Applications open for the NCPEDP Bajaj Finserv Scholarship Program for Students with Disabilities
Our Team
ARMAN ALI
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
ARMAN ALI
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Arman Ali is a disability rights activist for over two decades. Before NCPEDP, he worked as the HR Specialist, Equal Opportunity Initiative, Infosys. Following Infosys, he served as the Executive Director for Shishu Sarothi wherein he was instrumental in forging ties beneficial for people with disabilities and the organization, taking it forward in the areas of early intervention, rehabilitation, education, employment, advocacy, awareness as well as legal aid for both children and people with disabilities. He has also held several Honorary Positions in various important Committees of Government at the state and national levels. He was part of UNESCO’s Editorial Board on State of the Education Report for India 2019 -Children with Disabilities. Arman is an alumnus of the International Visitor Leadership Program of the United State’s Department of State and has also undergone a Leadership in Public Policy Training conducted by Oxford University. Arman is a recipient of various awards namely including the IBN7 Super Idol Award 2011, Infosys Excellence Award for Inclusivity and Diversity and the National Award in Public Recognition for Outstanding Performance as the Most Efficient Disabled Employee for the Year 1998 by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India from the then Prime Minister, Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee.
Arman’s pragmatic outlook and quick witt sets him apart.
AAKANGSHA DUTTA
PROGRAM OFFICER- PARTNERSHIPS
AAKANGSHA DUTTA
PROGRAM OFFICER- PARTNERSHIPS
Aakangsha is a Program Officer at the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP), working on the project titled ‘Engagements for Inclusive Practices and Sustainable Advocacy for Promotion of Rights of Persons with Disabilities.’ She holds a degree in Political Science from Ashoka University and a Diploma from the Ashoka Scholars Program, specializing in International Relations and Entrepreneurial and Leadership Strategy.
Aakangsha has diverse experience in the social sector, having worked with various NGOs and consultancies, with a focus on public health and education. She has also assisted Members of Parliament, which has deepened her understanding of advocacy and policy-making.Aakangsha’s enthusiasm lights up NCPEDP as she hopes to bring light to the world
AKEEL AHMED USMANI
LEGAL AID COORDINATOR
AKEEL AHMED USMANI
LEGAL AID COORDINATOR
Akeel Ahmad Usmani is the Legal Aid Helpline Coordinator at NCPEDP. Akeel has a rich background in using legal tools to address disability-related issues. He has considerable experience in filing Right to Information (RTI) applications concerning disability rights, particularly regarding the allocation of national funds for persons with disabilities and skill training programs. Additionally, he has worked on several cases before the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD) and States Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (SCPD). His advocacy extends to filing representations with various ministries at both the central and state levels, striving to improve the legal and policy landscape for persons with disabilities. His dedication to disability rights, combined with his legal knowledge and experience, makes him a passionate and effective advocate for persons with disabilities.
Akeel puts the aid in Legal Aid!
AKSHAY JAIN
PROGRAM MANAGER
AKSHAY JAIN
PROGRAM MANAGER
Akshay Jain is the Program Manager at NCPEDP. He leads all advocacy and research intiatives of NCPEDP With an experience of over five years in the development sector, his vision echoes an inclusive society rooted in the principles of universal design, where the efficacy of laws is manifested through their direct implementation. Akshay staunchly believes in the transformative power of educating and empowering youth, emphasizing that disability rights transcend boundaries of community, spanning age, caste, gender, and socio-economic divides.
Akshay is as dynamic as the disability sector is.
ANJALI RAI
SENIOR COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
ANJALI RAI
SENIOR COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
Anjali Rai is Senior Communications Officer at NCPEDP. She is a Strategic Communications and Marketing Professional with 7 years of experience in social development organizations and media. With a background in Sociology and a master’s in Human Rights, she’s dedicated to amplifying issues around caste, gender, and communities facing discrimination based on work and descent. Anjali has worked with marginalized groups across Europe, Japan, Latin America, Africa, and South Asia, blending grassroots insights with a global perspective.
A trained public policy, government budget, and feminist foreign policy analyst, Anjali combines analytical expertise with advocacy. Her experience in public welfare and policy initiatives drives her commitment to equity and inclusion. At NCPEDP, she leads outreach, media relations, and stakeholder engagement, building narratives that foster understanding and connection. A lifelong learner, Anjali is inspired by social justice movements, a love for art that promotes justice, and her fondness for cats and dogs.
ANWESHA BARUAH
Program Officer- Documentation and Outreach
ANWESHA BARUAH
Program Officer- Documentation and Outreach
Ms Anwesha Baruah has joined NCPEDP as a Program Officer- Documentation and Outreach for NCPEDP- Javed Abidi Fellowship Program. She is a graduate with a Master’s in social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy from Jamia Millia Islamia. Her focus revolves around intersectionality, gender dynamics, and indigenous resilience narratives. She has a year of experience as a Program Officer at Sasakawa-India Leprosy Foundation (S-ILF) where she was involved in Gender Sensitization Program for the adolescents residing in the Leprosy colonies across India. She has also completed a short-term internship at the National
Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Currently residing in Delhi, she hails from Sibsagar, Assam, and in her leisure, she indulges
in reading and exploring diverse cuisines.ASIFA PARVEEN
PROGRAM MANAGER
ASIFA PARVEEN
PROGRAM MANAGER
Asifa is the Program Manager at NCPEDP. She leads the NCPEDP- Assitive Technology Hub. With an experience of over a decade in the development sector, Asifa has experience in program management, capacity building, psycho-social support, donor relationship building etc. She has also played a critical role in shaping the NCPEDP’s prestigious Helen Keller Awards. Before NCPEDP, Asifa had worked with BOSCO Delhi (An UNHCR Project) and SOS Children’s Villages of India where she worked for the holistic development of refugees in Delhi and for the protection and development of orphan and abandoned children. Asifa holds an MSW degree from Aligarh Muslim University.
She equally puts magic in her food as she does it in her work.
AVDHESH KUMAR YADAV
ACCOUNTS & ADMIN HEAD
AVDHESH KUMAR YADAV
ACCOUNTS & ADMIN HEAD
Avdhesh has been working as the Accounts and Administrative Head since 2014 wherein he looks after the Accounts section and ensures the smooth functioning of the office facilities. Before NCPEDP, Avdhesh had worked as a Chartered Accountant at S. Sahoo and Co. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from the School of Open Learning, University of Delhi.
Accounts is his day job, NCPEDP historian and storyteller is the other one!
DEVARNAV SHARMA
PROGRAM OFFICER- RESEARCH
DEVARNAV SHARMA
PROGRAM OFFICER- RESEARCH
Devarnav is a Program Officer at NCPEDP. An alumnus of Hindu College and Jawaharlal Nehru University where he studied Political Science and International Relations. Apart from having a distinguished academic record, he has a rich experience in the fields of academic debating, democratic student elections and has collaborated with both government and civil society organizations in various roles as a student. As someone who has led various youth delegations in National and International summits, he seeks to view disability from a global lens, to create a sustainable and inclusive world order wherein disability inclusion makes business sense.
DIVYA GEORGE
COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH OFFICER (AT HUB)
DIVYA GEORGE
COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH OFFICER (AT HUB)
Divya George is the Communications and Outreach Officer at NCPEDP, bringing over 4 years of experience in the development sector. She is passionate about using communication to drive social change, with a strong focus on disability inclusion.
Divya has worked with organizations like John Snow India Pvt. Ltd. and Caritas India, where she helped design innovative programs, engage stakeholders, and strategize for impactful outcomes. At NCPEDP, she plays a key role in the Assistive Technology (AT) Hub project, which aims to support startups in the AT sector, fostering innovation and collaboration to improve access to solutions for people with disabilities in India. The project is supported by the Mphasis F1 Foundation and works towards creating an inclusive ecosystem for AT development in the country. Divya holds a PG Diploma in Journalism & Mass Communication and is currently pursuing further studies in Development and Social Work.
FAIZA RAGHIB
PROGRAM OFFICER- SCHOLARSHIP
FAIZA RAGHIB
PROGRAM OFFICER- SCHOLARSHIP
Faiza is a Program Officer at NCPEDP. She is an experienced professional in the research and development sector, currently working as a Program Officer under NCPEDP’s Scholarship Program for Students with Disabilities. She excels in managing partnerships with educational institutions, fostering strong networks to enhance program reach and sustainability. Faiza is instrumental in organizing capacity-building workshops across various states to drive greater project impact. She is a certified “Accessibility at Workplace Trainer” and a trained counsellor in Psychology, with extensive experience working across diverse age groups in counselling, fundraising, and community development. Her experience spans international NGOs, de-addiction centres, and educational institutions, including roles with WWF-India and Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. Currently pursuing a Master’s in Social Work, Faiza is dedicated to deepening her expertise in the development sector and contributing to meaningful change.
Faiza has a taste for the finer things in life and NCPEDP is definitely finer having her.
MUSKAN SHARMA
PROGRAM OFFICER- RESEARCH
MUSKAN SHARMA
PROGRAM OFFICER- RESEARCH
Muskan is a Program Officer- Research at NCPEDP. She brings experience from a mix of the fields of law and policy. She started her career in litigation before she found her passion for research and policy. She was a core team member of the Centre for the Rights of Differently Abled in college, which worked as a research hub in the field of disability. She graduated with a BA LLB from Symbiosis Law School, Hyderabad. Quickly realizing her knack for academic research she went ahead to pursue her LLM from NALSAR University of Law. She is currently pursuing an MA in Public Policy from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai. She is an avid reader, listens to music, enjoys gardening and painting occasionally.
Around the Office
