Profile Of Partners

Neera Kashyap
With a master’s degree in English literature and a post graduate diploma in Mass Communication, Neera has been associated with MART for nearly a decade – first as a consultant and, from 2005, as a partner. Specializing in health communications, specifically HIV and reproductive health, she has led MART’s research efforts in various reproductive health and livelihoods studies for PSI, CARE, CASP-Plan and DFID.

Having worked on the staff of NACO, WHO, DFID and Voluntary Health Association of India, her strengths lie in process documentation and analysis, development of communication materials, qualitative research in behavior change and livelihoods promotion and program/materials evaluation. She has contributed inputs towards key MART documents: The 3-M manual, the Gramshree experience, process analysis of a successful MART-MPDPIP initiative towards strategic livelihoods promotion.

In a predominantly male structure, her presence allows for approaches that are gender sensitive, sociological and process-oriented. Her warmth towards her young team makes for the personalized concern of the wise mother!

Kirti Prasanna Mishra
A Master in Statistics, Kirti has been with MART for the past 14 years, leading various research and consulting assignments of MART in development sector. His area of expertise is in using marketing to provide strategic solutions for livelihood promotion.

Kirti says that working in MART has been like an “exciting journey”. One of the most challenging – and also most satisfying – assignments, says Kirti, has been in participating in the development of the MART 3M Model for improving livelihoods. The objective was to create and strengthen rural marketing platforms, such as the haat, to facilitate agricultural produce marketing among bottom-of-pyramid entrepreneurs and establishing a mass marketing format to enable Self Help Groups (SHGs) and Common Interest Groups. Says Kirti: “I was convinced that the 3M model would succeed, and MART provided me with the opportunity to test my belief.” Kirti feels that MART allows him the “freedom to do the innovative things that I believe in while pursuing the objectives of the organisation.”

One of the strategic projects in which he has been a key team player include, among others, the SHG-Hindustan Lever initiative titled ‘Project Shakti’, which marked the first-of-its-kind coming together of corporate sector and development sector players. Kirti led the pilot initiative of Project Shakti in Andhra Pradesh, and the initiative is now running successfully in 12 states.

Saroj Kumar Mohanta
A Masters in Business Administration, Saroj has been with MART for the last 10 years. He specializes in market research and marketing strategy and has handled consulting projects for reputed corporates like Intel and Novartis. Having worked with Brooke Bond Lipton in sales and marketing in North India, Saroj feels that MART’s unique work environment provides every member of the team with an opportunity to be a key player. “Unlike a multinational organisation where functional responsibility rests with the individual, in MART, we are not just responsible for our own efforts but also that of our other team members as well.”

A qualitative researcher with experience in ethnography, Saroj says that his work at MART has enabled him to build a holistic understanding of rural consumer life, aspirations and behavior. He has worked with the team to develop innovative approaches in market research like adapting social research tools for market research.

Some of the key assignments that Saroj has been associated with include Ethnography studies for Intel, Distribution model for Novartis, Consumer Behaviour mapping for Fullerton etc.

Saroj is a guest faculty for regular and Executive Development Programs at leading management schools like IIM, MDI and others and a regular speaker in seminars and conferences on rural marketing.

Benjamin Mathew
A post graduate in management and commerce, Benjamin joined MART in 2003 after working with Procter & Gamble for 5 years and with Xerox for 3 years. At MART, Benjamin specializes in providing strategy, distribution and information technology solutions to the Corporate and Social sectors.

Says Benjamin about the turn that his career has taken: “After working in multinationals which are highly process-oriented and leave little scope for creativity, I wanted to work in an environment where I would be able to use my creativity.” And at MART, he has had ample opportunity to do just that. He is credited with developing a low cost rural distribution model for FMCG products using the rural youth; strengthening rural connectivity for telecom players; and creating IT based services delivery structure for rural communities.

He has been associated as a strategic consultant to various corporate clients like Microsoft, Philips, Colgate etc. to support them in their marketing endeavors. He has also been supporting international agencies in Bangladesh and Nepal in their marketing initiatives. Says Benjamin: “Every day is a new challenge – and I am glad that I have followed my heart by taking up this assignment.”

Sanjay Kumar Gupta
Sanjay Kumar Gupta, masters in Applied Operational Research from Delhi University, started working for MART soon after he graduated and has been associated with the organization for the past 12 years. As the head of the national level project on “Promotion of Micro Enterprises amongst Mature SHGs”, a NABARD supported pilot project, Sanjay’s zone of operation currently involves nine states. Says Sanjay: “My work gives me the opportunity to work with clients in a hands-on way. It’s both a challenge and an opportunity – as I have learnt to deal with people, troubleshoot and understand the business of development in a more indepth manner.”

Sanjay also headed livelihood projects in Rajasthan. He has had the distinction of working in all the three first phase District Poverty Initiatives Projects, a World Bank sponsored initiative in Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. He has represented the organization in various national and state level workshops and seminars. A visiting faculty to Indira Gandhi Panchayati Raj Sansthan, a state level training institute in Rajasthan, Sanjay believes in sharing his knowledge with youngsters who are keen to enter into the development sector.

As a researcher, field implementer, trainer and team leader handling several livelihoods projcts across various states in India, Sanjay feels that at MART he is continuously being challenged to “conquer new frontiers.”