People behind DISHA

DISHA is managed by a Board of Advisors and an Executive Committee comprising individuals from diverse backgrounds and expertise.

Executive Committee

Sk Mohd Niyaz(Founder)
Naveen Gupta(President)
Dinesh Gupta(Vice-President)
Sk Abdul Noor
Md. Mushtaque Aalam
Ramanuj Aggarwal
Lalatendu Maikap

Sk Mohd Niyaz(Founder)

A Bachelor of Science & Information Technology from Utkal University, Sk. Mohd Niyaz, has done Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGPM) from Lal Bahadur Sashstri Institute of Management (LBSIM), New Delhi with specialisation in HR & IT. His passion for social work and the dream to bring positive changes in the lives of the needy drew him to the development sector. Niyaz has worked as Project in Charge with Digital Empowerment Foundation. As the head of Talent Acquisition, at Digital Empowerment Foundation he has won wide acclaim for handling the Manthan, Asia’s biggest award for Information Communication Technology. He has also worked with Smile Foundation as Assistant Manager(HR), Prognosis Capital Advisors as Assistant Manager and Micro Clinic Private Ltd also as an Assistant Manager. He is one of the Founding Member of DISHA and is now its Secretary. Niyaz’s background as an IT and HR personnel is helping DISHA understand the changing job market requirements and the right training and education to be imparted to children in order to ensure a bright future for them.

Naveen Gupta(President)

A Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Kalinga Institute of Technology and Science, Bhubaneswar, Naveen Gupta is a Banker by profession and a philanthropic at heart. A former student of Sunshine Mission School, Bhadrak, Gupta did his Graduation in Commerce and thereafter went for a MBA degree. He is the President of DISHA and is one of the founding members, who have strived hard to make DISHA a reality.

Sk Abdul Noor

Sk Abdul Noor is a MBA in Finance and Marketing from Academy of MGT studies. After completing his MBA, Noor joined ADHIKAR Micro Service Pvt Ltd as Assistant Operational Manager. But within two months he rose to the post of Area Manager and later became the Branch Manager. Since March 2008, Noor is working as a Branch Manager – Operations with ICICI Bank. A hard working person, Noor is also an excellent orator and has great negotiation skills.

Md. Mushtaque Aalam

An alumnus of IIPM, Delhi, Md. Mushtaque Aalam is the Vice President, Human Resources, ICICI Prudential. Prior to joining ICICI in 2007, Alam worked with Convergys India Services, heading the HR team in the West. He has also been associated with Prudential PLC as India Recruitment Head, and has served as a HR Manager in Deloitte Consulting, Hyderabad and HCL Technologies Ltd. Alam has specialisation in Human Resources as well as Marketing. A graduate in Zoology from Utlkal University, Alam is a born leader and has received many awards for his managerial and HR skills. He has all the qualities of true HR personnel and is much liked by both the employees and the employers for his organizational capability, manpower planning, budgeting etc. Alam is also greatly popular among his friends for his humanitarianapproach.

Lalatendu Maikap

Lalatendu Maikap is a Commerce Graduate from Sambalpur University and is at present working with HDFC Bank Ltd. He is posted in Balasore, Orissa. A native of Bhadrak, Maikap has also worked as a marketing executive with Maharaja Reacon Pvt Ltd. At HDFC, he is an integral part of Wholesale Banking Operations. Maikap is a kind hearted person who is also appreciated by his colleagues and friends for his talent and hard work.

Board of Advisors

Bibhu Prasad Tripathy
Saubhagini Ray
Zeba Zaidi

Bibhu Prasad Tripathy

Bibhu Prasad Tripathy is the Managing Partner of Lex Publicio, Advocates and Solicitors and has over one and a half decade of experience as a law practitioner. He has practiced in the Supreme Court, Delhi High Court, Orissa High Court, National Consumer Forum, Environment Appellate Authority, etc. After his LL.B from University of Delhi, he did Master of Law from the National Law School of India University, Bangalore with specialisation in business laws and constitutional laws. Tripathy has fought many important cases for the protection of sex workers, rights of street vendors, slum dwellers and factory workers. Besides creating a name for himself as a lawyer, Tripathy is also known for several books written by him. His books Legal Compendium for investigating officer of Women and Children Desk published by Women and Child Department, Government of Orissa, Urban Police Act published by Legal Associates, Cuttack, Cases and Materials Concerning Coastal Zone, published by the National Law School of India University, Bangalore are widely read. He has also worked as an instructor for Master in Business law in Environmental law in National Law School of India University, Bangalore and Instructor for Law, Medicine and Professional Ethics course in the Medicinal and Para Medical colleges of Karnataka. Tripathy has always been actively involved in various co-curricular activities and was the co-organiser of advanced course in Constitutional Litigation along with the Judges of Supreme Court, High Courts and eminent Advocates of the country. Tripathy is also the standing counsel for the School and Mass Education Department, Government of Orissa.

Saubhagini Ray

A teacher by profession, Mrs. Saubhagini Ray is also well known for her literary skills. She received the National Award for Teachers from the President of India in 1999, State (Orissa) Award for Teachers in 1998, CCRT Teachers Award, 2000, Prakruti Bandhu Award, Orissa Bigyan Academy Award, 2004, Lifetime Achievement in Literacy Award, 2009 etc. Mrs Ray has worked on varied topics like Elementary Education, Children Literature, Women & Child Welfare, Mass Literacy, Population Education, Children’s Health & Sanitation, Science & Technology for Children etc. Mrs. Ray is associated with many organizations like CCRT, New Delhi, SIET, Orissa, DoorDarshan, All India Radio, SRC (AE) etc. A few of her books in Odiya include Anandamaya Gitika, Ama Paribesha O Tara Surakshya, Dasa Petua, Bulijiba Asa Mahasamudra, Ama Sulabha Mulya Dokana, Gachhatia Mu Tuma Sathitia, Ama Orissa, Chha Ritur Maza etc. Orissa – A Profile (In English) is another widely read book of hers.

Zeba Zaidi
Zeba Zaidi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the electronic media. She started as a Reporter with Sahara Television Network in 2002 and soon created a name for herself in the Indian Television Industry. Today, besides being known as a superb Anchor and Correspondent, Zeba is also occupied in the production of special programmes on a wide range of social issues. A Graduate from Isabella Thoburn College, Lucknow, Zeba also has a PG Diploma degree in Public Relations and Advertising from Lucknow University.

Zeba has expertise in script writing and is envied by friends and colleagues for her finesse in Urdu. From political news (Parliamentary and Legislative elections in UP, Haryana and Delhi) and crime (Nithari, Arushi murder case) to human interest stories (parenting, Kaise Nibaye Rishtey) and travelogues (Sair Sapata), Zeba has covered almost all issues of interest to both the mass and the class.