The SNEHA team is a dynamic group of around 150 individuals. At the helm, leading this committed team, is a group of women with decades of experience who are dedicated to SNEHA’s work.
Dr. Armida Fernandez, MD, DCH (Founder Trustee & Chairperson)
She is the founder and director of SNEHA. She was Professor and Head of Neonatology at Lokmanaya Tilak Municipal General (LTMG) Hospital and Medical College for over 25 years and Dean of the hospital for 3 years. She was honoured as an Ashoka Fellow in 2004 and is the past president of the National Neonatology Forum.
Ms. Mary Patricia Soans, BA (Co-Founder & Member)
She is involved in fund raising for SNEHA. She also is active in social welfare services through her church and has been with the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) for schools in Santacruz.
Dr. Sindhu Shanbhag, MBBS (Secretary)
She has worked in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and retired as a Medical Officer (Administration) at K.B. Bhabha Hospital, Bandra. She was also OSD at the Integrated Centre for Women and Children at Urban Health Centre (UHC), Dharavi.
Dr. Jayshree Mondkar, MD, DCH (Treasurer)
She is currently Professor and Head of Neonatology at LTMG Hospital and serves as the Director of the Human Milk Bank.
Ms. Blanche Saldanha, BSc, B.Ed (Member)
She has been an executive member of the Board of Directors and member of the promoter group of Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd. As Director- Exports, she had been heading the company's international operations since 1982 and has over 23 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry.
Dr. Ruchi Nanavati, MD (Member)
She is Professor and Head of Neonatology at King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital. She is a member of the Governing Body of National Neonatology Forum and Principal Investigator and Key Trainer for Kangaroo Mother Care.
Dr. Shanti Pantvaidya, MD (Member)
She was a medical teacher for 35 years and served as Professor and Head of Anaesthesiology Services at LTMG Hospital for 20 years, where she was instrumental in establishing and coordinating the Emergency Medical Services at LTMG Hospital. She has been a Project Coodinator at SNEHA, looking at standardizing and implementing clinical maternal and newborn services in public hospitals through the City Initiative for Newborn Health project.
Dr. Wasundhara Joshi, MD (
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She is a pediatrician, neonataologist and was a lecturer for over 15 years at LTMG Hospital before she joined SNEHA in 1999 as a trustee and later a project coordinator. She has been an Appreciative Inquiry practitioner since 2003 and is a professional member of Indian Society for Applied Behavioral Science. She is currently Executive Director at SNEHA and has a hidden passion for dance and music.
Priya Agrawal, Masters in Management Studies (
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She has been the Director–Operations at SNEHA since June 2008. She has been with the social sector in senior management roles since 2002, including NGOs like Akanksha. Prior to that, she worked in the advertising industry in research and planning roles. She loves to read and travel.
Aparna Patil, BCom, (
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She joined SNEHA in July 2007 at the Site Office in Ghatkopar before joining as the Manager – Human Resources and Administration in June 2008. She has worked in a variety of settings and brings 16 years of experience with her. She is also a director at Raja Rani Travels Pvt. Ltd. and is fond of music, reading and creative designing.
Dr. Nayreen Daruwalla, Doctorate in Social Psychology (
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She is currently the Program Director – Prevention of Violence against Women and Children. Her 18 years of experience have been in the area of mental health – counseling, crisis intervention, and training. She has worked extensively in the field of violence against women and children abroad and in India for 12 years. She is fond of reading and traveling.
Neena Shah More, M.A. in Social Work (
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She is currently the Program Director – Research. She joined SNEHA in April 2002 and spent 2 years on the Mother and Child Friendly Hospital Project before joining City Initiative for Newborn Health as a project coordinator. She has 14 years work experience in 7 different organizations including SNEHA. She enjoys reading, walking, traveling, and her pets.
Sushma Shende, Masters in Science in Anthropology (
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She is currently the Program Director – Maternal and Newborn Health. She has 14 years of experience in handling health system research and development projects in tribal and urban areas. Her expertise includes improving public health systems and developing new public private partnerships. She has been working with SNEHA since 2002 and has managed the Aahar project and City Initiative for Newborn Health: Facilities. Her hobbies are traveling and listening to music.
Anjali Gokarn, Masters in Social Work (
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She is currently the Program Director – Advocacy & Training and has been the project coordinator for the Sure Start Project at SNEHA. She has 29 years of experience in the field of social work in government institutions and NGOs with expertise in child welfare, adoption, and as a trainer. She has been with SNEHA since March 2007 and has assisted with the Girls Gaining Ground and Nurse's Aide projects. She enjoys making quick and tasty food.
Garima Deveshwar Bahl, Masters in Public Health (
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She has been working with SNEHA since August 2007 and is currently the Program Director – Sexual and Reproductive Health. She is part of the Strategic Group and the Research Group and contributes to different initiatives across SNEHA. She holds a Masters in Economics and prior to joining SNEHA has worked with the World Bank and as a consultant to UNICEF and the STOP TB partnership. She enjoys music, art, traveling, and spending time with her children.
Naina Fernandes, Masters in Social Work (
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Having worked as project coordinator of SNEHA Shakti, specifically with the care and support centre for senior citizens, Heart-to-Heart project, and the health services, she now consults for the Income Generation and Counselling programs at SNEHA. Since the year 2000, she has worked with the crèche, the hospital on wheels for street children's project. Previously, she worked in the MSW Department of the LTMG hospital, the Paraplegic Foundation, and as an MDACS counselor for HIV/ AIDS. She loves Hindustani classical music.
SNEHA Manthan is the internal resource center at SNEHA and its team can be contacted on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Ujwala Bapat, Coordinator – Research
Sushmita Das, Coordinator – Research
Jaya Nuty, Coordinator – Training
