At Sankalp Ek Prayas, we are guided and inspired by a group of deeply committed mentors who bring decades of experience from the fields of education, development, finance, and social change. Their wisdom, vision, and hands-on involvement help shape our mission of transforming rural education and empowering grassroots leadership. We are proud to be mentored by the following distinguished individuals:
“True giving lies not merely in providing resources, but in walking hand in hand with changemakers—empowering them to serve society with honesty, humility, and unwavering passion.”
— Ramesh Kacholiya
Ramesh Kacholiya
Founder & Visionary, Caring Friends | Our Constant Guide and Strongest Pillar of Support
Ramesh Kacholiya, affectionately known to countless social workers and grassroots leaders as Ramesh Uncle, is a pioneering figure in Indian philanthropy. As the driving force behind Caring Friends, he has revolutionized the way citizen-led giving bridges the gap between generous donors and committed change agents working in the country’s most remote corners.
Guided by the conviction that long-term social transformation requires empowering genuine, on-the-ground leadership, he has spent decades identifying, nurturing, and mentoring high-integrity organizations. Under his mentorship, hundreds of non-profits in education, healthcare, livelihood, and rural development have scaled their operations, established robust governance frameworks, and brought dignity and hope to millions.
Anchor and Guiding Light for Sankalp Ek Prayas
For the team and beneficiaries of Sankalp Ek Prayas, Ramesh Uncle is much more than a philanthropic mentor—he is an enduring source of strength, moral clarity, and inspiration.
From the early days of our journey to the expansion of our initiatives—including the vision of Adarsh Bal Gram—his strategic wisdom and emotional encouragement have served as our bedrock. He has continually challenged us to think bigger, stay deeply rooted in community realities, and maintain the highest benchmarks of organizational integrity.
His faith in our mission has enabled us to:
-
Deepen Community Reach:
Expand educational support and holistic interventions for children living in underserved rural and peri-urban belts. -
Institutionalize Best Practices:
Build accountable, transparent, and scalable operational models that ensure every child receives quality care and continuous learning opportunities. -
Sustain Long-Term Impact:
Navigate operational and structural hurdles with resilience, backed by his steady counsel and belief in community-driven empowerment.
Key Contributions & Enduring Legacy
-
Building the Caring Friends Ecosystem:
Conceptualized and built one of India’s most respected networks of grassroots NGOs and conscious donors, creating a collaborative movement centered entirely on zero-overhead giving, transparency, and high social return. - Championing Unsung Grassroots Leaders: Dedicated decades to discovering hidden changemakers across rural India, providing them with patient capital, strategic clarity, and nationwide visibility.
-
Mentorship & Institutional Capacity Building
Actively guides social sector founders in developing ethical governance, efficient organizational structures, and community-first program design. -
Nurturing Values of Trust & Transparency:
Actively guides social sector founders in developing ethical governance, efficient organizational structures, and community-first program design.
Core Philosophy & Values
-
Empowerment Over Patronage:
He believes philanthropy should enable grassroots organizations to become confident, self-sustaining institutions rather than dependent recipients of aid. -
Radical Transparency:
Advocacy for absolute openness in operations, finances, and community reporting as the true foundation of public trust. -
Community-Centric Action
Ensuring that every initiative places the dignity, rights, and voice of local communities at the core of decision-making. -
Nurturing Values of Trust & Transparency:
Actively guides social sector founders in developing ethical governance, efficient organizational structures, and community-first program design.
Babu Joseph
Former CEO, Axis Bank Foundation
Mr. Babu Joseph is a veteran in social development, with 30+ years of experience at the intersection of finance and impact. As former CEO of Axis Bank Foundation, he led transformative CSR programs improving rural livelihoods, water access, and women’s empowerment across India.
Key Contributions:
- Led CSR initiatives benefiting thousands of rural families.
- Built enduring partnerships with grassroots NGOs across states.
- Advocates for CSR as a model of sustainable development, not just philanthropy.
Philosophy:
“Social change requires not just resources, but wisdom, commitment, and grassroots participation.”
Manav Yagnik
Mentor, Caring Friends
Mr. Manav Yagnik is a passionate social worker and mentor associated with Caring Friends, a Mumbai-based philanthropic network. He supports impactful grassroots NGOs by providing strategic mentorship and connecting them to sustainable funding channels.
Key Contributions:
- Mentors high-impact NGOs with a focus on empathy-driven philanthropy.
- Bridges changemakers with donors for long-term support.
- Promotes transparency and community-led development models.
K. K. Jhunjhunwala
Mentor, Caring Friends | Founder, Pakka Foundation
A senior Chartered Accountant and committed philanthropist, Mr. Jhunjhunwala plays a key mentoring role in nonprofit financial governance. As a core member of Caring Friends and the founder of Pakka Foundation, he supports rural initiatives across education, health, and livelihoods.
Key Contributions:
- Provides financial and audit guidance to organizations like Parivaar.
- Founded Pakka Foundation to support rural development initiatives.
- Served as Lions Club District Governor (2003–04), organizing thousands of free health services.
Rajiv Vartak
Founder & Director, Adhyayan Sanstha | Ashoka Fellow (1993), Advisor Sankalp Ek Prayas
Rajiv Balkrishna Vartak is the founder and director of Adhyayan Sanstha, an organization dedicated to enhancing experiential and heuristic learning in science, mathematics, and geography across school levels. A visionary educationist and Ashoka Fellow since 1993, he has devoted over four decades to transforming science education in India.
Key Contributions:
- Founded Adhyayan Sanstha and led initiatives like SMIP and ISSL across multiple states.
- Created the Science, Mathematics & Geography Olympics to promote self-directed learning.
- Developed interactive learning spaces including science centers, geography parks, and mobile science labs.
- Collaborated on multimedia education tools with IL&FS and Core Technologies.
- Advises Sankalp Ek Prayas on strategic planning and grassroots capacity building.
Vineeth Iyer
President, Malvi Educational Trust | Trustee, Muktangan | Advisor, Sankalp Ek Prayas
Vineeth Iyer is a senior development professional with over 20 years of experience, including a decade in the corporate sector. Currently based in South Gujarat, he serves in key leadership roles in the education and rural development space. Vineeth holds an MBA in HR and is passionate about school education and agriculture-based livelihoods.
Key Contributions:
- Leads and mentors NGOs focusing on education reform and livelihood generation.
- Advises Sankalp Ek Prayas on strategic planning and grassroots capacity building.
- Champions rural education models rooted in local contexts and participatory governance.
Parimal Sinha
Founder & General Secretary
An alumnus of BHU and IIM with a strong belief in working for underprivileged children, Mr. Sinha is a working HR professional and looks after program design and operations, fund raising, impact assessment, HR and overall administration of Sankalp Ek Prayas activities. As a founder, he is responsible for the growth of Sankalp Ek Prayas and institutionalizing its strategy.
CA Rinu V Koshy
Co-Founder & Treasurer
A Chartered Accountant by profession and a Masters in Commerce with 15 years of work experience, Mr. Rinu has the overall responsibility of Finance & Accounts, Income Tax/Statutory department and other financial matters. He is also the key signing authority of Sankalp Ek Prayas. As a co-founder, he is responsible for achieving the strategy of the organization.