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

Vijay Mahajan illustration

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.

by Ayesha Marfatia, Smarinita Shetty | 8 min read

Chicks for free

As you drive through the streets of Angul, you can see people selling chickens at various places.

by Smarinita Shetty | 1 min read

hands weaving a frame_pixabay_jpal

Advocacy & Government

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.

by Saahil Kejriwal, Smarinita Shetty | 8 min read

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.

by Smarinita Shetty, Sneha Philip | 7 min read

picture of forest with animals-environment

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.

by Saahil Kejriwal, Smarinita Shetty | 6 min read

INR denomination five coins arranged in a diagonal_Unsplash

Philanthropy & CSR

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.

by Smarinita Shetty | 7 min read

Water & Sanitation

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.

by Rachita Vora, Smarinita Shetty | 6 min read

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.

by Sneha Philip, Smarinita Shetty | 6 min read

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.

by Rachita Vora, Smarinita Shetty | 9 min read

Shattered rear view mirror of car-rich list

Philanthropy & CSR

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.

by Smarinita Shetty | 6 min read

Xavier Dias profile_BnW

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.

by Sneha Philip, Smarinita Shetty | 6 min read

An injured child checking his height

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.

by Rachita Vora, Smarinita Shetty | 5 min read

August 09, 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.

by Devanshi Vaid, Smarinita Shetty | 7 min read

grassroots leadership Sujata Khandekar

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.

by Rachita Vora, Smarinita Shetty | 8 min read

railway tracks

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.

by Devanshi Vaid, Smarinita Shetty | 5 min read

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