Smarinita Shetty
Smarinita is co-founder and CEO at IDR. She has more than 20 years of experience leading functions across strategy, operations, sales and business development, largely in startup environments within corporates and social enterprises. Prior to IDR, Smarinita worked at Dasra, Monitor Inclusive Markets (now FSG), JP Morgan and The Economic Times. She also co-founded Netscribes–India’s first knowledge process outsourcing firm. Her work and opinion have been featured in The Economist, Times of India, Mint and The Economic Times. Smarinita has a BE in Computer Engineering and an MBA in Finance, both from Mumbai University.
Articles by Smarinita Shetty
October 1, 2020
How do you solve for FCRA 2020?
With the introduction of the FCRA Amendment 2020, certain types of nonprofits, local offices of INGOs, and international donor organisations will have to revisit their operating models.
September 16, 2020
Where does the water in a well come from?
In the water sector, the focus on fixing demand and supply is taking us away from the real problem: Unnoticed groundwater dependencies in ever-expanding urban India.
July 16, 2020
IDR Interviews | Rajendra Singh
‘Waterman of India’, Rajendra Singh, shares insights on how the availability of water improves all aspects of life in India, and why the COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to bring about a revolution in the country.
April 30, 2020
IDR Interviews | Vijay Mahajan
Known for his pathbreaking work in the development sector, Vijay Mahajan talks about inequality, the direction our society is headed in, and how the ‘idea of India’ cannot be realised by the state alone.
February 20, 2020
“Prepare to be surprised”
Iqbal Dhaliwal, Global Executive Director of J-PAL shares important lessons he has learned over years of working with governments.
January 23, 2020
IDR Interviews | Bezwada Wilson
A lifelong crusader against manual scavenging, Bezwada Wilson talks about building a Dalit-led grassroots movement to liberate the community from this practice.
December 12, 2019
The environmental movement has made a few mistakes
Vance Martin on how the Western paradigm of development is hurting India, and what it will take to win the fight against climate change.
November 14, 2019
Big investors need to change the way they do business
As more mainstream investors enter the impact investment market, we need them to think about impact, front and centre.
October 24, 2019
India has a groundwater problem
Despite being the lifeline of India’s water supplies, groundwater is overlooked by policy makers and users alike.
September 12, 2019
IDR Interviews | Stan Swamy
An activist and humanitarian, Stan tells us how people’s movements grow and are sustained in the context of his fight against the displacement and human rights violations faced by Adivasi peoples.
June 13, 2019
IDR Interviews | Shantha Sinha
Life and leadership lessons shared by a visionary anti-child labour activist, on changing social norms at scale, building inclusive movements, and taking on the establishment.
February 28, 2019
Philanthropy in India is growing: Fact or fiction?
Our sector is complicit in weaving tales around the 'Rise of Philanthropy' in India. But the gaping holes in data give us pause. Here's a closer look at what the numbers reveal.
November 15, 2018
IDR Interviews | Xavier Dias
The oppression of Adivasi peoples in their own lands, at the hands of outsiders, led a young student activist from Bombay to spend the next four decades of his life fighting for land and labour rights.
August 30, 2018
Dr H. Sudarshan on getting it right with Ayushman Bharat
There are valuable lessons that state level universal health coverage schemes have to offer to Ayushman Bharat, particularly in light of its scheduled launch this September.
August 9, 2018
IDR Interviews | Muhammad Yunus
Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus talks about what it will take to create a just and more equal world, and the power of individuals to bring about this change.
July 12, 2018
IDR Interviews | Sujata Khandekar
For three decades, CORO has been at the forefront of grassroots leadership. Sujata Khandekar shares what she has learnt and unlearnt about the process of empowerment within marginalised communities, and what it takes to be truly participatory.
May 24, 2018
Amitabh Behar on the changing nature of civil society today
We have created two parallel sectors, and their distinct approaches towards development are resulting in band-aid solutions to serious social problems.