Team CPPGG
Dr. R Meenakshi Sundaram
Secretary Planning,
CEO, CPPGG
Dr. Manoj Kumar Pant
ACEO, CPPGG
Dr. Manoj Kumar Pant is a doctorate in Statistics and has been working with the Government of Uttarakhand for the last 28 years. He has held various positions with different government departments like Department of Planning, Department of Drinking Water (Swajal- World Bank Project), Department of Rural Development (Ajeevika), ITDA and State Planning Commission. In addition, he has also worked with Public Private Partnership Cell of the Uttarakhand Government. Currently he is serving as Additional Director, Directorate of Economics and Statistics (DES) and Additional CEO of CPPGG.
A specialist in Public Finance, Dr. Pant has written various articles and papers on Weighted SDG Index, Animal husbandry, Analysis of Economic loss incurred during 2013 Disaster, Budgetary practices and policy evaluation to name a few. An avid statistician Dr. Pant has been part of many conferences on State and Central Statistical issues. He is one of the pioneers in creating awareness and integrating Sustainable Development Goals among various state departments and has led many training programs in the state.
Karunakar Singh
SDG Localization & Integration Expert
Prior to CPPGG, he worked with Government of Himachal Pradesh, as Lead Consultant (SDGs) and helped the state government in developing SDG Vision-2030 and integration of SDGs in government planning and functioning. Karunakar has also contributed to several thematic publications and articles in newspapers.
Shailendra Kumar
Monitoring & Evaluation Expert
Shailendra holds over nineteen years of experience with international and national organizations like UNDP, UNICEF, Plan India, Swedish Organization for Individual Relief (SOIR-IM) and state level organizations. His most preferred professional area of interest and expertise is in Monitoring and Evaluation, Strategic Planning and Implementation and Partnership Management. He holds a master’s degree in Sustainable International Development (SID) from Brandeis University, USA which he completed through the International Ford Foundation Fellowship Program.
One of the many professional milestones in his career is establishing a monitoring and evaluation system for 1600 schools of Government of Odisha while working with UNICEF. He has been felicitated by Government of Rajasthan as a Motivator for special contribution in Education on the occasion of state level Bhamashah (donor) Samman (honor) Samaroh (Ceremony) while working with Plan India.
Ajay Purohit
MIS Specialist
An MBA in Information Technology and M.Sc. in Computer Science. Ajay has an experience of more than 13 years working in the areas of Monitoring and Evaluation, MIS, and Research. He specializes in providing customized data-driven solutions for project implementation, monitoring & evaluation, knowledge management, annual performance assessment of project team and Technical Agencies. He is an expert in multiple programming languages and statistical tools used in M&E.
He has developed several tools for data analysis and prediction and was part of research in the area of geophysics while working with the National Tidal Data Centre, Geodic, and Research Branch of Survey of India. Ajay has played a key role in developing a dashboard-based monitoring system for Socio-Economic Caste Census-2011 for the Department of Rural Development, Uttarakhand.
Suraj Chand
SDG Capacity Building, Communication and Training Analyst
Mr. Suraj Chand brings extensive expertise in impact communication, having worked for eight years with both corporate entities and grassroots organizations on development initiatives. He possesses a deep understanding and proficiency in stakeholder management, communication strategies, and project coordination. Before joining UNDP, he held the position of senior manager for programs and communications at SUVIDHA, a non-profit organization dedicated to rural development and climate change mitigation.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Kumaun University, Uttarakhand.
Ravi Bains
CSR & Private Sector Engagement Analyst
Mr. Bains is a seasoned professional with 17 years of experience in CSR, business development, and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) within the automobile sector. He brings to the table an extensive background in driving sustainable development and a passion for creating a positive impact on society and possesses a wealth of knowledge in strategic program management. Expertise is underpinned by a comprehensive understanding of project management for employment and skill initiatives, as well as crafting environmental and social value communications through effective stakeholder engagement. His professional journey has consistently revolved around building strong relationships to promote CSR and make a meaningful contribution to societal development. He has made significant contributions at Hero MotoCorp, where he held the role of CSR manager and led multiple impactful projects in collaboration with NGO partners, spanning diverse areas.
He is a graduate in electrical engineering and an MBA in marketing from Army Institute of Management and Technology, Greater Noida. He also holds certification in Sustainability Management from AIMA (All India Management Association) and Mastering Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) from CII (Confederation of Indian Industry).
Naveen Kumar Samuel Kori
Public Policy Analyst
Naveen, with over five years of experience in the government and non-profit sectors, is a skilled development sector professional. His tenure as a Partnerships Officer for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), seconded to the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW), Government of India, was marked by his crucial role in drafting the outcomes for the 2023 G20 Presidency of India.
He holds a strong academic background, with a Master’s degree in Development Policy (Sustainable Development) from KDI School, South Korea, as a Global Ambassador Scholar, a Postgraduate Diploma in Liberal Studies (Young India Fellowship) from Ashoka University, and a Bachelor of Technology in Agricultural Engineering. Naveen’s career, spanning various roles, includes his tenure as Assistant Manager (Agricultural Credit) at Corporation Bank (now merged with Union Bank), a position he secured through the IBPS Specialist Officers exam in 2015. He has also been a Clinton Service Corps Fellow with the American India Foundation, a Yes Foundation Media for Social Change Fellow, and a Consultant at the Capacity Building Commission, DoPT, Government of India. Additionally, he served as a UNV District Youth Coordinator at Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MoYAS). In these roles, he has contributed to drafting various reports and strategic documents. He has received international certifications in Climate Change Mitigation from the GDLN-World Bank and participated in the 2021 G20 Global Leadership Program in Korea. Fluent in English, Hindi, Kannada, and with basic proficiency in Korean and French, his achievements as a published author and speaker highlight his versatile skill set. His professional journey, which has taken him to six countries, reflects his commitment to global development. He aspires to contribute to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 and to empower youth through education, mentorship, and guidance.
Paridhi Kapoor
Research Associate
Paridhi holds a postgraduate degree in Economics from Doon University, Dehradun. She worked as a CM Young Professional at Department of Planning, Uttarakhand during which she was engaged in projects like Feasibility analysis of Growth centers and other enterprises in Uttarakhand SRLM, publication of the SDG State indicator framework and SDG compendium. An economic enthusiast, Paridhi’s keen interest lies in understanding and working on the livelihood landscape of Uttarakhand.