Under the leadership of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Dr Rajesh Kumar steered the roll-out of POSHAN Abhiyaan and has helped to bring in convergence among the various key ministries linked to the scheme. Dr Kumar has also played a stellar role in the setting up of Food Fortification standards and led the roll-out of the ICDS-CAS (Common Application Software) system that is designed to strengthen the Service Delivery System as well as mechanism for Real Time Monitoring of Poshan Abhiyaan.

Shri Alok Kumar is an Indian Administrative Service Officer of 1993 batch of the Uttar Pradesh cadre. He has a Master’s degree in Public Policy from Princeton University in addition to a B. Tech from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. Presently he is on deputation to the Union Government and is posted in the NITI Aayog as Adviser (Social Sector), looking after various portfolios, such as Health, Nutrition, Woman & Child and Education.

Dr. Hemalatha is the Director, ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition and heads the largest nutrition research organisation in the country that covers the spectrum from basic to public health. Dr. Hemalatha, MBBS and MD, has carried out extensive research in the realm of Nutrition, Infection and Immunity with special emphasis on women and child health, preconception nutrition and the first 1000 days of life.

One of the most recognized faces of Indian television, Mr Sanjeev Kapoor hosted the popular cookery show Khana Khazana for years. He was the Indian ambassador for UN’s Clean Cooking Alliance for the underprivileged of developing countries. He works closely with autistic children and is associated with Akshaya Patra – the world’s largest NGO run mid-day meal programme that serves wholesome school lunch to over 1.7 million children in 14,702 schools across 12 states in India.

Dr. Rupinder Singh Sodhi, is Managing Director of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation, Ltd., (AMUL), which is India’s largest Food Products organization. Dr. Sodhi has been responsible for creating the current structure of Amul, enabling the organization to maintain and enhance its leadership status within the Indian dairy industry.

Mr Mundol Hisham is Executive Director for India & Child Protection at Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF). CIFF is the world’s largest philanthropy focussed on children. CIFF’s portfolio in India includes maternal and child health, adolescent sexual health, nutrition, tackling child slavery and exploitation, and addressing climate change.

Dr. Purvi Mehta leads the BMGF’s agriculture strategy across countries in Asia, that includes links between farming systems and food systems as a key component. Dr. Mehta has worked with CGIAR, as head of Asia of the International Livestock Research Institute and also as head of South Asia Biosafety program (IFPRI, USAID), and brings a blend of Asia and Africa experience.

Dr Rajan Sankar is a Physician and has specialised in internal medicine. He has been actively involved with Iodine Deficiency Disorders elimination activities in India and in the South Asia region. Dr Sankar has worked with the Micronutrient Initiative as their Regional Technical Advisor and with UNICEF as Project Officer in the India Country Office. He was till recently the Regional Representative in South Asia for the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN).

Mr Basanta Kumar Kar, an international development professional, brings to the nutrition sector his prolific knowledge and vast experience, having worked extensively at the grassroots in India and South and South East Asian countries. Mr Kar represents PCI at numerous policy, advisory and technical bodies of the Government and civil society. For his decades-long and unstinting contribution in championing the cause of sustainable food and nutrition security in India and globally, Mr Kar is known as the ‘Nutrition Man’.

Ms Kalpana Beesabathuni has over 14 years of experience in nutrition, food, WASH, renewable energy and global health and has worked in multi-cultural and science driven contexts, fostering product, technology and social business model innovation. She is also as an entrepreneur in healthcare.

Mr. Ravi Bhatnagar leads External Affairs and Partnerships at Reckitt Benckiser, and is in charge of the Africa, Middles East and South Asia Regions, where the interlinking of the issues of Health, Hygiene and Nutrition can be seen from close quarters. Reckitt Benckiser’s ‘Dettol Banega Swachh India Programme’ has helped take the message of handwashing into every home. Mr Bhatnagar is currently involved in taking forward RB’s programme of Health, Hygiene and Nutrition in two of India’s aspirational districts – Nandurbar and Amravati in Maharashtra.

Mr Ruben Banerjee is the editor of Outlook. He was earlier the National Affairs Editor of Hindustan Times. A journalist with more than three decades of experience, he worked previously as an editor with Al Jazeera headquartered in Doha, Qatar, India Today and Indian Express.