U n’ I with Rashmi Shetty- Nikita Ketkar

Our Guest today is the CEO of Masoom, Nikita Ketkar, who 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. Having worked in different capacities as a Journalist, Lecturer and Social Worker she cleared the prestigious Union Public Services commission exams. After spending over 3 years in various administrative positions in DRDO, Airforce headquarters, and NCC directorate, Nikita felt the urge to do something beyond and left the service to work for various NGOs. 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 organization focused on improving the night schools. Masoom is presently working in 85 Night Schools of Mumbai, Pune, Ahmednagar & Nagpur.

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 Mandal in 2010 on the eve of International women’s day. In 2011 she has been conferred with Moneylife Foundation awards, the Mumbai, Mayors award on the eve of international women’s day. In 2011 she was also awarded the Savitribai-Phule Fatima sheik award by Shikshak Bharti for her contribution to night schools. In the year 2014-15 Masoom won the prestigious Global Rising Star Award for its exemplary work in the field of education. This is an international award jointly awarded by The Global Fund for Children and Stars Foundation. Across the Asia Pacific 3 organizations bagged the award and Masoom is one of them. On 26th January 2020, Nikita was awarded ‘Varad’ Puraskar by Upnagar Shikshan Mandal for her contribution to the field of education. This year in January 2021 Nikita has been selected as Ashoka Fellow (Ashoka Fellowship) www.ashoka.org. It is an international fellowship. She will be called a 'Special Relations Officer’ for the time being.

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