About Us
Our Story
Humara Bachpan Trust was founded in 2014 with a simple but powerful belief: every child deserves a safe, happy and dignified childhood.
Over the years, HBT has worked alongside children, women and communities to address the realities that shape everyday life—from unsafe environments and exclusion to limited access to opportunities and voice.
Our journey has taken us from grassroots mobilisation and child-friendly public spaces to women’s empowerment, youth engagement, community leadership and partnerships with government, civil society and development institutions.
Today, the world around children and communities is changing rapidly. Technology and artificial intelligence are transforming learning and work. Climate change is reshaping communities. Young people need new skills and pathways. Women need greater access to economic opportunity, technology and leadership.
HBT’s next chapter responds to this changing world.
We are moving from improving childhoods to building futures.
Our 2027–2031 strategy, FUTURE READY, focuses on building the capabilities, confidence, agency and opportunities of women, children and young people—and the communities they call home.
Our Vision
A future where every woman, young person and child has the capabilities, confidence, agency and opportunities to shape a safe, inclusive and sustainable future.
Our Mission
To build future-ready women and future-ready generations by strengthening skills, livelihoods, leadership, digital inclusion, resilience, rights and participation—especially among vulnerable and underserved communities.
Our Values
- Dignity
- Inclusion
- Agency
- Participation
- Innovation
- Integrity
- Collaboration
Founder’s Message
We began with a simple belief—that every child deserves a safe and happy childhood.
Today, the world is changing faster than ever. Technology, artificial intelligence, climate change and the future of work are transforming the opportunities and challenges before our children and communities.
Our responsibility has therefore grown.
We must not only protect childhood; we must prepare the next generation for the future.
And we cannot prepare children for the future without empowering the women and communities around them.
That is why HBT's next chapter is about becoming Future Ready.
A future where women have agency. Children have possibility. Young people have opportunity. And communities have a voice.
This is the future we want to build—together.
Dharitri Patnaik
Founder - Humara Bachpan Trust
Board Of Trustees
HBT is guided by a Board of Trustees committed to ensuring that the organisation remains mission-driven, accountable, transparent and responsive to the communities it serves. Each trustee brings experience, perspective and expertise that contributes to HBT’s governance and strategic direction.
Dharitri Patnaik
Founder & Chairperson
Dharitri Patnaik is the Founder and Chairperson of Humara Bachpan Trust and an entrepreneur, social-impact leader and public policy practitioner with nearly three decades of experience across social development, international development and institution building. She is the Founder & Managing Director of Jivada Ventures and Chairperson of Diversified Energy Solutions Pvt. Ltd., bringing extensive experience in entrepreneurship, business leadership and organisational development. She was the Founding Chairperson of FICCI FLO Bhubaneswar and served as Chief Coordinator of W20 India during India’s G20 Presidency, working with women leaders and stakeholders across G20 countries. A Harvard Kennedy School and TISS alumna, Dharitri is committed to building inclusive, resilient and empowered communities, with children and women at the centre of development.
Shradhanjali Panda
Treasurer
Shradhanjali Panda represents a new generation of leaders whose journey with Humara Bachpan began at the grassroots. Her early engagement with HBT’s child and youth leadership initiatives shaped her understanding of community participation, inclusion and the importance of giving young people a voice in decisions that affect their lives. With a background in business administration, she brings a contemporary perspective on youth aspirations, communication and leadership. As a Trustee, Shradhanjali contributes lived experience and a strong commitment to ensuring that HBT remains responsive to the needs and aspirations of young people and as Treasurer she guides the Finance and Accounts team.
Usha Rani Patra
Trustee
Usha Rani Patra brings to the Board a perspective shaped by her early association with Humara Bachpan and her experience of youth leadership and community participation. Her journey reflects HBT’s belief that children and young people are not merely beneficiaries of development, but active citizens and changemakers. She brings an understanding of grassroots realities and the aspirations of young people, together with a commitment to education, inclusion and opportunity. As a Trustee, Usha contributes a valuable youth perspective to HBT’s continuing work to create child-friendly, inclusive and empowered communities.
Deepanjali Swain
Trustee
Deepanjali Swain is a youth leader whose journey from a community in Bhubaneswar to national and international platforms reflects the transformative power of opportunity and youth leadership. A former child leader with Humara Bachpan, she has led initiatives focused on adolescent girls, health and community leadership and represented India at the International Conference on Population and Development in Nairobi. Deepanjali brings to the Board a powerful lived perspective on gender, education, participation and social mobility, helping ensure that the voices and aspirations of young people remain central to HBT’s work.
Shri Susanta Nanda, IFS
Trustee
Shri Susanta Nanda, IFS, is a distinguished public servant with more than three decades of experience in public administration, forestry, wildlife conservation and environmental governance. A member of the 1989 Indian Forest Service, he has held several senior positions in the Government of Odisha, including Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden. His extensive experience in governance, conservation and sustainable development brings a valuable institutional and environmental perspective to the Board. He contributes to HBT’s vision of creating resilient communities and ensuring that development is inclusive, sustainable and responsive to future generations.
Jahnabi Phookan
Trustee
Jahnabi Phookan is an entrepreneur, social-impact advocate and champion of women’s economic empowerment. She has built and led enterprises in tourism, hospitality and traditional crafts, creating opportunities for women entrepreneurs and artisans while promoting sustainable and responsible tourism. A former National President of FICCI FLO, Jahnabi has been a strong advocate for women’s entrepreneurship, economic independence and inclusive growth. She brings to HBT a distinctive combination of entrepreneurial leadership, social commitment and experience in building sustainable livelihoods, strengthening the organisation’s work towards empowered women and resilient communities.
Trustee
Damayanti Rout
Damayanti Rout has been closely associated with Humara Bachpan Trust and brings extensive grassroots experience in working with children, young people and communities. In her earlier role as National Campaign Coordinator, she contributed to HBT’s advocacy for child-friendly communities, inclusive public spaces and greater community participation in local development. Her deep understanding of grassroots realities and the organisation’s evolution gives her an important institutional perspective. As a Trustee, Damayanti remains committed to ensuring that children’s rights, voices and aspirations are reflected in the decisions and systems that shape their lives.
Alee Padhy Jain
Trustee
Alee Padhy Jain is a social entrepreneur and advocate for inclusive education, disability rights and caregiver empowerment. Through her work in the social sector, she has championed greater inclusion, holistic caregiving and opportunities for persons with disabilities and their families. Her academic and professional background combines management, finance, education and special education, giving her a multidisciplinary perspective on social development. Alee brings to the Board a strong commitment to creating enabling environments in which every individual—irrespective of ability or circumstance—can participate with dignity and realise their potential.