Prithvi’s people are our greatest resource, for Prithvi exists solely to empower rural communities to participate actively in their own future.

Prithvi’s structure is horizontal, functionally based and fluid, rather than hierarchical. Tasks and activities are planned, carried out, evaluated and monitored by teams recruited from the villages.

The Driving Force !

Sharmila Shaligram,

I was born on World Environment Day with a deep respect for my land, its culture and traditions. This love has burned at the core of my existence and lit my path since childhood.

My own personal life experiences in India and abroad hit me in the face with the common reality of the situation women struggle with globally. The complexity of issues and factors that go hand in hand forced me to look into things on a deep level. I began to ask: “Where do women go?”

The turmoil of these thoughts prompted the emergence of Prithvi as a people-centric organization. I started dreaming of an organization that instilled a deep sense of belonging in all that it touched.

I am a “people person” at heart and I have a natural ability to relate easily, whether it is to the toothless grandmother in a remote village, or the president of a business establishment. Having witnessed first-hand other communities and cultures and their struggles to hold their heritage and traditions, I realized the age-old values, practices and traditions of my own country were disappearing into the global miasma. Somewhere our link to the past is broken and that needs to be reestablished with great care and concern. The urge burns like fire in my guts to commit and dedicate myself to a modern India, urban and rural alike participating in the global advances, while retaining the heritage of our age-old proven practices.. I believe that the Prithvi empowerment process will bring about the required change for a forgotten common individual from the rural areas to participate in the global awakening while retaining their unique cultural framework. “ Sharmi

Prithvi’s Core Team is the heart of the organization. All recruited from the participating communities, the Core Team oversees program implementation of the 5 Prithvi Projects, taking the ownership of the Projects -

• Suvarna Pawar, is in charge of Administration and overseeing the operations of the organization and a Counsellor

• Kalpana Kalbhor , is in charge of the women’s empowerment Project Kshipra

• Sitaram Dhas, is in charge of Project Bhagirath (youth empowerment) & Co-Manager, Vasundhara Project

Team Prithvi also includes:
• 10 Community Representatives running programs in 8 villages
• 5 Seamstresses doing finishing in the Arangaon Office
• Women’s groups in 6 villages participating in Project Kshipra Income Generaton Initiative
• 2,88,160 Participants in Prithvi Activities
• A rapidly expanding group of rural, urban, corporate and international volunteers
• A global network of supporters

Prithvi Board Members

Board of Directors:

Sharmila Shaligram - Founder President
Kalpana Kalbhor– Treasurer
Suvarna Pawar – Secretary
Savita Gosavi- member
Shamala Sathe – member
Bharati Vale – member
AishwaryaCarmen Godbole - member

Advisory Board Members

Stephen Ibaraki – IT Expert http://www.stephenibaraki.com

Arya Krishak Mohan Shankar Deshpande – Rishi Krishi Organic Farming, Deshpande Technique http://www.rishi-krishi.com

Dr. Gerald McIntosh – International Advisor (International Development & Edu.)

Dr. Daniel Stone – Consultant & Trainer

Mr. Kader Khan – Bollywood actor & Islamic literature and research

Wellness Center Treatment and Medical Advisory Committee

Prithvi is working closely with a range of medical, Ayurvedic, and Homeopathic specialists in developing a comprehensive “Partnership in Health” program

Fr. Tomy, Belair Hospital, Panchgani, Ms.

Dr. Sanjay Pujari- HIV Expert, Pune

Dr. M. Samuel- MGR University Chennai - Chair (retired)- Dept. of Experimental Medicine, Parent to Child HIV Transmission Program, Namakkul TN

Dr. Marty Parah, USA. General and Women’s Health Specialist

Dr. Robert Speirs, Immunologist, USA

Mr. Douglas Hare, R.N., Meherabad, Ms.

Dr. Vikrant Mahajan- Homeopath, Pune

Dr. Sachin Deshmukh- Naturopath & Alternative Medicine, India & USA

Dr. Sheen Gokhale - Pathologist - Pune

Dr. Shrikant Chemte - Pathologist