GOVERNING BODY MEMBERS.

Governing Body Members - 31st August 2020

President - Nivedita Scudder

A graceful and a humble soul. She believes in peace and harmony and has spent most of her life indulged in the noble job of teaching. Imparting knowledge and learning something new everyday has always been her passion. She has been a part of Swabhiman from it's intial years and came to know about it through her colleague, while she was associated with another organisation named, Unnayan. Currently, Ma'am is one of the governing bodies of Swabhiman, yet stays as grounded and modest as ever.



Vice President - Dr. Annapurna Devi

She is a dynamic personality, believing in hard work and perfection. Mother of a high support needs woman, a busy professional, she often sacrificed her benefits for the family. A graduate from SCB Medical College, Cuttack, she founded a nursing home in Bhubaneswar. She is an infertility expert who has successfully treated over 500 infertility cases. Money was never her priority, service was. We have seen the roadside vendors paying her six steel spoons and bowls, a set of cups and saucers or a 250 gm bottle of ghee. The services provided were never of any less or low quality. Service first, care first, and making them comfortable in their moments of suffering was priority.



Secretary - Dr. Sruti Mohapatra

Fighting for the rights and dignity of the differently-abled in her own inimitable way, she has emerged as the perfect role model for the physically and mentally challenged in India. Sruti is the founder of Swabhiman. Her relentless service in the disability field in the last 28 years have made her a well-known figure around the country, especially for her contribution in socio-political-economic empowerment of people with disabilities in Odisha and India. Associated in various Committees and Forums, she has been liberally contributing to the enrichment of our society. An avid lover of nature, she loves to travel and loves writing. Her motto in life is – To enjoy, give joy to others.



Treasurer - Mihir Kumar Mohanty

Mihir has been an active part of Swabhiman since 2002. He was the Director of Programs from 2016 till 2019. In his 20 years of work experience in both development and humanitarian field at state and national level, he has spent more than 9-years at middle & senior level management level with international development organizations like with international development organizations like ActionAid International, Save the Children-UK, UNWFP, Aide-Et-Action, BvLF-Netherland and PACS-DFID. He has a master degree in Psychology with specialisation in “Educational psychology.”



Subhagini Sahu

Apart from being an active member of the governing body of Swabhiman, she also partakes in other awareness programs in the field of education, sports and so on making her a dedicated social activist who leaves no stone unturned in ensuring that the causes she fights for, sees the light of the day. She has been a part of Swabhiman from it's early years of 2000 and takes every initiative she can, to stand up to everyone's expectations with her hard work. She believes in solidarity and is a true inspiration.



Sudipta Mishra

She joined Swabhiman from the year 2013 till 2014 for a year before she was felicitated as one of the governing bodies of Swabhiman but had a deep rooted connection to the place ever since her childhood due to growing up in a similar environment. She was born special (with cerebral palsy), due to which her parents enrolled her into a school for special kids where she got some of her education done. She is a very strong, hard working and determined human being with a willingness to change the stereotypes around the world. Apart from completing her education and learning as much as she can, she also participated in various competitions like paper presentations, that covered topics on self advocacy, awareness in the field of education etc. She intends to continue being unapologetically fierce, independent and confident and take Swabhiman to newer heights.



Sambit Kumar Das

Sambit completed his Post Graduate Diploma in Management studies as well as Masters in Economics. He is visually impaired. He loves spending time with his family and playing guitar. He has been an active blood donor in Swabhiman for the past 10 years and participates in different awareness initiatives organized by Swabhiman. He is a very giving soul and believes in helping people who genuinely need it. Apart from his current job, he is also an active member of the governing body of Swabhiman.



GENERAL BODY MEMBERS.

Governing Body Members - 31st August 2020

President - Nivedita Scudder

A graceful and a humble soul. She believes in peace and harmony and has spent most of her life indulged in the noble job of teaching. Imparting knowledge and learning something new everyday has always been her passion. She has been a part of Swabhiman from it's intial years and came to know about it through her colleague, while she was associated with another organisation named, Unnayan. Currently, Ma'am is one of the governing bodies of Swabhiman, yet stays as grounded and modest as ever.



Vice President - Dr. Annapurna Devi

She is a dynamic personality, believing in hard work and perfection. Mother of a high support needs woman, a busy professional, she often sacrificed her benefits for the family. A graduate from SCB Medical College, Cuttack, she founded a nursing home in Bhubaneswar. She is an infertility expert who has successfully treated over 500 infertility cases. Money was never her priority, service was. We have seen the roadside vendors paying her six steel spoons and bowls, a set of cups and saucers or a 250 gm bottle of ghee. The services provided were never of any less or low quality. Service first, care first, and making them comfortable in their moments of suffering was priority.



Secretary - Dr. Sruti Mohapatra

Fighting for the rights and dignity of the differently-abled in her own inimitable way, she has emerged as the perfect role model for the physically and mentally challenged in India. Sruti is the founder of Swabhiman. Her relentless service in the disability field in the last 28 years have made her a well-known figure around the country, especially for her contribution in socio-political-economic empowerment of people with disabilities in Odisha and India. Associated in various Committees and Forums, she has been liberally contributing to the enrichment of our society. An avid lover of nature, she loves to travel and loves writing. Her motto in life is – To enjoy, give joy to others.



Treasurer - Mihir Kumar Mohanty

Mihir has been an active part of Swabhiman since 2002. He was the Director of Programs from 2016 till 2019. In his 20 years of work experience in both development and humanitarian field at state and national level, he has spent more than 9-years at middle & senior level management level with international development organizations like with international development organizations like ActionAid International, Save the Children-UK, UNWFP, Aide-Et-Action, BvLF-Netherland and PACS-DFID. He has a master degree in Psychology with specialisation in “Educational psychology.”



Subhagini Sahu

Apart from being an active member of the governing body of Swabhiman, she also partakes in other awareness programs in the field of education, sports and so on making her a dedicated social activist who leaves no stone unturned in ensuring that the causes she fights for, sees the light of the day. She has been a part of Swabhiman from it's early years of 2000 and takes every initiative she can, to stand up to everyone's expectations with her hard work. She believes in solidarity and is a true inspiration.



Sudipta Mishra

She joined Swabhiman from the year 2013 till 2014 for a year before she was felicitated as one of the governing bodies of Swabhiman but had a deep rooted connection to the place ever since her childhood due to growing up in a similar environment. She was born special (with cerebral palsy), due to which her parents enrolled her into a school for special kids where she got some of her education done. She is a very strong, hard working and determined human being with a willingness to change the stereotypes around the world. Apart from completing her education and learning as much as she can, she also participated in various competitions like paper presentations, that covered topics on self advocacy, awareness in the field of education etc. She intends to continue being unapologetically fierce, independent and confident and take Swabhiman to newer heights.



Sambit Kumar Das

Sambit completed his Post Graduate Diploma in Management studies as well as Masters in Economics. He is visually impaired. He loves spending time with his family and playing guitar. He has been an active blood donor in Swabhiman for the past 10 years and participates in different awareness initiatives organized by Swabhiman. He is a very giving soul and believes in helping people who genuinely need it. Apart from his current job, he is also an active member of the governing body of Swabhiman.



Saswat Kumar Acharya

"Mr. Saswat K. Acharya is an Advocate practicing primarily in the State of Odisha. He has graduated as a BBA, LL.B. (Hons) from the Symbiosis Law School, Pune in the year 2009.

Thereafter, aided by his varied exposure during internships at several prestigious law offices at Delhi, he started his practice at Delhi as an Advocate at the office of Mr. P. S. Patwalia, Senior Advocate. He has gained considerable deftness in handling matters related to various fields of law. He specializes in Insolvency & Company laws, Direct & Indirect Taxation matters, Arbitration, Mining and Money-laundering Laws. He has been specially appointed as an Amicus Curiae by the Hon'ble Orissa High Court in a matter to bring about reforms in the inhuman conditions of prisons across the State of Odisha. He has also taken up pro-bono cases relating to societal issues before the Hon’ble Orissa High Court.

He has been regularly appearing as an arguing counsel before the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India, Hon'ble Orissa High Court, NCLAT, NCLT, Direct & Indirect Tax Tribunals, and such other quasi-judicial bodies. He has an experience of 11 years in the legal profession."

Biraja Routray

He has been associated with Swabhiman since the year 2011 and has a lot to say about how he came across Dr. Sruti Mohapatra and got introduced to Swabhiman. He believes that Dr. Sruti is an iconic personality and an inspiration to thousands of specially abled children all over Odisha and has always taught them to live life with dignity. He has immense trust on the entire organisation and motive behind it. After having met with an accident in the year 2007, that disabled him ) Spinal Cord Injury), he met Ma'am in the year 2011. He then visited the Swabhiman office with an intention to help. A year later, he was awarded the Anjali International Award for Bravery. Ever since then, he sets an example for every human being out there to stay strong and not let anything destroy their will and spirit to live and do something better in life.



Gourimani Biswal

Initially, She was a part of the Santa Memorial Rehabilitation Center before she stepped into Red Cross.Years back she lost a hand after going through a major accident. She has been an active part of Swabhiman since long and is one of the most inspirational governing bodies at Swabhiman as she strives to ensure that sincerity and cooperation persists among all the volunteers and higher authorities working at Swabhiman.