Paramita is committed to pushing boundaries for a gender-just world where every young voice counts. She works to change the ecosystem that denies agency to young people. Her passion for involving boys and men in gender-justice work led her to start an experiment, which culminated in the birth of DIKSHA.

After more than three decades in corporate programme management, Anirbit has embarked on a purpose-driven journey as a changemaker and social environmentalist, guided by courage, compassion, and equity. As an advisor, he collaborates with DIKSHA to strengthen systems, nurture talent and resources, and refine strategies that amplify sustainability and social impact. Blending strategic insight with operational expertise, Anirbit aligns purpose with measurable outcomes, fostering meaningful progress.

Arjina Khatun is a Commerce graduate, holds a Master’s degree in Social Welfare, and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Commerce. She has been working with DIKSHA since 2021 as an Accountant and also serves as the Field In-Charge for a key project. In addition, she contributes as a Sewing Trainer across other projects, supporting field-level work with dedication and care.

Until recently a housewife in the Sonagachhi area, Nupur joined DIKSHA in search of a horizon of her own. While her specific role is an educator for the young participants attending the DIKSHA Drop-in-Centre, Nupur is inspired enough by DIKSHA's ultimate dream and the techniques immersive learning to take an enthusiastic role in many activities beyond just conducting education sessions.

A daughter-in-law in Asia'a largest red-light area, Jharna initially connected with DIKSHA as the guardian of her daughters, who attended our Drop-in-Centre-based activities. Since joining the DIKSHA Team, she has blossomed into an incredible influencer in the area. For Jharna, her hours with DIKSHA offer her a breathing space.

Tanaj also joined the DIKSHA team in 2019. She shares responsibilities with Hamida in collecting, bringing, and dropping off the children. The scattered landscape and the number of children need such sharing of responsibilities.

With DIKSHA since 2005, Lopamudra is inspired by the process used to empower young people from the fringes. She, too, dreams of a world where young voices are listened to, and taken seriously - because, she feels enriched to learn from the young.

Sudipa joined DIKSHA with 3.5 years of prior bexperience in the nonprofit sector. She enjoys the red-light area exposure, which is new to her. The DIKSHA approach of empowering youth leaders from the community inspires here.

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Mome is the regular threatre trainer for our children in red-light and quasi-read-light areas. A theatre person by training and passion, Mome enjoys working with DIKSHA despite the challenges of managing "unruly" children without using any form of punishment

A leader of the Women's Group in Munsiganj, Hamida has been a team member since April 2019. Her responsibilities include collecting children from their homes, bringing them to the Dro-in-Centre, and dropping them back post the activity hours.

Srija is the Programme Lead for DIKSHA and brings with her over 15 years of rich experience in the non-profit sector. She has joined DIKSHA in 2024 to serve as a key programmatic link between the senior leadership team and the realities and priorities emerging from the field across all DIKSHA initiatives. She also leads DIKSHA’s operations in the Sonagachhi red-light area.

Saptami was 10 years old when Paramita started her experiment in Kalighat. Today, she is a team member leading field activities from the front at Munsiganj and adjacent slums. DIKSHA has the maximum number of children enrolled there as no other organisation is active there. She also attends to the Sonagachhi field area.

With more than five years of experience as a professional psychosocial counsellor, Aliva is the member of Bhalo Theko (literally, Stay Well), a group of mental health professionals promoting a holistic approach to wellbeing. She finds working with DIKSHA a learning and enriching experience.

Known as the Padman of Kolkata, this young man is dedicated to improving the menstrual hygiene scenario in Bengal. And to create income-earning opportunities through that. At DIKSHA, though, he works beyond that as a soft skills for the children, and finds that to be a learning experience.

With DIKSHA as a participant first, Tanveer has been working as a team member after he crossed 18. His responsibility is to open the Drop-in-Centre and mind the children while the other community workers collect the other children.