Sadanand Shinde

CSR Monitoring Consultant at Bajaj Finserv CSR, leading monitoring, stakeholder engagement, and compliance verification for skilling and entrepreneurship projects through MIS‑based data analysis, tele‑verification, and field visits. Manage NGO stakeholders, coordinate with them on compliance documents, prepare related reports and documents, and support review processes to strengthen program implementation and partner accountability across skilling partners and NGOs.

Credit Manager at Svatantra Microfinance | Empowering informal segments with affordable housing loans by minimizing organizational risk through field insights, capacity verification, and intent assessment. Advancing financial inclusion through affordable housing: Working with informal-sector borrowers — daily wage workers, small entrepreneurs, and low-income families — to assess their creditworthiness through field visits, income profiling, and intent verification, enabling access to housing credit that formal banking systems have historically excluded them from. Field-to-decision pipeline: Translating ground-level socioeconomic realities into structured credit appraisal memos for senior leadership — bridging the gap between community-level financial realities and institutional decision-making, a skill directly applicable to evidence-based governance and policy implementation. Cross-functional coordination in a compliance-driven environment: Coordinating with sales, legal, operations, and credit teams to ensure policy-compliant underwriting, TAT adherence, and documentation integrity — building coordination and stakeholder management skills directly relevant to development sector program delivery.

During my second-semester fieldwork with TISS, I conducted social audits for MGNREGA and Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan in five villages in Zahrikhal block, Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, strengthening my commitment to grassroots accountability and inclusive rural development. For MGNREGA, I verified job cards against MIS data, inspected physical assets like livestock shelters and check dams, and assessed worksite conditions, identifying issues like delayed wages and missing documentation. For Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, I evaluated school infrastructure, scrutinized financial records, and assessed School Management Committee functionality, engaging communities through door-to-door visits and Focus Group Discussions with beneficiaries, children, and parents to gauge scheme impact. We presented findings in Gram Sabhas and block-level Jan Sunwais, securing jury approval for the MGNREGA audit report. Key gaps included low awareness, incomplete records, and non-functional Panchayat Bhavans. We also proposed solutions like geotagging assets, translating records into local languages, appointing Field Resource Persons, and policy-level recommendations such as context-specific MGNREGA works and anti-discrimination training for auditors. Grateful for the guidance of Prof. Sohini Sengupta and Mr. Manoj Garola Sir. #SocialAudit #MGNREGA #SamagraShiksha #CommunityDevelopment #Uttarakhand #GrassrootsAccountability #TISS

Our fieldwork with Chaupal in Chhattisgarh was a transformative experience, engaging communities and advancing social welfare. We supported the Swachhta Hi Sewa Campaign under Jal Jeevan Mission in Gangapur village, collaborating with local leaders like the Sarpanch, Anganwadi workers, and teachers to boost awareness in Jarhadi. Under MGNREGA, we verified job cards for the Pahadi Korwa community and conducted forest mapping in Koriya and Bhenswar villages for better land-use planning. We assessed healthcare and local committees in Kishori village, empowered tribal governance through PESA training, and conducted social audits in Kudkel and Bansajhal on PMAY and MGNREGA schemes for transparency. Under Poshan Abhiyaan, we discussed nutrition through organizing session in Besrapani and evaluated the Laika Ghar program in Udaipur, while surveys and BMI camps addressed malnutrition. Insights from Sanghvari and Chaupal founders, Yogesh Sir and Gangaram Sir, deepened our approach to community-driven change. We sparked awareness, mobilized communities, and tackled gaps in welfare programs, reinforcing our commitment to inclusive, sustainable development. Grateful for the guidance of Prof. Mouleshri Vyas and Gangaram ji and my fellow team mates of TISS. Thank you, Chaupal, for an inspiring journey!

As a District Coordinator at VANAMATI, we as team designed and conducted a Capacity Enhancement and Need Assessment (CENA) exercise for the POCRA project, assessing the needs of 11 different stakeholders. During my internship with VANAMATI, I worked as a District Coordinator for the Latur district on the Project on Climate Resilient Agriculture (POCRA), funded by the World Bank. I facilitated community engagement activities across 10 villages in 8 blocks in Latur Dstrict. I facilitated over 10 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and conducted interviews with 150+ farmers, Panchayat bodies, district and block level agricultural officers, FPOs, SHGs, NGOs, educational institutions, and financial institutions like DDM NABARD. My work focused on analyzing climate resilience, irrigation, and market access issues in the Marathwada region. By analyzing this data with ZOHO tools, I prepared detailed reports highlighting challenges like irrigation issues, scheme gaps, and market access, along with practical recommendations for improvement. This experience strengthened my skills in stakeholder coordination, policy communication, and rural governance while deepening my commitment to driving sustainable and inclusive solutions in agriculture. Grateful for the guidance of Prof. Geetanjoy Sahu and IAS Mittali Sethi Mam

Empowering Communities through Fieldwork with Apnalaya in Mumbai 🌟 My year-long fieldwork with Apnalaya in Shivajinagar, Mumbai’s M-Ward, was a transformative journey in social work, focusing on disability, education, and community empowerment. I had worked in the Mandala, Chettah camp in two broad area which sub divided into different sub- nagars and regions. • Data-Driven Impact: Conducted 60+ home visits and surveys, mapping community needs and ensuring services reached those with disabilities. Documented case stories to amplify their voices. • Research Excellence: Led a project on nine rare disabilities (e.g., leprosy, muscular dystrophy), interviewing 30+ individuals to advocate for specialized support. • Community Mapping: Created a detailed Google Earth map and profile of Shivajinagar, identifying resources and gaps in infrastructure and healthcare for PWDs. • Disability Sensitization: Organized engaging sessions at two colleges, breaking stigma through interactive activities like role-playing and sign language, fostering empathy among students. • Networking & Advocacy: Visited 20+ organizations in Mandala area working on different local social issues, building a robust support network, and raised awareness about government schemes like PM Jan Aarogya Yojana. • Community Mobilization: Led sessions to combat disability stigma and trained volunteers, strengthening Community Action Groups (CAGs). 💡 Impact: Enhanced service delivery, empowered PWDs, and deepened my skills in data collection, advocacy, and program management. Grateful to Apnalaya and my supervisor, Archana Diwate, for this enriching experience! #SocialWork #DisabilityAdvocacy #CommunityEmpowerment #Apnalaya #GrassrootsImpact

As a Research Intern at YOGI, I completed a field research project on the ‘State of Urban Water,’ focusing on water inaccessibility, waterlogging, wastage, and MIDC regulations. I played a key role in formulating research objectives, stakeholder mapping, data collection and analysis, and report writing. I conducted semi-structured interviews with over 200 community members and key government officials, including the DRM Officer, MIDC and MPCB officials, City Engineer, etc.