Manavi Staff

Maneesha Kelkar has been the Director of Manavi since 2004. Before joining the organization as its Director, Maneesha served as a volunteer and Board member of Manavi. Prior to her current position, Maneesha conducted an extensive post-9/11 Needs Assessment of Immigrant Communities, at the International Institute of New Jersey. Maneesha graduated with a Master's degree in Economic Development from American University, Washington, D.C. In her fourteen years of professional experience, she has taught Economics, consulted for the World Bank, done non profit work and held management positions at various corporations. Maneesha serves on the Board of the NJCBW (NJ coalition for Battered Women), the Prevention and Public Education Committee of the Governor's Council on Sexual Violence, and the NJ Advisory Committee for SAALT (South Asian American Leaders for Tomorrow).

Razia Meer has been the Transitional Home Coordinator at Manavi since 2003 and additionally, the Director of Direct Services since 2007. She has been actively involved in advocating for the rights of South Asian immigrants, both in the UK and the US since 1972. Razia's varied experiences in serving the South Asian Diaspora include, participating in a research study at the Greater Glasgow Health Board that focused on South Asian immigrant women suffering from bone deficiencies due to neglect and abuse. As a Liaison between the courts, police department and South Asian prison inmates in Glasgow, she educated inmates about the law and their rights. At Save the Children Fund (Scotland), Razia managed a community-based center for disadvantaged families. She has also presented a South Asian music show for the BBC in Scotland. In the US, Razia taught preschool children for nine years and has been involved in community organizing to end violence against women. Razia gains her Manavi energy with the help of the hearty meals her husband makes each day.

Sasi, the Administrative Coordinator, has a bachelor's degree from India and administrative skills training from NJ. Sasi worked as a volunteer for Manavi from 1999 to 2002. She started working at Manavi as a part-time administrative and bookkeeping coordinator in August 2002 and became full-time in 2004. An excellent cook, Sasi is always experimenting with new and innovative takes on South Indian classics. (The Manavi staff is more than happy to be her taste testers!)

Saswati Sarkar is working at Manavi as the Technical Assistance Coordinator. After graduating with a Masters degree from Jadavpur University in India, she moved to Minnesota where she completed her Masters degree in Women’s Studies. Her Masters thesis explored the stigmatization and silencing associated with women’s reproductive health issues. Saswati’s interest in community based advocacy and event management developed while interning with UNICEF on the Maternal Mortality Reduction Advocacy Project. Her interest grew while coordinating events for the Women’s Studies Department at Minnesota State University. An amateur photographer and an absolute movie buff, Saswati enjoys traveling, trying new cuisine, and reading.

Debjani Roy joined Manavi in February 2009 and is the Program Manager. Prior to this, she worked in women's rights and equality in London for several women's organizations including The National Alliance of Women's Organizations, Widow's Rights International, Ashiana Network and Women and Girls Network. Her diverse experience includes program management, direct service provision, communications, research, and policy advocacy. She has worked on issues such as forced marriage, 'honor' based violence, sexual trafficking, widow's rights and domestic violence. She has also edited books in the fields of Gender and Cultural Studies for the politically progressive publishing house, Pluto Press. Debjani's interest and passion for women's rights and equality began as an undergraduate at New York University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from the Stern School of Business , with a minor in Gender Studies from the College of Arts and Science. She received her Master's of Arts Degree in Cultural Studies from the University of London, Goldsmiths College and holds a Certificate in Understanding Women's Human Rights from The London School of Economics.

Heta Patel is currently working at Manavi as the Legal Coordinator. She graduated in 2009 from Rutgers University holding a Bachelors of Arts in Women's and Gender Studies with a particular focus on human rights and a minor in philosophy. During her time at Rutgers, she became an active member of the women's rights and the human rights community. She held various executive positions at the Rutgers University Women's Center and organized the annual event Take Back the Night. She was also a member of the Human Rights House, an interactive living and learning community, that took her to various parts of the world including Cambodia and Ciudad Juarez. She has held internships at the Ministry of Human Development in Belize and Human Rights Watch in New York City. In her senior year at Rutgers, she completed an honors thesis exploring the extremist Hindu right movement and its implications for social/religious minorities.

Sonia Huq joined Manavi as the Outreach Coordinator in August 2009.  She coordinates the outreach that Manavi does in the South Asian and broader community and is also the media liaison.  Sonia graduated from the University of Florida in 2003 with a Bachelors of Science in Psychology and a minor in Spanish.  The following year she joined the AmeriCorps*NCCC  for a year of service in which she traveled on a team to various parts of the country.  The service projects included environmental work, mentorship of youth, tax preparation for low-income families and post- Hurricane Katrina disaster -recovery with Habitat for Humanity.   Her experience motivated her to join  the non-profit & public service sector; she interned with Manavi on a project to create an Economic Empowerment Toolkit and then subsequently joined as staff.  Sonia's passion for women's rights sparks from living and hearing the daily experiences of women.

Kavitha Dulai joined Manavi as the Economic Employment Coordinator in February 2010.  She will be involved in the development of a culture specific employment toolkit and instructional video as well as Manavi’s mobile employment clinics.  Her undergraduate studies were in English literature and creative writing.   Before joining Manavi, she worked in film production, education, and community outreach.  As Coordinating Producer and Director of Research for documentary film projects, she focused on films involving social justice and women’s issues.  She has also taught writing in school leadership and enrichment programs.  Recently, she assisted a Staff Attorney specializing in social security benefits and disability rights issues at a non-profit legal services organization in New Jersey. 

Board of Directors

Asma Warsi Chaudry

Bhavini Doshi

Vinita Jethwani