Our Story & Purpose

With over 40 years of experience, Geeta Menon, Founder of Mitr Sanketa, is a pioneering leader advancing women’s rights, safety, and economic empowerment across India. Through her work, she has organized and strengthened domestic workers’ collectives, supported adolescent girls and marginalized communities, and actively addressing trafficking and gender-based violence.

Her initiatives focus on building safe and dignified livelihoods, ensuring access to justice and social protection, and creating strong community-based leadership among women. She also mentors young practitioners and grassroots leaders working in the gender and social justice space.

Her impactful work has been recognized through several honors, including the Nirbhaya Award, Bangalore Mirror Heroes Award, and multiple Women Achiever Awards.

With an MA in Clinical Psychology, Addiction Management Certification from NIMHANS, a Diploma in Early Childhood Special Education, and training as a Transpersonal Therapy Practitioner, along with experience as a Career and Parenting Coach, Bhavani brings a well-rounded and integrative approach to mental health and emotional well-being.

Her practice combines psychology, nervous system regulation, and deep emotional awareness to help individuals understand emotional patterns, build inner stability, heal distress without creating dependency on therapy, and develop greater autonomy and clarity in their personal and professional lives.

A Postgraduate in Marketing from Bangalore University, Priti Rao is the Founder of Soil and Soul Foundation, Earth Quotient, and the Bioenzyme Entrepreneurs Academy (BEA), and a founding member of the WICCI Bioenzyme Council.

With over two decades of experience, she promotes sustainable living and community-led environmental solutions through bioenzyme applications and green entrepreneurship. A trained Yoga teacher and national-level achiever with a black belt in karate and a gold medal in flying and aero-modelling, she brings discipline and community engagement into her work. She is passionate about teaching and inspiring people to adopt environmentally responsible lifestyles.

A zoologist and academician, Dr. Nehal Shah serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Biotechnology at Shree Ramkrishna Institute of Computer Education and Applied Sciences, Sarvajanik University, Surat. She is also a Trainer and Facilitator for Healthy Aging with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC).

She is an active member of the Gujarat State Disaster Management Response Team with the Gujarat and Indian Red Cross, and Founder & Trustee of Rutuja Charitable Trust, working for women’s welfare. She also contributes as a volunteer with Voice That Cares and Heartfulness, offering psychological first aid and community support.

A life member of several national scientific, environmental, and humanitarian organizations, Dr. Nehal Shah combines academic expertise with community service, disaster response, and social welfare initiatives.

A practicing advocate in Bangalore for over 27 years, she works extensively in civil, family, and criminal law, supporting women and children in accessing justice, protection, and essential services. With expertise in domestic violence, POCSO, custody, and family disputes, she has helped settle over 3,000 cases through mediation, promoting dignified and non-adversarial resolutions.

She also serves as an External Member on POSH Committees and collaborates with community and support organizations to ensure safety, rehabilitation, and access to rights for vulnerable women and children, working toward safer families and communities through accessible legal support and advocacy.

Blending creativity with thoughtful design, Anirudh Saxena is currently pursuing his B.E. in Electronics and Communication Engineering at Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology. With a strong foundation in design principles and user-centric thinking, he focuses on building clean, accessible, and purpose-driven web experiences for organizations working toward meaningful social impact.

He has contributed to several projects, designing responsive websites and community platforms that help individuals and NGOs communicate their mission with clarity. His work emphasizes thoughtful layouts, smooth interaction, and an understanding of how people engage with digital spaces.

Actively involved in student and community initiatives, Anirudh leads a large online student network connecting learners with global opportunities. Through his work, he strives to support causes he believes in and help organizations strengthen their reach and impact.