Transforming Rural Lives
Empowering communities through sustainable development and innovative solutions
GramUrja Foundation was founded by Mr. Dadasaheb Gaikwad, whose roots in a farming family gave him firsthand experience of rural challenges. After completing his master’s in business studies and corporate experience, his passion for rural development led him to join the Chief Minister’s Rural Development Fellowship Program.
During the fellowship, he connected with like-minded individuals who shared his vision. Together with Ashok Hatagale, Vaijnath Ingole, Deepak Pawal, Pramod Jadhav, Pramod Joshi, Abhishek Rakhecha, and Dattatray Shingade, they founded GramUrja Foundation in 2020.
Mr. Gaikwad’s leadership journey includes prestigious programs like the IATSS Japan Fellowship, Vision India Fellowship, and TFIx Entrepreneur Fellowship, which helped shape GramUrja’s innovative approach to rural development.
Our Journey
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2019-2020
Covid relief and rehabilitation work
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2020
Incubation support from Changeloom
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2020-2021
Incubation from EduMentum Incubation
program -
2021-22
TFIx Incubation program
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2022-23
NSRCEL Incubation, IIM Bengaluru
Meet the Team
Core Team
Dadasaheb Gaikwad
Founder, Executive Director
Dadasaheb Gaikwad, Founder and Executive Director, holds an M.B.A. and has diverse experience as an Ex-CM Rural Development Fellow, IATSS Japan Fellow, TFIx Fellow, and Edumentee.
Asaram Hatagale
Program Director
Asaram Hatagale, Program Director, holds an MSW and has over 11 years of experience in the social sector, specializing in finance, compliance, and stakeholder management, and is an Ex-CM Rural Development Fellow.
Ingole Vaijanath Namdev
Director, Mobilization
Ingole Vaijanath Namdev, Director of Mobilization, holds an M.S.W and brings 10+ years of experience in the social sector, specializing in community mobilization and livelihood project management, with a background as an Ex-CM Rural Development Fellow.
Abhishek Ajay Rakhecha
Director, Media and Marketing
Abhishek Ajay Rakhecha, Director of Media and Marketing, holds a B.E. in Computer Science and is an entrepreneur with extensive experience in driving media and marketing strategies.
Deepak Baban Pawal
Director, Administration
Deepak Baban Pawal, Director of Administration, holds an M.S.W and has experience as an Ex-CM Rural Development Fellow and entrepreneur.
Pramod Pralhad Jadhav
Director, Community Outreach
Pramod Pralhad Jadhav, Director of Community Outreach, holds a BE in Mechanical and has experience as an Ex-CM Rural Development Fellow and entrepreneur.
Pramod Joshi
Director, Finance and Compliance
Pramod Pralhad Jadhav, Director of Community Outreach, holds a BE in Mechanical and has experience as an Ex-CM Rural Development Fellow and entrepreneur.
Other Team
Dattatray Mahadev Shingade
Program Manager
Dattatray Mahadev Shingade, Program Manager, holds a BE in E&TC and brings 10+ years of experience as an Ex-CM Rural Development Fellow, specializing in project management in the social sector.
Sanjivani Sunil Gulbhile
Program Coordinator
Sanjivani Sunil Gulbhile, Program Coordinator, holds a B.A. and B.Ed, with 4+ years of experience in the social sector, specializing in teaching and project coordination.
Dr. Niramaya Amit Lamdade
Manager, Capacity Building and Organizational Development
Dr. Niramaya Amit Lamdade, Manager of Capacity Building and Organizational Development, holds an M.Sc. and Ph.D. with over 10 years of experience in research, project management, and fundraising in the social sector.
Nathaji Bajirao Sakhare
Program Coordinator
Nathaji Bajirao Sakhare, Program Coordinator, holds a B.A. and D.Ed, with 3 years of ground-level experience in government scheme awareness, campaigning, and project coordination.
Bhagyashri Pradeep Swami
Field coordinator
Bhagyashri Pradeep Swami, Field Coordinator, holds an MSW with 7 years of experience, specializing in skill development and government scheme awareness and campaigning.
Samir Nabi Shaikh
Program Coordinator
Samir Nabi Shaikh, Program Coordinator, holds a BA with 2 years of ground-level experience in government scheme awareness, campaigning, and project coordination.
Sagar Dattatray Bhagat
Project Coordinator.
Sagar Dattatray Bhagat, Project Coordinator, holds a B.E. in Petrochemical Engineering with 4 years of experience in the petrochemical field and expertise in project coordination within the social sector.
Parvati Kumari
Fellow
Parvati Kumari, Fellow, holds a Bachelor of Education (Special Education) and has 1 year of experience as an SEWA Fellow with GramUrja Foundation, contributing to education initiatives.
Stuti Gupta
Project coordinator (Swar fellowship)
Stuti Gupta, Project Coordinator (Swar Fellowship), holds a B.Sc and has 1 year of experience in project management.
Imrana Sardar
Program Coordinator
Imrana Sardar, Program Coordinator, holds an M.Sc. in Botany and is a fresher with strong academic knowledge in botany and a keen interest in social sector program coordination.
Fellows
Shamal Mahadev Mali
GramHunar Fellow
Shamal Mahadev Mali, GramHunar Fellow, holds an M.Sc. in Microbiology and B.Ed, with 4 years of teaching experience focused on student engagement and learning outcomes.
Pooja Bharat Sapte
GramHunar Fellow
Pooja Bharat Sapte, GramHunar Fellow, holds an M.Com and B.Ed, with 3 years of teaching experience.
Isha Sanjay Lokare
GramHunar Fellow
Isha Sanjay Lokare, GramHunar Fellow, holds an MSW and has 1 year of teaching experience.
Dnyaneshwari Anurath Surnar
GramHunar Fellow
Dnyaneshwari Anurath Surnar, GramHunar Fellow, holds a B.A. and has 2 years of teaching experience.
Vandana Kondiba Kamble
GramHunar Fellow
Vandana Kondiba Kamble, GramHunar Fellow, holds an M.A., MSW, and D.Ed, with 2 years of teaching experience.
Vidya Nanabhau Gadade
GramHunar Fellow
Vidya Nanabhau Gadade, GramHunar Fellow, has completed 12th and has 2 years of teaching experience.
Shobha Ramdas Jaybhaye
GramHunar Fellow
Shobha Ramdas Jaybhaye, GramHunar Fellow, holds a B.Sc. and has 2 years of teaching experience.
Dadasaheb Gaikwad
Founder, Executive Director
Dadasaheb Gaikwad, Founder and Executive Director, holds an M.B.A. and has diverse experience as an Ex-CM Rural Development Fellow, IATSS Japan Fellow, TFIx Fellow, and Edumentee.
Asaram Hatagale
Program Director
Asaram Hatagale, Program Director, holds an MSW and has over 11 years of experience in the social sector, specializing in finance, compliance, and stakeholder management, and is an Ex-CM Rural Development Fellow.
Ingole Vaijanath Namdev
Director, Mobilization
Ingole Vaijanath Namdev, Director of Mobilization, holds an M.S.W and brings 10+ years of experience in the social sector, specializing in community mobilization and livelihood project management, with a background as an Ex-CM Rural Development Fellow.
Abhishek Ajay Rakhecha
Director, Media and Marketing
Abhishek Ajay Rakhecha, Director of Media and Marketing, holds a B.E. in Computer Science and is an entrepreneur with extensive experience in driving media and marketing strategies.
Deepak Baban Pawal
Director, Administration
Deepak Baban Pawal, Director of Administration, holds an M.S.W and has experience as an Ex-CM Rural Development Fellow and entrepreneur.
Pramod Pralhad Jadhav
Director, Community Outreach
Pramod Pralhad Jadhav, Director of Community Outreach, holds a BE in Mechanical and has experience as an Ex-CM Rural Development Fellow and entrepreneur.
Pramod Joshi
Director, Finance and Compliance
Pramod Pralhad Jadhav, Director of Community Outreach, holds a BE in Mechanical and has experience as an Ex-CM Rural Development Fellow and entrepreneur.
Dattatray Mahadev Shingade
Program Manager
Dattatray Mahadev Shingade, Program Manager, holds a BE in E&TC and brings 10+ years of experience as an Ex-CM Rural Development Fellow, specializing in project management in the social sector.
Sanjivani Sunil Gulbhile
Program Coordinator
Sanjivani Sunil Gulbhile, Program Coordinator, holds a B.A. and B.Ed, with 4+ years of experience in the social sector, specializing in teaching and project coordination.
Dr. Niramaya Amit Lamdade
Manager, Capacity Building and Organizational Development
Dr. Niramaya Amit Lamdade, Manager of Capacity Building and Organizational Development, holds an M.Sc. and Ph.D. with over 10 years of experience in research, project management, and fundraising in the social sector.
Nathaji Bajirao Sakhare
Program Coordinator
Nathaji Bajirao Sakhare, Program Coordinator, holds a B.A. and D.Ed, with 3 years of ground-level experience in government scheme awareness, campaigning, and project coordination.
Bhagyashri Pradeep Swami
Field coordinator
Bhagyashri Pradeep Swami, Field Coordinator, holds an MSW with 7 years of experience, specializing in skill development and government scheme awareness and campaigning.
Samir Nabi Shaikh
Program Coordinator
Samir Nabi Shaikh, Program Coordinator, holds a BA with 2 years of ground-level experience in government scheme awareness, campaigning, and project coordination.
Sagar Dattatray Bhagat
Project Coordinator.
Sagar Dattatray Bhagat, Project Coordinator, holds a B.E. in Petrochemical Engineering with 4 years of experience in the petrochemical field and expertise in project coordination within the social sector.
Parvati Kumari
Fellow
Parvati Kumari, Fellow, holds a Bachelor of Education (Special Education) and has 1 year of experience as an SEWA Fellow with GramUrja Foundation, contributing to education initiatives.
Stuti Gupta
Project coordinator (Swar fellowship)
Stuti Gupta, Project Coordinator (Swar Fellowship), holds a B.Sc and has 1 year of experience in project management.
Imrana Sardar
Program Coordinator
Imrana Sardar, Program Coordinator, holds an M.Sc. in Botany and is a fresher with strong academic knowledge in botany and a keen interest in social sector program coordination.
Shamal Mahadev Mali
GramHunar Fellow
Shamal Mahadev Mali, GramHunar Fellow, holds an M.Sc. in Microbiology and B.Ed, with 4 years of teaching experience focused on student engagement and learning outcomes.
Pooja Bharat Sapte
GramHunar Fellow
Pooja Bharat Sapte, GramHunar Fellow, holds an M.Com and B.Ed, with 3 years of teaching experience.
Isha Sanjay Lokare
GramHunar Fellow
Isha Sanjay Lokare, GramHunar Fellow, holds an MSW and has 1 year of teaching experience.
Dnyaneshwari Anurath Surnar
GramHunar Fellow
Dnyaneshwari Anurath Surnar, GramHunar Fellow, holds a B.A. and has 2 years of teaching experience.
Vandana Kondiba Kamble
GramHunar Fellow
Vandana Kondiba Kamble, GramHunar Fellow, holds an M.A., MSW, and D.Ed, with 2 years of teaching experience.
Vidya Nanabhau Gadade
GramHunar Fellow
Vidya Nanabhau Gadade, GramHunar Fellow, has completed 12th and has 2 years of teaching experience.
Shobha Ramdas Jaybhaye
GramHunar Fellow
Shobha Ramdas Jaybhaye, GramHunar Fellow, holds a B.Sc. and has 2 years of teaching experience.