A feminist activist and researcher, Dr Nandita Shah has over 30 years of experience strengthening women’s movements locally, nationally and internationally, both, through her activism and writing.
She is co- founder of Akshara Centre, a not for profit women’s rights organisation based in Mumbai, which dreams of enabling and creating a gender-just society. Their work has had an indelible impact on the consciousness of many young girls and boys, but also has led to several collaborative ventures to reform systemic gender violence through public and private institutions.
Nandita’s expertise in building different public private partnership has led to institutionalised initiatives with police, transport authorities and local municipality for creating safer cities for women. She is also on the Civil Society Advisory Group of UNWomen and active in the World Social Forum.
She has been on many expert committees including with the Planning Commission for Women’s Rights, for drafting women’s policy in Maharashtra. In addition, she has co-authored two books – ‘Issues at Stake: Theories and Practice in the Contemporary Women’s Movement in India’ and ‘Contingent Workers’.
Dr. Nandita Shah completed her Phd from University of Amsterdam in Social Science and her post-graduate academic background is in Women’s Studies and in Social work.