Qualifications:

Email: neha@dakshin.org

Profile: Neha’s journey began through her volunteering work with Samvada, a youth resource centre, where she developed an understanding of social structures and the language of youth rights. During this period, she also interned as a surveyor under the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP), gaining firsthand experience in field data collection and a deeper understanding of the vulnerabilities faced by coastal communities due to natural disasters. These early experiences laid a strong foundation for her academic journey.

During her Master’s, she developed a strong interest in exploring intersectionality, gender dynamics, livelihoods, environmental sustainability, and mental health. She conducted a study to understand how coastal pollution has reshaped the livelihoods of small-scale fishing communities in Mangaluru, through which she examined changing coastal ecosystems and their implications for socio-economic wellbeing. This work reinforced her belief that solutions for communities must emerge from the most marginalised groups.

Neha joined Dakshin in the Sustainable Fisheries programme. She is keen on understanding fisheries through the lens of feminist political ecology, while also exploring culinary practices and coastal folk culture.