The Governing Board

Over the years, Anthra’s Governing Board has included pioneering women veterinarians and others interested in the social and medical aspects of animal health and husbandry, the livelihoods and well-being of pastoralists and livestock carers, and sustainable and equitable ecological development.

Board Members of Anthra

Bhavana Rao Kuchimanchi has a Masters in Agricultural entomology and is pursuing her PhD in Animal Production systems. She has several years of experience as a researcher  in rural development, watershed management, climate change and its impact on agriculture and livestock systems.

Chandana Barua is the first woman post graduate veterinarian from Assam and has conducted extensive studies on the pharmacology of natural plant products. She is currently Professor of Veterinary Pharmacology at the College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University. She is interested in science communication and writes popular articles for the Assamese and English press.

Mamta Dhawan  ( Vice –President ) is a veterinarian and educationist with over 20 years of experience on livestock health, livestock policy, and gender-mainstreaming in livestock programmes. She has worked with the FAO, the Government of India and in states such as Rajasthan and Bihar. Mamta is based in NOIDA, Uttar Pradesh, and is Vice President of Anthra.

Mira Dakin-Sadgopal is an obstetrician and gynaecologist with over four decades of field experience on critical issues related to women and health. She is well-known for her work on mid-wives (dais) from the perspective of public health and indigenous knowledge. She has mentored practitioners and authored several books. Mira is based in Nandurbar, Maharashtra.

Mudasir Sultana is the first woman post-graduate veterinarian from Kashmir. Her present research interests include the antimicrobial residues in foods of animal origin. She retired as Professor and Head of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences at the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu.

Nitya S. Ghotge ( Executive Secretary ) trained as a veterinarian at Hisar (Haryana) and as a veterinary surgeon at the Bombay Veterinary College. Her work and publications include indigenous knowledge systems, gender-sensitive and sustainable livestock development, para-veterinary training and communication. In 1992 Nitya started Anthra, along with Sagari R. Ramdas, and she presently serves as Secretary and Executive Director.

Seema Kulkarni is an action researcher with three decades of experience of leading projects and studies on gender and water, sanitation, land and livelihoods. She is also a convenor of state and national networks of women farmers. She has published widely and is presently Senior Fellow at the Society for Promoting Participatory Ecosystem Management, Pune.

Sumi Krishna (President)  an independent researcher, teacher and author, has 45 years of experience on gender, environment-development, natural resources and livelihoods at the field, programme and policy levels. She pioneered the incorporation of gender into science curricula and practice. She is widely-published and has been President of the Indian Association for Women’s Studies. Sumi is based in Bengaluru and serves as President of Anthra.

Sushmita Parai, a veterinarian has16 years of experience with community livestock development programmes. As a skilled trainer, she is accredited with the international Livestock Emergency Guidelines and Standards. As Programme Manager with the Heifer Project International she helped develop the Global Guidelines and Standards for Animal Wellbeing. Sushmita is based in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.  

Former Associates of Anthra

Usha Mandokoth was the first woman veterinarian to graduate from the Veterinary college,  Nagpur, Maharashtra in   1962 .She retired as Professor of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology from the College of Veterinary Sciences, Hisar, Haryana. She has also served in senior positions at the Department of Animal Husbandry of the Government of India. Usha is a founder Member of Anthra.

Sagari R. Ramdas trained as a veterinarian at Hisar, Haryana and in animal breeding and genetics at UC Davis, USA. She has worked with rural and Adivasi communities as a field veterinarian, trainer and researcher on livestock and people’s livelihoods and published widely. In 1992 Sagari started Anthra, along with Nitya S Ghotge. Presently, she works with the Food Sovereignty Alliance, India.

Patricia Gokhale trained as a psychologist and has vast experience in the development sector with special interests in the management and development of not-for-profit organisations. She has been deeply involved in vocational education and life-skills training for under-privileged children and promoting sustainable rural projects. She is based in Pune.