The Think and Action Crew

Mr. Dhirendra K. Roy (IRS-Retd)- Chairman – HDF – cDAR: Sj. D. K. Roy possesses wide-range of experiences of working with the Governm ent with various capacities. He was the former Chief Commissioner ​of Income Tax, a former Chairman of Orissa Electricity Regulatory Commission and ex-Managing Director of Kalinga Hospital Ltd. He is an Expert in legal and regulatory affairs.

Mr. Roy was in the Indian Revenue Service from 1964 to 1996 during which he held important assignments at Kolkata and Delhi. During this period he was also Director, Economic Planning in Ministry of Defense for three years and Economic Counselor in the Embassy of India at Moscow for three years, on deputation. On voluntary retirement from IRS he joined as member of the newly set up Orissa Electricity Regulatory Commission. As the member of the first ever Electricity Regulatory Commission in India, he did immense pioneering work in establishing the commission and in laying down procedures which were subsequently replicated in the center and in many states of India. As Managing Director of the Premier Private Sector hospital of Orissa i.e. Kalinga Hospital, he was able to revive it financially and position it as a center of excellence in health care delivery. Presently Mr. Roy is on the Boards of Grid Corporation of Orissa Limited, Orissa Power Transmission Corporation Ltd. Orissa Thermal Power Corporation and Orissa Mining Corporation Ltd. as Director. Mr. D.K.Roy widely traveled in India and abroad. He has participated in international seminars at Washington DC, Geneva and Monte vedio and has delivered talks at various training programs not only in India but also in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Mr. Roy takes interest in cultural & social affairs and is connected actively with a number of civil society organizations.

Sri Sudarsan Das, Managing Trusty (HDF – cDAR): Mr. Sudarsan Das is the Secretary of Human Development Foundation. Mr. Das has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ravenshaw College and Master of Arts degree in Sociology from Utkal University. He is an ardent social worker with admirable human values. In his student career he was also an exemplary student leader. He has more than 12 years of research, academic & administrative experience including institution building. He has held various position of responsibility like Director Centre for Social Development, Dean Student Welfare, Registrar over the years at KIIT University. He has been associated in a consulting and an advisory capacity with more than one hundred NGO & CVO in the country and a regular columnist in the daily Oriya news paper Sambad. Besides it he was a senate member in Utkal University. At presently he is a member, Board of Studies, Department of Sociology Fakir Mohan University Balasore. He has traveled widely in India and abroad.

Sri Sudarsan Das, Managing Trusty (HDF – cDAR): Mr. Sudarsan Das is the Secretary of Human Development Foundation. Mr. Das has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ravenshaw College and Master of Arts degree in Sociology from Utkal University. He is an ardent social worker with admirable human values. In his student career he was also an exemplary student leader. He has more than 12 years of research, academic & administrative experience including institution building. He has held various position of responsibility like Director Centre for Social Development, Dean Student Welfare, Registrar over the years at KIIT University. He has been associated in a consulting and an advisory capacity with more than one hundred NGO & CVO in the country and a regular columnist in the daily Oriya news paper Sambad. Besides it he was a senate member in Utkal University. At presently he is a member, Board of Studies, Department of Sociology Fakir Mohan University Balasore. He has traveled widely in India and abroad.

Dr. B.B. Samanta (Executive Director, HDF-CDAR): PhD in Transfer of Technology in Rural Water Supply and Sanitation in India, 1997 with focus on the Role of UNICEF. M.Com with Economics Specialization, 1963 (First Rank). PGD in Community WASH, 1993 (UK) and Economic Planning, 1973 (Poland) – First Rank in both courses. He has held multiple positions such as, Head and Adviser WASH, UNICEF, Central Asia. Before UNICEF with PEO, Planning Commission, GOI (an IES Post), Chief Consultant, ORG and Research Officer-cum-Under Secy with Odisha State Planning Board. Now an International Consultant for UNICEF on WASH. In terms of Professional Membership, Dr. B.B. Samanta is a Member, Governing Body of Odisha Water Supply and Sanitation Mission, Life Fellow of Indian Institute of Public Health Engineers, Life Fellow of IWWA, Member of Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council, Geneva, Member of two Working Groups of SuSanA  under Melinda and Bill Gate Foundation, USA and president UNICEF Pensioners Group in India. He has visited around 40 countries for professional consultancy and on personal trips. Currently, Dr. B. B. Samanta now is the Executive Director of HDF-cDAR, Bhubaneswar.

Mr. Sachindra Nath Swain (Director): A Post Graduate in Dairy Science with specialization in Livestock Production & Management from National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal (Haryana) with General Management from IRMA, Anand (Gujarat) had served for 30 years in various positions in Orissa State Milk Co-Operative Federation (OMFED). He was the Chief General Manager and with additional charge of Managing Director during the last years of retirement. He was also the member of the Xth Planning Commission, GOI, New-Delhi in A.H. Sector. Served more than 4 years as a Livestock Expert in SC & ST Dept. Govt. of Odisha during his post retirement. He had formulated & implemented many Dairy, Poultry & Goatary and other livelihood projects during the last 35 years. He is presently engaged as Director at HDF-cDAR, Bhubaneswar.

Mr. Subrat K. Rout (Director-Projects): A Post Graduate in Political Science. Have been in the Socioeconomic Development Sector for 30 years. Possesses a wide-range of experiences in working with many national and international donor agencies in the managerial capacities along with having international exposures. He has also worked as the ‘Social Development Specialist’ in the State Level Nodal Agency (SLNA) for the national flagship program of GOI i.e. Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY) under the H&UD Dept. of Govt. Of Odisha. He owns the experiences of working directly with communities through his engagements with many state level NGOs, Trusts and Institutions. He possesses project management skill, including a wide range of areas of project planning, community mobilization, capacity building, and implementation to research and documentation. At present, he is associated with HDF-CDAR as the Director (Projects), in the State Office located in Bhubaneswar. 

Mr. Harekrushna Praharaj is presently working as Chief Finance Officer of the HDF-CDAR Trust. He has passed M.Sc (Agril) from OUAT. Initially, he worked two years in Agriculture Dept of Govt of Odessa as Agriculture Extension Officer and then joined in a nationalized bank as a probationary officer. He has served in the bank for 30 years in various capacities. He has worked in the bank as credit manager, Branch head. Also attended training programmes in IIM, Kolkata in large advances and worked in the large advance section of regional office.

Mr. Zakir Hussain has to his credit 23 years of productive experience in the fields of development, research and teaching. He is graduate in Rural Management from Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubanweswar and Graduate in Management from Utkal University. His contribution in the field of river water management is quite commendable.He is  IVLP (International Visitor Leadership Program) scholar in the same field.He has even contributed to the scientific discipline of livelihood & climate change. As a teacher at university, he has produced more than 100 postgraduate professionals who have gainfully contributed to  the field of development and management. At present, he has been working in HDF-cDAR as the Senior Program Manager.

Mr. Bijoy Pradhan: A renowned Social Actvist and State Training Coordinator of HDF-cDAR. He is at present working as the State Coordinator of Skill Development Program.

Mr. Banoj Panda: State Programme Manager, PHCs Management & Health Specialist.

Mr. Santosh Sahoo: System Engineer and State Office Manager.

Mr. Manoj Barik: Public Relation Officer (PRO).

Mrs. Sarita Das: Researcher and Coordinator (OEC).