Advisory Body
Dr. Pradeep Kumar Panda – Advisor to Governing Board
Dr. Pradeep K Panda is a Health Economist as well as a Demographer by training with significant experience in teaching, research and consultancy. Dr. Panda is a professor of Health Economist at International Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR) Delhi. He was the Project Coordinator for the implementation of National Family Health Survey 4 (NFHS-4) for the state of Odisha. Prior to joining the IIHMR, he has worked in reputed national and international organizations in various capacities- Director of Research and Implementation (Micro Insurance Academy), Director of Rural Research (Institute of Rural Research and Development), health Economist (Population Council), and Associate Professor (Center for Development Studies). He has conducted several research projects in the health sector as a Principal Investigator / Project Director, published several research papers in reputed international journals on development studies and public health, co-edited a book published by the Oxford University Press, and guided thesis/dissertation of seven researchers (one Ph.D and six M.Phil in Applied Economics) who were awarded degrees by Jawaharlal Nehru University. He has a strong background in mixed-method research, impact evaluation, and systematic reviews. He was awarded two visiting research fellowships to conduct research at International Institute of Social Studies, Erasmus University, The Netherlands (ICSSR and NOW/WORTO Science for Global Development fellowship) and at International Center for Research on women, Washington DC (Ford Foundation fellowship). Dr. Panda is also a Visiting Professor at Institute for Human Development, New Delhi, and a visiting Faculty at XSRM, Xavier University Bhubaneswar.
Dr. Amulya Mohanty - Strategic Advisor to Board
Dr. Mohanty has about 3 decades of national and international experience in rural development (livelihoods and microfinance), value chain development, cluster development, institution building and consultancy services. He has worked with several premier institutions like Xavier Institute of Management, CARE India and ACCESS Development Services. In these three decades, Dr. Mohanty has taken lead roles in programme planning, monitoring, research, implementation, policy dialogue, technical assistance, knowledge management and Corporate Social Responsibility to support rural livelihoods, through improved farming system, livelihoods enhancement and value chain development. With his visionary leadership and implementation skills, several SHG Federations and Producers Companies have been formed and successfully operating in different parts of India. He has created and established a special place for himself as one of the best architects of promoting Producer Companies, both in farm and off-farm sectors. He has to his credit several successful instances of big donor supported projects being implemented in the states of Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and North East. Mahashakti Foundation is fortunate to have him as Programme Director and Strategic Advisor to the Board and his strategic guidance would help Mahashakti Foundation in implementing different agriculture and livelihood focused projects in a comprehensive manner.
Mr Sujay Kar - Marketing and Convergence Consultant
Mr. Kar is a seasoned development professional with over 34 years of cross-sector experience, spanning government, non-government, and corporate organizations. He recently retired as Joint CEO - Marketing at ORMAS, where he played a pivotal role in promoting rural livelihoods and building inclusive, market-oriented ecosystems across Odisha. An alumnus of Utkal University, Mr. Kar holds a Master’s degree in Commerce and a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from XIM Bhubaneswar. He has worked extensively in areas such as livelihood promotion, retail outlet development, cluster-based micro-enterprises, branding, packaging, e-commerce, and capacity building. Mr. Kar has collaborated with NIFT, NID, and the Asian Heritage Foundation to design artisan-focused programs; facilitated training for FPOs and rural entrepreneurs across Odisha. He successfully onboarded over 78 handmade products on Amazon Karigar and created 642 SKUs for digital listing, helping rural artisans and producers gain access to wider markets. In the area of policy and program implementation, he served as the State Nodal Officer for key initiatives under the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), including Aajeevika (Special SGSY), RSETI, and Skill Development programs. In this role, he worked closely with MoRD, DRDAs, banks, and various international agencies to ensure smooth and effective program execution. Mr. Kar now serves as the Marketing and Convergence Consultant at Mahashakti Foundation, continuing his dedication to grassroots development.