Senior management team

RN Mohanty

Chief Executive Officer, India

Mr RN Mohanty has spent more than three decades in the social sector with assignments involving programmes, finance, and enabling fundraising for various social and economic causes. RN, as he is fondly addressed by his peers, has held leadership positions at various development sector organisations. A key strategist, RN is a realist in spearheading new initiatives.

A Master’s degree holder in Economics, he has also done his Post Graduation in Human Resource Management. Regarded as a visionary for tomorrow, RN during his higher studies days was inspired to join the international development field after looking at the impact of poverty on people. Health and education are key areas wherein he would like to bring about a change. For Sightsavers India, his immediate vision is of transforming 100 districts in the country in the arena of eye health and disability. He brings to the table a rich experience of strengthening and managing teams and raising their capabilities.

Prasannakumar Narayanan

Senior Director, Programmes Operations

Prasanna joined Sightsavers India in 2004 and at present is the Senior Director – Programme Operations. Based out of the Delhi Office, he is primarily responsible for the overall implementation and growth programmes and strategic interventions in the country.

Prasanna is a Postgraduate in Development Economics and holds a master’s degree in development planning and management.  He specialises in planning implementation and management of development programmes with deep understanding on various approaches for programme development. Child rights, Disability, Gender, Safeguarding, Livelihood and Eye Care are his strong areas of expertise.

Prior to joining Sightsavers India, he worked with Christian Children’s Fund (US) where he had independent charge of Odisha and Chhattisgarh programmes. He has also worked with Save the Children (UK) as Programme Officer. His began his journey in development sector by working with fishermen and tribal communities of Odisha.

Avijit Dey

Senior Director, Programme Outreach, Resource Mobilisation & Corporate Services

Avijit Dey, an integral member of Sightsavers India since 2011, holds the role of Senior Director, Programme Outreach, Resource Mobilisation & Corporate Services. Avijit brings a wealth of experience from his engagements in international markets, contributing to his multifaceted professional background. With over 20 years of service in the development sector, Avijit has developed a profound passion for marketing, significantly influencing his professional journey. Before joining Sightsavers India, he held pivotal positions at esteemed organisations such as Plan India, Intervida, and Deepalaya.

Avijit’s academic pursuits include graduation from Delhi University and postgraduate studies in PR and Advertising at the Centre for Mass Media, New Delhi. Avijit also oversees the Sightsavers India Fellowship Programme—a dedicated initiative to nurture future ophthalmologists. Beyond the responsibilities mentioned above, Avijit assumed leadership of the Administration and Procurement portfolio. In this capacity, he ensured the seamless functioning of administration and procurement functions at Sightsavers India by implementing policies, procedures, and best practices aligned with the organisation’s vision.

Archana Bhambal

Technical Director, Inclusion Programmes

Archana joined Sightsavers India in 2008 as Area Director for North India. Her role involved overseeing the programmes in North India including their strategy and development process. In this position she has presented Sightsavers work at national and international forums. She currently holds the position of Technical Director, Inclusion Programme. Archana was a Member of National Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Plan Appraisal Team of MHRD, Government of India.

Prior to joining Sightsavers India, Archana has worked for District Primary Education Programme (DPEP) and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. She has contributed to the planning, implementation and monitoring of the government’s Universalization of Elementary Education programme.

In her present role, advocating for Inclusive Education, she wants to see all children get the benefit of education.For this she is working with national level organizations to promote Inclusive education. Archana has a Master’s Degree in science and education and has been in the social sector for over 30 years.

Sudipta Mohanty

Technical Director, Programme Quality and Learning

Sudipta is a Post Graduate from XISS, Ranchi and has been in the social development sector for more than two decades. Further to his Post Graduation, he has done his MS in Regional Development Planning and Management from University of Dortmund, Germany and Executive Post Graduate Programme in Management from IIM, Ranchi.

Sudipta joined Sightsavers India in 2008 as Programme Manager and is currently the Technical Director, Programme Quality and Learning. His role involves strategic planning, partnership development, overseeing the programmes, administration and financial control. Prior to joining Sightsavers India, he has worked with Catholic Relief Services as Deputy State Representative for the states of MP and CG. An avid reader and enthusiast in organization development and leadership issues, he enjoys exploring avenues of social enterprises for health care innovations.

Jatin Tiwari

Director, Programme Operations

Jatin Tiwari holds the pivotal role of Director, Programme Operations at Sightsavers India. He embarked on a journey with Sightsavers India over a decade ago, demonstrating commitment and a passion for the causes of eye health and disability. With youthful enthusiasm and a drive to make a difference, he joined the organisation while still in his twenties.

Over the years, Jatin’s journey has been characterised by growth and transformation, evolving from a dedicated corporate fundraiser into a valued member of a team comprised of passionate strategic partnership experts and seasoned development professionals. Whether adapting to new responsibilities or seizing opportunities to manage programmes, he has consistently thrived in the face of challenges. As a professional, Jatin brings a fresh, innovative, and out-of-the-box approach to his program management responsibilities.

Akbar Mehfuz Alam

Senior Manager, Government Relations And Policy Engagement

Akbar Mehfuz Alam has been in the social development and sustainability sector for around 2 decades. He has travelled across India to contribute to social development initiatives focusing on eye health, education, disability, livelihood, governance, and disaster relief. Akbar has a Master’s in Social Work (MSW) from the University of Delhi and a Certified Executive Programme in Leadership & Change Management from XLRI.

Akbar has been working with Sightsavers India for the last decade, contributing to the organisation’s strategic programmes and partnership development in Odisha, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. Akbar is currently spearheading the GRAPE Unit for Sightsavers India at its country head office in Delhi. His role includes supporting organisational strategy in fostering and strengthening strategic alliances, networks, and partnerships to positively impact people-centred policy changes in eye health, disability-inclusive development and inclusive education in India. Prior to joining Sightsavers India, Akbar worked with organisations like CAPART, CEFI, Govt of Odisha, and Canada World Youth.

Dr Ananta Basudev Sahu, PhD

Senior Manager, Programme Performance, Research and Learning

Dr. Ananta Basudev Sahu brings over 15 years of extensive experience in health system development, specializing in Maternal and Child Health, Health and Nutrition, HIV/AIDS, and Disability Research. Prior to his current leadership role at Sightsavers India, he held positions at Population Services International, UNICEF, the National AIDS Control Organization, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), and SAATHII.

Dr. Sahu is widely recognized for his instrumental role in designing and implementing the SEVOTTAM Compliant System, ISO 9001:2008 certification, Citizen and Client Charters, and Results Framework Documents for the Department of AIDS Control. His exceptional contributions earned him distinction awards from the Performance Management Division of the Cabinet Secretariat, the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (Government of India), and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

A PhD in Demography, Dr. Sahu has an extensive publication record, with 52 research articles and short communications in peer-reviewed journals and edited books. He has also edited a book titled *The Impact of COVID-19 on the Social Sector* and presented 30 research papers at national and international conferences.

Dr Sahu leads impactful contributions to Eye Health, Social Inclusion, and Inclusive Education programmes as Head of the Programme Performance Research and Learning Division at Sightsavers India.

Megha Sharma, SHRM-SCP

Human Resource Business Partner

Megha is a SHRM-SCP certified Human Resources leader with over 13 years of experience driving people-focused strategies across global corporations and mission-driven NGOs. Her expertise lies in aligning HR practices with organizational goals, with a strong focus on Learning & Development, policy implementation, compliance, and employee engagement.

She has successfully led HR functions at organizations such as Children International, Justice and Care, Willis Towers Watson, and Aon Hewitt, consistently delivering results in diverse and dynamic environments. Known for her ability to navigate change, foster positive workplace culture, and improve operational efficiency, Megha brings deep, hands-on knowledge of Indian labour law, performance management systems, compensation benchmarking, and safeguarding initiatives.

Prateek Jain

Senior Manager, Finance

Prateek is a qualified Chartered Accountant and Company Secretary. He holds a degree in Bachelor of Law and B. Com (Hons) with more than 14 years of experience in finance, audit, management reporting, grants and risk management functions. At Sightsavers India, he oversees Finance function.

In the past, he has worked at C3 India for six years and at the TNCC for two years. Prateek has extensive experience in handling matters relating to regulatory compliance with respect to Income Tax Act, FCRA, Companies Act, Accounting Standards and more. He has also successfully monitored and executed long-term projects funded by international organisations, agencies and donors such as USAID and UNICEF.

Sayanti Bit

Lead, Corporate Partnerships

Sayanti holds an MBA in Finance and brings over five years of experience as an Analyst in the IT and Market Research sectors. Motivated by a deep commitment to social impact, she transitioned to the development sector to work in health and education. She began her journey with CRY, followed by a role at Habitat for Humanity India, before joining Sightsavers India in 2018.

As the Lead for Corporate Partnerships, Sayanti oversees corporate engagement and partnerships, building a strong and sustainable portfolio of committed partners. Her vision is to enable greater awareness and responsibility around eye health and disability inclusion within corporate India.