Since its inception, I am the Chairperson of the Indian Himalayan River Basins Council (IHRBC), a growing network of concerned citizens linking the hearts, minds and action of people with rivers in 23 states of India. I am also Vice Chairperson at Tarun Bharat Sangh (TBS), a Director at the Coastal Salinity Prevention Cell (CSPC) and Advisory Council Member of Balipara Foundation. I am a Commissioner at the People’s World Commission on Drought and Flood, a network of like minded individuals dedicated to rock towards drought and flood mitigation, adaptation and resilience through nature rejuvenation.
A PhD in biochemistry, with around three decades of working on natural resources management, drinking water and sanitation, food security and rural livelihoods. Authored several papers, reports and books and written several articles for the print and electronic media. For the last few years my work includes a strong focus on climate change and water.
In August 2022, I co-authored a book ‘Rejuvenation of Rivers: Climate resilience, livelihoods, Dignity, Living examples,’ that was released by Dr Rajendra Singh, during the World Water Week in Stockholm this year and subsequently in various cities across the country. The book is available on https://norden.iofc.org/sites/default/files/2022-09/river-rejuvenation2-1_0.pdf
In 2015, coauthored and co-edited a book on water called Reflections on Managing Water: Earth’s Greatest Natural Resource. In 2001, co-edited my first book on water: Making Water Everybody’s Business: Practise and Policy of Water Harvesting. In 2019, Springer Verlag’s book on Water Governance and Management in India, carries a chapter by me on Drought and a chapter on water quality in the next volume of Water Governance and Management in India, published in 2021. In 2019, I published a white paper on the status of the river Ganga. This paper was launched at several forums in India and elsewhere, including the World Water Week. In August 2020, I co-authored with Dr Rajendra Singh, a short book Nature rejuvenation for eternal development, triggered by the COVID 19 pandemic.
For the last few years, I am focusing on the impact of climate change on water and rural communities, and the need for better water management for developing resilience against disasters and preventing migration. Water is critical for peace and security and intensive advocacy efforts are ongoing for this.
I remain committed to highlight the issues of the rural communities, through research, publications and public discourses. These efforts have contributed towards favorable changes in policy and practice. Gender remains a strong focus of whatever I do.
In my journey I have had an opportunity to work with several national and international organizations, occupied leadership positions, managed teams and addressed national and international forums, including World Water Forum, Youth World Water Forum, United Nations, UNEP, World Bank, WTO.
I am a post doctorate in Biotechnology with a doctorate in Biochemistry.
Research Areas
Agriculture, Food, Nutrition Security and Rural Development, Environment, Energy, Climate Change and Sustainable Development, Gender, Pluralism and Social Inclusion, International Relations and Strategic Studies, Social Sector
Centres
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