Emy Acha Paul - Executive Director

Emy Acha Paul is the Executive Director of Prachodhan Development Services and a development professional with over a decade of experience in rural development, livelihoods promotion, entrepreneurship development, education, and community empowerment. A postgraduate in Social Entrepreneurship from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), she has played a key role in establishing and expanding Prachodhan’s operations across multiple states in India.

Under her leadership, the organisation has implemented impactful initiatives in education, livelihoods, and community development, reaching underserved and tribal communities. She is passionate about developing sustainable models of change through community participation, institutional strengthening, and strategic partnerships that contribute to the long-term wellbeing of marginalised communities.

Mereena Paul - Director

Mereena Paul is a social entrepreneur from Thrissur, Kerala, whose work has focused on empowering underserved communities through sustainable livelihood interventions. As Co-founder of the ESAF Group of Social Enterprises, which began as a social movement in 1992, she has been a strong advocate of a triple bottom line approach rooted in People, Planet, and Prosperity, placing social impact at the heart of organisational growth.

She is widely recognised for her pioneering contributions to women’s empowerment and the Self-Help Group movement and is frequently invited to share her community-centred development experience at institutions and forums across the country. She has also championed people-first and employee-centric values within the organisations she has helped build.

Dr. Jose A.V. - Director

Dr. Jose A.V. is an academician and social development professional with over four decades of experience in education, leadership development, and community empowerment. He began his career with the State Bank of India and later contributed to the growth of ESAF Small Finance Bank, bringing extensive institutional and human resource expertise to its formative years.

He has since dedicated himself to education and community development, working closely with educational institutions and tribal communities in Jharkhand to promote learning, capacity building, and grassroots leadership among marginalised communities. He is also the Founder and Chairman of Vidya Foundation, Cochin, which supports the educational needs of underprivileged students in Government and Aided Schools in rural Kerala.

As a Director of Prachodhan Development Services, he brings this rich cross-sectoral experience to advancing inclusive and sustainable social transformation.

Smt. Rupali Kalita - Director

Smt. Rupali Kalita has spent over four decades advancing financial inclusion and rural development, with a career dedicated to empowering women, small entrepreneurs, and rural households across North-East India. She served as the Managing Director & CEO of North East Small Finance Bank, where she led its transformation from a grassroots microfinance initiative into the first Small Finance Bank from North-East India, expanding essential financial services to unbanked communities across all seven states of the region.

Beyond her professional career, she is actively involved in social work through the NGO Karunadhara, which is dedicated to the education, rehabilitation, and skill development of children with disabilities in Assam. Her leadership reflects a lifelong commitment to inclusive growth and the wellbeing of underserved communities.

Reji Koshy Daniel - Director

Reji Koshy Daniel is a sustainability and development professional with expertise spanning CSR, ESG, responsible business, and the Sustainable Development Goals. He contributed to the ESG-integrated growth of ESAF Small Finance Bank as Vice President & Head – Sustainable Banking from 2017 to 2025, helping strengthen social and environmental accountability as part of the institution’s growth.

He has also served as Convener (Honorary) of the Sustainability Panel at the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), Kerala, and is a sought-after resource person on Industry 5.0, Sustainability Reporting, and Theology of Work.

As a Director of Prachodhan Development Services, he brings his expertise in sustainability, impact assessment, and responsible development to help strengthen the organisation’s social and environmental impact.