labour policies and gender-sensitive development strategies that honour the dignity of work.
Dr. Suparna Soni
Dr. Suparna Soni is an Associate Professor at SUNY, Buffalo State University in the United States. She holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University at Buffalo and a Master’s in Public Administration from Cornell University. Her academic interests include public policy, e-governance, human rights, microfinance, and rural development, with an interdisciplinary approach that bridges theory, research, and practice.
Dr. Soni has extensive experience across the nonprofit, governmental, and academic sectors in both the USA and internationally. She has consistently demonstrated excellence in teaching, policy research, and advocacy. Her work has supported various community-based and policy-driven initiatives aimed at strengthening institutional accountability, democratic participation, and equitable development.
Her teaching philosophy emphasizes critical inquiry, global perspectives, and civic engagement. Through innovative curriculum design and experiential learning, she encourages students to connect academic knowledge with real-world challenges.
Committed to social justice and sustainability, Dr. Soni focuses on empowering marginalized communities and addressing systemic barriers through inclusive policy frameworks. She actively collaborates with local and international organizations, contributing to research that informs grassroots action and public policy.
A passionate educator and engaged scholar, Dr. Soni continues to inspire and influence conversations on governance, rights, and development in the United States and beyond.
Ravi Bhushan Sinha
Ravi Bhushan Sinha is a seasoned technology leader and currently serves as Senior Director, HCM Cloud Product Development at Oracle. With extensive experience in leading globally distributed teams, he has been instrumental in designing and delivering enterprise-level solutions across human capital management (HCM), logistics, and financial systems. His career spans both development and consulting roles, giving him a unique edge in aligning business objectives with technical innovation.
An alumnus of Hansraj College, University of Delhi, and a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) from ICFAI University, Ravi combines strong analytical capabilities with deep technical expertise. He has a solid background in Oracle technologies, Java, data systems, and is trained in Big Data tools such as Hadoop and Hive.
Throughout his career, Ravi has demonstrated leadership in agile environments, mentoring talent, driving digital transformation, and delivering high-ROI solutions. His work within Oracle Fusion HCM has contributed significantly to the advancement of integrated cloud-based HR technologies.
Ravi’s strategic insight and cross-functional experience enable him to act as a bridge between product vision, client expectations, and engineering execution. He remains committed to innovation, scalability, and creating user-centric solutions that drive business growth in an evolving digital landscape.
Shahnaz Rafique
Shahnaz Rafique is a dynamic leader with a distinguished background in education, social entrepreneurship, and trade unionism. Currently serving as National Secretary of the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), she brings decades of experience in grassroots mobilization, training, and policy advocacy across South Asia. Her association with IndustriALL Global Union has involved extensive work in the metal sector and educational roles at reputed institutions.
Shahnaz has consistently championed the rights of women, children, and informal workers. She has spearheaded initiatives such as the formation of Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and partnered with the International Labour Organization (ILO) on child labour eradication projects. Her tenure as a Juvenile Justice Board Member, served twice, reflects her unwavering commitment to child rights and social justice.
A skilled trainer and counsellor, she is known for her ability to build strong stakeholder networks, foster community participation, and promote rights-based development. She has worked extensively with home-based workers, domestic workers, and agricultural labourers, addressing systemic issues like poverty, illiteracy, gender disparity, poor health, and environmental risks.
Shahnaz’s grassroots experience, strategic vision, and dedication to inclusive development continue to empower marginalized communities and shape equitable labour policies across India and the region.
Working Council
1. Jayant Gaurav – Head of Organization Strategy & Operations
2. Sohail Akhtar – Head of Social Outreach & Academic Partnerships
3. Niranjan Kumar – Head of Conceptualization
4. Ritesh Kumar – Chief Coordination Officer