Dr. D. Nirupama Sunil Deshpande

President – Sampoorna Bamboo Kendra

Hello, everyone! My name is Dr. D. Nirupama Sunil Deshpande. I’ve been living and working in the tribal area of Bhat, in the Amravati district of Maharashtra, for 30 years now. My background includes a good understanding of Hindi and Marathi, which helps me communicate with the people here. I completed my studies at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences.

My Professional Experience and Motivation

After my studies, I worked as a Community Development Officer for the Maharashtra Housing Board. However, I felt that the job wasn’t allowing me to truly make a difference. I remember telling a friend that I didn’t want my education to be used solely for financial gain. My husband, Sunil Deshpande, and I decided to leave our jobs and move to a village to work directly with the people.

My Work in Melghat

In 1995, Sunil and I moved to Melghat, a tribal hill area in Vidarbha. We chose to live amongst the people of the Korku, Gauli and Bilala communities. We wanted to work alongside them and help empower them.

My Organisation: Sampoorna Bamboo Kendra

Our organization, Sampoorna Bamboo Kendra, has been operating for 30 years. We focus on providing training and handicraft work to the people of Melghat. Our main goal is to create employment opportunities for them.

Why Melghat?

Melghat is known for its tragically high rate of child mortality. This was a major reason why Sunil and I felt compelled to come here. We wanted to provide the people of Melghat with the tools and resources they needed to improve their lives and livelihoods.

My Core Objectives

Empowerment: I want to empower the tribal communities of Melghat.

Employment: I aim to create sustainable employment opportunities through training and handicraft work.

Community Development: I’m dedicated to improving the overall well-being of the people of Melghat.

“Melghat is known for its tragically high rate of child mortality .. “
– Dr. Nirupama Deshpande
President – Sampoorna Bamboo Kendra