Organisation Profile

Our Founder

DR. MANIBHAI DESAI (1920-1993)
Manibhai Bhimbhai Desai was born in Kosmada village in Surat district of Gujarat on April 27, 1920. As a young student, he joined Mahatma Gandhi during the Quit India Movement. In 1945, he received a letter from Gandhiji to come to Sevagram Ashram in Wardha. In 1946, Gandhiji established the Nature Cure Ashram at Urulikanchan near Pune and entrusted its responsibility to Manibhai.

During a span of 47 years, he not only promoted nature cure but also established BAIF Development Research Foundation (formerly known as the Bharatiya Agro Industries Foundation).

Dr. Manibhai Desai dedicated his entire life to the upliftment of the rural poor through sustainable management of natural resources and the environment. What set him apart from many other followers of Mahatma Gandhi was his commitment to serve the rural poor by creating opportunities of gainful employment at their doorsteps for sustainable livelihood through the application of science and technology in the field in pace with the changing times.

Board of Trustees

Name	Occupation	Designation
Shri. Bhalchandra Gopal Deshmukh Mumbai	Former Cabinet Secretary, GoI	Chairman
Shri. Raosaheb Pandurang Shinde Shrirampr	Advocate & Social Worker	Member
Shri. Vijayrao Sampatrao Borade Aurangabad	President Marathwada Sheti Sahayya, Aurangabad	Member
Shri. Vinayakrao Pundlik Patil, Nashik	President, Agroforestry Federation, Nashik	Member
Dr. Narayan Ganappa Hegde, Pune	Trustee and Principal Advisor, BAIF Development Research Foundation, Pune	Member
Shri. Girish Ghanashyam Sohani, Pune	President, BAIF Development Research Foundation,Pune	Member
Dr. Suresh Balasaheb Gokhale Urulikanchan	Director (Research), BAIF Development Research Foundation, Pune	Member
Shri. Bharat Kakasaheb Kakade Pune	Vice President, BAIF Development Research Foundation, Pune	Member
Dr. Kishor Shamrao Chapalgaonkar Aurangabad	Advisor, BAIF Development Research Foundation	Member
Dr. Ashok Bhaskarrao Pande	Vice President, BAIF Development Research Foundation, Urulikanchan, Pune	Executive Vice Chairman
Mr. Vijay Yashwant Deshpande	Chief Programme Coordinator, MITTRA, Nasik	Secretary

Management Committee

Name	Designation
Dr. A. B. Pande	Executive Vice Chairman
Shri. B.K.Kakde	Trustee Member
Shri. V. Y. Deshpande	Chief Programme Coordinator
Shri. S. M. Wagale	Addl. Chief Programme Coordinator
Dr. K. R. Morgaonkar	Jt. Programme Director
Shri. B. V. Sherkar	Jt. Programme Director
Shri. R. C. Kote	Jt. Programme Director
Shri. G. A. Patil	Programme Coordinator

Finance Review Committee

Dr. A. B. Pande

Shri. V. Y. Deshpande

Shri. S. M. Wagale

Shri. A. B. Ahire

MITTRA Coverage

Work Area: Maharashtra State

Districts	Blocks	Villages	Families
22	100	3127	158004