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About Us
ABOUT US
Urja Trust works with marginalised young women survivors of gender and structural violence to build safety, nurture wellbeing, enable dignified work, and foster civic participation, grounded in intersectionality and advancing gender equity, social justice, and lives lived with dignity.
OUR STORY
Our Story
Urja Trust was born from the meeting of two visionary individuals, Deepali
Vandana and Altaf Shaikh whose differences and qualities became a source of
strength and shared vision. When they first crossed paths in 2000, Deepali was
just 18, a young woman from an oppressed caste stepping into grassroots work
with courage, resilience, and wisdom shaped by her lived experience of caste-
and gender-based violence, while Altaf, from a minority background, brought
decades of experience and a deep understanding of social exclusion, human
behaviour science, and youth intervention. Their differences in age, gender,
class, religion, and caste did not divide them; instead, they became a shared
force, committed to justice, mental health, and compassionate action.
Deepali has the rare ability to bend realities to challenge entrenched norms, confront
injustice, and imagine new possibilities for marginalised communities. Through years of
working with street-connected youth and marginalised communities, she witnessed the
depth of systemic injustice and the inequities within the social sector itself. Leadership
and decision-making were dominated by privilege, where fluency in English, access to
technology, and networks were often mistaken for capability, while those closest to lived
realities remained unheard. Social issues were frequently framed as economic or
individual failures, while structural oppression, caste, and exclusion went unrecognised.
Deepali and Altaf came to understand that healing and justice are inseparable. Founded
in 2014, Urja Trust grew from this shared belief, with Deepali leading through courage
and lived experience shaping change at both personal and policy levels while Altaf
stands as an ally and mentor, supporting survivor- and community-led leadership.
Together, they have nurtured a space where voices are heard, care is centred, and
collective vision quietly guides the work forward.
Our Vision
Our Vision is of a just, equitable and
compassionate society where all individuals
pursue their lives with freedom and dignity.
Our Mission
Our mission is to accelerate and amplify the
access to human rights of homeless young
individuals and to create a replicable model
of physio-psycho, emotional, social,
economic and political development to
reach their full potential.
OUR PEOPLE
Our People
Our Roots
Urja Trust springs from the journeys of Deepali Vandana and Altaf Shaikh, rooted in the belief
that every life deserves dignity, freedom from violence, and equal opportunity. Honoring this
right is a moral responsibility, intimately tied to our own being and the collective wellbeing
of humanity.
CO FOUNDER AND MANAGING TRUSTEE
Deepali Vandana
Deepali is the Co-founder and Managing Trustee of Urja Trust, bringing over 25 years of experience
advancing gender equity, survivor rights, mental-health justice, and broader social justice in India. Her
journey from grassroots social activist to policy reformer reflects a deep commitment to translating lived
realities into systemic change. A first-generation learner and a leader shaped by her own experience of
gender-based violence, her work remains firmly rooted in survivor-centred, dignity-driven approaches.
CO FOUNDER AND ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
Altaf Shaikh
Altaf is a dynamic leader with extensive experience in grassroots leadership, strategic development,
behavioural science methodologies, and organisational development. A certified Life Coach accredited by
ICF (USA), he serves as Co-founder, HR Lead, and Advisory Board Member at Urja Trust. He is also a faculty
member at Leadership that Works, where he facilitates advanced coach certification programmes with a
special focus on relationship coaching. His expertise spans transformational leadership, sensitivity training,
and individual, group, and organisational development.
Governance
Aditi Mulye
Aditi Mulye brings over 20 years of experience in
women and child rights, community development,
education, urbanisation, and sanitation. She has
worked extensively across grassroots nonprofits and
CSR initiatives, including her current role as Senior
Executive – Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at
the Kishore Musale Charitable Trust, where she leads
transformative initiatives with dedication and care.
Dr Roshni Nair Shaikh, PhD
Dr Roshni Nair Shaikh, PhD- has over 30 years of
experience in social work, spanning grassroots
practice, organisational leadership, research, and
academia. She began her journey as a social worker
with Prayas, the Field Action Project of TISS, working
on issues affecting children of prisoners. She later
taught at TISS and went on to co-found and lead an
organisation working with street-connected youth and
runaway girls for over a decade.
Advisory Board
Aparna Apte Gupta
Aparna Apte Gupta is a media and
communication strategist with over 25 years of
diverse experience across media, entertainment,
corporate facilitation, and the nonprofit sector.
She is the CEO and Founder of The Modern
Narrative and the editorial head and co-founder
of The Pursuit Of…, a YouTube talk show.
KP
KP is a faculty member at the Centre for Health
and Mental Health, School of Social Work, TISS,
Mumbai. With over 20 years of experience and a
background in psychology from Mumbai
University, along with advanced studies at TISS
and NIMHANS, Bangalore, KP brings extensive
expertise as a mental health service provider,
researcher, and rights-based activist. Their
work spans mental health law, policy, LGBTQ+
mental health, clinical social work, and
research methodology.
Sasha Rodricks
Sasha is the Director at the Museum for the
United Nations Live, where she nurtures global
empathy, sparks dialogue, and inspires action
through the lens of popular culture. She leads the
Global We platform and oversees People &
Culture, embodying a steadfast commitment to
inclusivity, diversity, and cultural transformation.
OUR PEOPLE
Urja Team
Vinaya
Designation
Sushma
Designation
Sanjivani
Designation
Sakshi
Designation
Reshama
Designation
Nilam
Designation
Pratibha
Designation
Minakshi
Designation
PARTNERS
Partners
Vision Partner
Address
201–202, Jasmine Apartment, Dadar East, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Helpline
+91 7045731582
Email
connect@urjatrust.org
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2026 Urja Trust
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