Apeejay India Volunteer Awards

Nikita Ketkar
As Founder and Director of Masoom, Nikita plays the role of a passionate guide and mentor for the fledgling NGO that has chosen to tread a different path by focusing on the night schools of Mumbai. Nikita’s is a story of a young and educated woman who finally found her calling in service. Nikita worked in different capacities as a Journalist, Lecturer and Social Worker before qualifying for the prestigious Union public Services commission. After spending over 3 years in various administrative positions in DRDO, Air headquarters and NCC directorate, Nikita felt the urge to do something beyond and left the service to work for various NGOs.

She spent some time at Save the children India and Sahas Sports foundation. It was while working on a social project she came across night schools accidentally, What she saw and heard compelled her to start Masoom in 2008 an organisation focused on improving the night schools. Masoom is presently working in 10 night schools of Mumbai. Masoom plans to reach out to 210 night schools by 2020 impacting 20,000 night school students in Maharashtra. .Nikita believes that every child’s right to learn right is fundamental and she sees Masoom as making that a reality for thousands of under privileged children.

Nikita has been awarded the ‘Chakra for Excellence 2009 ‘ The award was presented by ICONGO IN Delhi. She has also been awarded the Mahila Pratibha Sanmaan by Rajasthani Mahila Mandal and Gayatri Gyan Probodhini Mnadal in 2010 on eve on the International womens day. In 2011 she has been conferred with Moneylife foundation awards,the Mumbai ,Mayors award on eve on the international womens day.She was also awarded the savitrbai-phule Fatima sheikh award by Shikshak bharti for her contribution to night schools.A post graduate in political science from Mumbai University Nikita lives in Mumbai with a family of 3 members - husband and a daughter. Her interests other than night schools are traveling and trekking..

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