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Research team Technology team

Research team

Divyanka Sharma

Team Head

Divyanka joined Locus in September 2013 after graduating from Dartmouth College with an Honors degree in English Literature. She is currently working on Lucknow.Locus, an international application arm of Locus, and is interested in molding our system to fit communities within emerging markets.
Prior to joining Locus, Divyanka worked with the Reserve Bank of India, PROACT- India, and Davis Polk and Wardwell. Her senior thesis was a novel titled "Fighting for Resurrection” that explores themes of nationalism and feminism in a changing world. Divyanka is interested in the confluence of economic development and women’s empowerment and hopes to explore these ideas from Locus’s platform on a global scale.

Diana McKeage

After interning with Locus in Summer 2011, Diana rejoined the team full-time in early 2013. She works on the Economic Communities and Patent teams.
Diana graduated from Harvard College with an A.B. in Literature, and minors in Government and Latin American Studies. Her coursework focused on comparative analysis, translation theory, and political economy. Post-graduation, Diana spent four months on a Harvard fellowship in Latin America researching microfinance institutional design and teaching the Locus system in Spanish. She finds the development of a constructed language for economics to be endlessly interesting.

Philip Crotty

Phil joined Locus after having led the International Business Development team at Newscom, where he helped build and manage a partnership network of the world's leading digital-media content providers. He currently heads the data acquisition and licensing, professional development, and office management efforts at Locus.
Phil holds a BA in political science, with a minor in journalism, from the University of Rochester and a CAPM from the Project Management Institute. Upon graduation, Phil was an AmeriCorps VISTA member, serving the underprivileged communities of Western New York and is an avid beer-league hockey player.

Sandeep Majhi (M 48)

Role : Conceptualization, developing methodological set up, team-development and assignment coordination.

Nearly 24 years of professional experience, having proven credentials in research and technical documentation for past over 15 years with bilateral, multilateral and government assignments, he adds critical value to assignments on issues of poverty, entitlement, livelihood and social security support, Local Self Governance, disaster management, Education, Drinking water & sanitation. His best utilization is perceived in formulation of strategy based on evidential research and technical & thematic analysis. He has lead assignments with International, bilateral and government programs. He brings his unique skills in generating analytical learnings through sharp understanding of demography and social & societal power structures and caste systems in specific context of North and East Indian regions. One of his key role is to technically strengthen research frameworks and contents and develop seamless alignment with client expectations. Highlight of his engagement with PROACT assignments is imaginative thinking, analysis and sound strategic inputs in taking future discourses at specific and large scales of program implementation.

Dr. Ramesh Sharan (M 59)

Role : Visioning & guidance, aid developing research framework and enumerating pertinent issues.

Head of Economics Department in Ranchi University, Professor Sharan has extensively worked on ’Poverty & Hunger’. He is the Advisor to Supreme Court Commissioners in PUCL related to Food Security Programmes of the Government. He is a member in the Advisory Boards for Industry, Food Processing, Education and Food Security. He works closely with several grass-root initiatives in the difficult areas in the State. He has sound teaching and academic track record. He has over 3 decades of professional engagement with core social sector issues in the regions : Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Odhisa. He has unmatched exposures around the issues pertaining to extreme poverty - hunger, displacement, landlessness, livelihood, education of socially unprivileged sections of the society particularly tribals makes his presence in any professional assignment more substantive from the perspective of marginalization. He has been engaged with key state government processes in Jharkhand and many of independent large-scale initiatives with DFID, World Bank, UNDP, UNICEF and CARE International etc.

Krishnakant D Dwivedi (M 55)

Role : Central node in administration of qualitative primary study, lead the team of field researchers and coordinate with local resource persons, authorities and concerned agencies.

Prolific in community mobilization, a social scientist, he possesses a post-graduate degree in language. His professional career in the field of media and social development spans nearly for 28 years _ with State Government and externally aided projects and with nationally reputed NGOs. He brings on board an astute sense of project management blending the project communities’ own indigenous wisdom. He has worked with Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission in varied contexts of Uttar Pradesh; natural resource-based micro-enterprise programs and also have engaged with women’s empowerment and development initiatives. A prolific creative writer, core of his expertise comes as effortlessly facilitating social planning discourses in sector projects. As thematic coordinator - Sericulture, he has worked with Uttar Pradesh Diversified Agriculture Support Project (UPDASP) for several years; thus, bringing a technical edge in stage 2 of the assignment on understanding of silk handloom.

Technology team

Amit Vishwakarma (M 30)

Insightful and instinctive; yet a results-driven IT professional, he brings to platform experience of 10 years of proven success directing a broad range of corporate and research initiatives while participating in planning, developing, analyzing and Implementing solutions in support of variety of business objectives. He has hands on experience in leading all stages of system development, including requirements definition, design, architecture, testing, implementation and support. He has been actively involved in Social development sector for more than 5 years. He is paving opportunities for integration of ICT applications with social sector program management bearing its intelligent implication at large scale. He has so far developed ICT-based study and program management tools and web-based platforms for key flagship government programs. Management of the clients with various entities and transferring all the ideas among the team members. Bring forth the academic learning to use the maximum potential, which meets the specific requirement of the assignment

Arshad Shaukatee (M 32)

He brings high momentum in performance delivery and exhibits rare traits like strategic thinking. Professional experience of more than 8 years in employment services in the non‐profit and higher education sectors. Seamless in building corporate and partnership relationship building and across organizations and project teams, he possesses exceptional writing, presenting and interpersonal communication skills. Adept at assessing client expectations, generating & defining service and product options and implementing technological solutions in a scenario of collaboration are key to his professional portfolio. A team player, he is well‐versed in all phases of recruitment and hiring, including defining job roles, assessing needed skills and qualifications, and evaluating candidates. Experienced in managing projects from the requirements gathering/ needs identification phase through to the stage of completion.

Dinesh Sharma (M 30)

A professional with an experience of 8 years in the field of design, architecture and development. Strongly believes that creativity is the right blend of aesthetics and selling preposition. Has the ability to understand the thin line between creativity and absurdity. Respected and self‐motivated professional with experience of managing multiple projects simultaneously. Extensive experience managing large‐scale projects from the requirementsgathering phase to completion. Highly skilled in tracking details, communicating deadlines, andfollowing‐up with internal and external partners to ensure on‐time completion within budget. He has keen interest and capability to quickly learning and innovating upon new technologies. A team player, he believes in consistently receiving feedback from managers, co‐workers and clients.

Manish Kanoujia (M 31)

Manish and has been working in the commercial sector as Website Developers and Web Solutions Company from the past 8 years. From last one year, he has forayed into social sector to fulfil its obligations and commitment towards the society. Has worked in different capacities with International and National agencies and handled respective high-profile ICT-based technological assignments. He has in credit as Web Developer on “School Management System”, “Hotel Management System” and “Transport Management” to cite a few. These assignments have provided him with valuable insights into the grassroots experiences, database management and research & development. The mix of the commercial entrepreneurship and social development experiences have been put in nearly 30 assignments carried out by the institution till date.

Farhan Khan (M 27)

A dynamic professional with nearly four years of experience in Software Development under various projects.A project executor with demonstrated exposure in full life-cycle implementations with skills in planning, executing various Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) projects in compliance to quality standards. Significant abilities in carrying out analysis; finding gaps in process as well as devising a road map for enhancing various applications. An effective communicator with excellent relationship building & interpersonal skills. Strong analytical, problem solving & organizational abilities. Possess a flexible & detail oriented attitude.

Field investigators

Name, gender, age	Postal address	Bank, account no. & IFSC code	Education	Technical training	Work experience	Equipped with	Rating
Aditya Raj (M 23)	Vill- Babura Post- Mande Dist- Azamgarh Pin- 276129	State Bank of India 31042150424 13319	Graduate Bachelor of Computer Application (BCA)	- - - -	PROACT (2 years)	Smartphone Laptop Motorcycle	10
Yogesh (M 21)	Vill- Babura Post- Mande Dist- Azamgarh Pin- 276129	Union Bank Of India 493002010614616 UBIN0570257	Graduate Bachelor of Arts (BA)	Diploma in Computer Application (DCA)	No Experience	Laptop	5
Birendra Kumar (M 25)	Vill- Narehatha Post- Kanaila, Dist- Azamgarh Pin- 276128	Union Bank Of India 455302010301987 UBI545538	Intermediate	Diploma in Computer Application (DCA)	FINO (2 years) GTFS (3 years)	Laptop Motorcycle	5
Ravi Kumar (M 21)	Vill- Dhipal ram Post- Bachhawal Dist- Azamgarh Pin- 276204	Union Bank Of India 455302010308346 UBIN0545538	Graduate Bachelor of Arts (BA)	Diploma in Computer Application (DCA)	No Experience	Smartphone Laptop	5
Mahendra Prajapati (M 30)	Vill- Sisawan Post- Sisawan Dist- Azamgarh Pin- 276204	Union Bank Of India 45530201302068 UBIN0545538	Graduate Bachelor of Arts (BA)	Diploma in Computer Application (DCA)	No Experience	Motorcycle	2
Harilal Kumar (M 24)	Vill- Siswa Post- Bachhwal Dist- Azamgarh Pin- 276204	Union Bank Of India 455302010304166 UBI545538	Graduate Bachelor of Arts (BA)	Diploma in Computer Programming & Application (DCPA)	2 years as Accountant	Smartphone Laptop Motorcycle	10
Neeraj Kumar (M 20)	Vill- Babura Post- Mande Dist- Azamgarh Pin- 276129	Union Bank Of India 702502010004526 UBIN0570257	Bachelor of Arts (BA–2nd year)	Diploma in Computer Application (DCA), Course on Computer Concepts (CCC)	No Experience	Smartphone Laptop Motorcycle	5
Chotak Ram (M 32)	Vill- Ahopur Post- Bhagwat Dist- Azamgarh Pin- 276129	State Bank of India 30976240586 13319	Graduate Bachelor of Arts (BA)	ITI (Industrial Training Institute) diploma, Diploma in Computer Application (DCA)	No Experience	Motorcycle	5
Atit Kumar (M 23)	Vill- Katahan Post- Katahan Dist- Azamgarh Pin- 276204	Union Bank Of India 455302010009717 UBIN0545538	Graduate Bachelor of Arts (BA)	Computer Hardware & Networking	No Experience	Smartphone Laptop	10
Vijay Kumar (M 24)	Vill- Babura Post- Mande Dist- Azamgarh Pin- 276129	Union Bank Of India 491702010780345 UBIN0549177	Graduate Bachelor of Arts (BA)	Course on Computer Concepts (CCC), Diploma in Computer Application (DCA)	No Experience	Smartphone Laptop Motorcycle	10

Pre-training status (the training must take into consideration each of the enumerator’s level of competence) –

Category -1 (10)	High computer skill, creative, good conceptual understanding of web-based survey and dynamics of concerned applications. Comfortable in internet, social media and web-based computer functions. Highly proficient in use of Smartphone. Experienced motorcycle rider.
Category -2 (5)	High computer skill; natural talent in computer application and on ICT-based conceptual requirements. Natural alignment exhibited towards web-based activities – active in social media.
Category -3 (2)	Potential beginner – need experience and high degree of practice to attain accuracy. Excellent ability of computer use. Fast learners – yet need strong training input and sound mentoring.

Local key resource persons

Iftikar Ahmed Ansari (M 59)

Iftikar Ahmed is a flag bearer of Mubarakpur silk cluster and has been relentless in his efforts all his life to bring to the cluster entities the distinct repute & economic worth it has always deserved. He has headed number of key thematic and government forums to further his vision of Mubarakpur witness evolve a distinct economic cluster of craft communities that is regarded one of the best in India. He believes, the Varanasi silk craft has gained worldwide acclaim due to the fineness and quality that Mubarakpur brings to it. He has been the director of District Cooperative Bank for 5 years and has represented in the Uttar Pradesh Cooperative Federation for 5 years. A state-nominated member of the Mubarakpur municipal corporation, he continue to be the general secretary of the Mubarakpur silk trade federation for last 10 years. Conferred with the regional award for his active contribution to silk craft, he has been a member of the monitoring unit of government programs for the district of Azamgarh. He is the most potential facilitator for any discourse of improvement in silk industry in Mubarakpur in future. He is actively involved with Stage 2 of Lucknow.locus and has lend his full support to each field level activities in planning and facilitation.

Jisteyaar Faisal (M 53)

One of the core elements of success of the silk craft as accepted worldwide, he is renowned for bringing imaginative and stunning design effects on silk sarees. A mere high-school educated he is gifted with a rare sense of culture, visual appeal and contemporary taste of designing. He started his career at an early age and has in credit of making significant contribution by creating Saree design for over 35 years. He has inherited the craft from his ancestors and his family involved in the silk craft of Mubarakpur for hundreds of years. He enjoys significant reputation not only among the key players of Mubarakpur handloom cluster but also amongst the outside players as well as of government entities that are engage in promotion and development of the cluster.

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