Our Team

Aruna Dholakiya started her journey with KMVS in 1998, as a curious volunteer at the age of 18. A year later, at 19, she was a feisty full-timer, living on her own, organising women artisans in Nakhatrana Block, 85 kms away from her natal home. In 2018, she was appointed KMVS’s Executive Secretary. In this period, while still working full time, she got a B.A. and MSW degrees from Kachchh University. In long years devoted to women’s rights, Aruna has done it all, ground up and top down, walking the talk with women in the heat and dust of villages, blocks, city slums and wards. She has organised scattered women into purposeful communities and registered their own independent collectives; expanded KMVS’s work into new urban spaces for land rights, housing rights, rights of female sex workers; and worked to build a gender-rights perspective within traditional caste-panchayats. Recognised as a formidable champion for women’s empowerment on the Kutch landscape, Aruna Dholakiya as part of a three-member core management team, continues to take its grounded advocacy lessons to national and international forums; because her work with KMVS is powered by a vision for equality for all women everywhere.

Khatija Sameja began her journey in 1999 as a savings record keeper for the self help group in her village, Kalyanpar. Having studied till class 7, she was the only one who could read and write. Her dreams expanded when the rural women’s collective promoted by KMVS, Saiyere Jo Sangathan based in Nakhatrana Block, asked her to join them in 2000. Khatija eventually became a coordinator and a part of the sangathan’s leadership team. Since 2013 she has been working as a project coordinator and counsellor with Hello Sakhi, KMVS’s legal programme. She heads planning and operations in Abdasa Block and coordinates trainings of the network of paralegal community leaders spread across Kachchh. With 25 years of commitment to KMVS’s mission, Khatija is a veritable encyclopedia about the organisation’s history.

Jigna Gor worked for over seven years on disaster mitigation with people from urban slums, where she understood the problems of the earthquake affected, especially women. Her experience came in handy when she became a part of KMVS’ urban programme in 2008, where her first project was to organise women for door-to-door waste collection under a Bhuj Municipal Corporation scheme. While still working with KMVS, Jigna earned a B.A. degree from Ambedkar University, Kachchh. She currently heads the Samvedna programme, towards the safety and dignity of female sex workers.

Ahmed Sameja has worn many hats during his time with KMVS. Fresh out of school, in 1999 he started as a community reporter with the KMVS’ radio show ‘Kunjal Paanje Kachchh Ji’ which used real-life stories to discuss gender norms. He was also the station manager of Saiyere Jo Radio – another community-led FM ratio station, where he acquired a flair for writing scripts. Then, when the Soorvani platform was set up in 2008, Ahmed joined the staff and worked on discovering and nurturing local folk music and musicians. For the past few years, he has been working with leaders in the Jat community, including women leaders, as well as newly-wed Jat couples to develop a perspective on gender, persuading the community against early marriage, and stressing upon girls education. Despite working on complex and seemingly intractable issues, Ahmed brings much needed joy, humor and lightness to his work. He is also an excellent Kachchhi to Gujarati language translator.

After getting a B.A. degree, Minaxi Chauhan initially joined the urban livelihood project at KMVS, where she gradually discovered her passion to work with women from urban poor communities, addressing issues they confront in their search for better lives. Presently heading the urban programme at KMVS, she works with women community leaders on housing justice. At a personal level, Minaxi has defied social judgement, and raised her sons single-handedly. Having transformed her own life, Minaxi now actively spreads awareness on gender discriminatory norms, and creates spaces for dialogues on issues faced by the poorest women in Bhuj.

After getting an M.A. (Sociology), Rinkal Davda started with KMVS by working with the legal team on cases from Bhuj and Mandvi. She then shifted roles, and now works with young girls who have dropped-out of school through the Akhar Centre programme. This includes conducting trainings, workshops and campaigns with young community leaders on many core issues - freedom, sexuality, menstruation, agency and child marriage. The conviction that change starts at home is what animates Rinkal’s work, and that includes pushing boundaries in her own life, even as she seeks to empower young girls to change theirs.

A feminist at heart and a dedicated community worker, Chanda Joshi has been with KMVS since 2006, using her legal and social expertise to help women in rural Kutch. With B.Com. and LLB degrees from Gujarat University, she combines formal education with grassroots engagement. Chanda’s feminist journey began while working with organizations like Marag, an NGO where she worked on Balika Panchayats, empowering young girls to take on leadership roles. The focus of her work in the Mandvi Safety Center is to dismantle gender barriers and create safe spaces for women.

Before joining KMVS, Nikita Gor had worked in different contexts, from doing earthquake relief to promoting organic farming. She joined KMVS in 2019, after getting a B.Com. degree and is currently overseeing administration and human resource. For Nikita, the work is more than its formal description would suggest. It has been a chance to be a part of a community dedicated to women’s equality, that has given her the confidence to challenge discriminatory social norms; with space for both personal and professional growth.

Jinal Shah was a part of the accounts team when she joined KMVS in 2008. Fresh out of college with a B.Com. degree, she was introduced to community building through KMVS’ work with the Devipoojak community in Bhuj city. While still working in administration and accounts, Jinal completed her LLB degree in 2013 from Kachchh University, and in 2016 became a part of the legal counselling team. She continues to also work with Devipoojak women community leaders on justice issues at the Takrar Nivaran Kendra, a community-managed arbitration centre set up by KMVS. Jinal’s ways of seeing and understanding have deepened during years of work with KMVS. Often, when she trains paralegals from the community, the sessions are animated by personal recollections and reflections on her own journey of growth.

With over 22 years of experience, Vanita Shekha has been a strong advocate for women’s rights, especially through the lens of the Domestic Violence Act of 2005. Her early work in human rights with the Behavioral Science Center in Ahmedabad shaped her feminist ideology, instilling in her a commitment to empower women through legal literacy and grassroots activism. Since joining KMVS in 2010, Vanita has worked to challenge patriarchal structures and provide legal support to survivors of domestic abuse.

Yogesh Garva began to gradually shed his patriarchal assumptions and develop a grounded understanding of women’s role in grassroots governance, while working with Saiyere Jo Sangathan, a KMVS promoted community based organisation, in Nakhatrana Block. He then acquired an MSW degree in 2014, and joined KMVS’ Sushasini programme in 2019. Yogesh currently works to help build and sustain the political leadership of women in panchayats, through training and advocacy. He is also pursuing an LLB degree.

Mahendra Fufal went on to get an LLB degree from Kachchh University, after getting a B.Com. degree. In 2021, having gained experience with several organisations, he joined KMVS to work on gender and safety issues. Today, Mahendra works with school teachers and students, creating awareness and conducting inclusivity workshops for individuals of diverse sexual orientations and special needs. Over time, his perspective has widened beyond mere gender parity, to embrace the complexities of intersectionality, caste dynamics, religious inclusion, power and structural marginalisation. This is the multifocal lens he brings to bear on his work, to deepen gender inclusivity within the school environment.

Mayur Chavda brings a diverse set of skills and experiences to KMVS. He is a certified yoga trainer, a fluent Sanskrit speaker, and has an MSW degree. He is also a certified trainer in ‘Theatre of the Oppressed’ - a theatre-based praxis based on the political ideas of equality and democratic process, developed by the Sambhaavnaa Institute of Public Policy and Politics. Mayur conducts theater workshops for young girls from rural areas who have dropped out of school. The workshops help them develop life skills and empower them to negotiate decision-making going forward. During KMVS events, Mayur can be found playing many roles – sometimes as teacher or tour guide, sometimes as performer and narrator.

Pooja Soni joined KMVS in February 2022, bringing her expertise in law to champion women's rights. Armed with B.Com. and LLB degrees from Kachchh University, Pooja does legal counseling, casework, and litigation to provide justice for marginalised women. Her journey in feminism began during her time as a teacher and radio station contributor, where she witnessed gender disparities firsthand. Through her work at KMVS, she bridges legal knowledge and empathy, to try and ensure that every woman has a voice and access to justice.

Ila Bhatt joined KMVS in December 2022, bringing 10 years of experience in office administration, accounting, and banking operations. Graduating from Mumbai University with a B.Com. degree, Ila’s expertise lies in financial processes and organisational management. She plays a vital role in ensuring KMVS’s financial efficiency and accountability.

Prachi Joshi, from Nakhatrana Block, joined KMVS in 2023, after getting an MSW degree from Kachchh University. She joined the Samvedna programme and, at first, found it challenging to engage with female sex workers (FSWs) and brothel owners as part of the job. It was new terrain, fraught with societal prejudice and preconceived notions. Overtime, Prachi has not only learnt important lessons in acceptance and equality from FSWs, but has learnt to embrace and value the role she plays in working for their dignity and equal rights.

Sangeeta Rathore joined KMVS 2023, motivated by a desire to make a difference. With an MSW from Kachchh University, Sangeeta found her calling as a counsellor, driven by a commitment to secure justice for violence survivors. Her aspiration to pursue a law degree in the future, reflects her quest for learning, to contribute in concrete ways towards gender justice.

Niru Chandana joined the Sushasini team in 2023. She came to this role with an MSW degree from Kachchh University, which entailed extensive internship experience with several government departments including WCD, Social Welfare and ICDS. She currently helps mobilise rural women and does village-level trainings with young girls and women leaders, drawing upon her understanding of how gender-based discrimination intersects with political marginalisation. Niru is presently pursuing an LLB degree from Kachchh University.

Neeta Maheshwari joined KMVS in 2017, straight out of Kachchh University, where she received an MSW degree. With a strong academic foundation, she transitioned seamlessly into the development sector. In her current role as a Hello Sakhi Helpline Operator, Neeta provides empathetic listening, offers legal and emotional guidance, and ensures timely interventions for those seeking help.

Madhu Goswami joined KMVS in 2005. Despite limited formal education, only till class 5, she has defied societal expectations. From 2005 to 2012 she worked as a peon in the media unit, and in 2012 transitioned to her present role. As a Helpline Operator, she is the first port of call for many vulnerable women seeking support to overcome difficult situations.

Malshree Gadhvi has been with KMVS for 25 years. She joined in 2001. Several roles later, it was in KMVS’s work on violence against women that she found the place her heart called home. An abiding commitment to justice for women is what makes Malshree Gadhvi tick. Having already acquired B.Com. and MSW degrees, she continued to skill herself, to fight not just from outside, but from inside the legal justice system. By 2009, while still working full-time with KMVS, she had armed herself with an LLB, and become a certified advocate. For 15 years, since 2010, she has been the heart of Hello Sakhi, KMVS’ safety/legal programme - leading teams of counsellors, paralegals and lawyers; building trust and partnerships with government legal systems, district police, and the District Legal Services Authority; training lawyers and police to develop a gender lens. As a litigator, Malshree brings arguments into courts that redefine well-being and justice in the language of women’s lives. Currently working towards her LLM degree, she has fought over 35 cases in family courts for women, mostly getting favorable decisions, as well as many criminal cases, working with government lawyers.

Before joining KMVS, Vali Vaghela worked as a labourer for more than seven years with the Parle Company. But, she proved that resourcefulness can overcome barriers posed by limited formal education. In 2021 she joined KMVS as an office assistant and peon, and continues to contribute meaningfully to KMVS’s mission towards gender equality.

Fatehsingh Sodha has been a driver with KMVS since 2008. For these 16 years and counting he has been the silent yet vital ally, who ensures that the logistical needs of the team are met seamlessly, enabling them to focus on creating change in society.