Team

Founders

CEO and Co-Founder

Tousif Alishah

Tousif is from a working class family in Khandwa District. Despite facing struggles to support his family, Tousif was able to find a way to complete his studies, and volunteer with the local community. After seeing the extreme need among members of the Korku Tribal Community, Tousif founded Musht along with his friends. For the past ten years, he has worked intensively on the ground in projects connected to education and livelihoods.

As CEO, Tousif’s primary responsibilities are forging partnerships, designing programs, and ensuring the organization’s financial stability and capacity building for his team. His projects have earned him recognition as a 2014 Changeloom fellow and a 2017 Wipro Fellow.

Director and Co-Founder

Pramila Chouhan

A member of the Korku tribe, Pramila belongs to the Sendhwal tribal village of Khandwa district in Madhya Pradesh. She is the first community development leader from the Satpura Forest.
After completing her schooling and higher education despite adversity, she, along with her friends, co-founded the Musht.

As the director of Musht, Pramila is working at the grassroots level by forging associations with many local youth groups and state and national level organizations. Apart from leading Musht, Pramila has also published children's story books and a dictionary in the Korku language. For her work, Pramila has received the Wipro Fellowship in 2017, and was chosen as a CII Foundation Woman Exemplar in the field of Education in 2024.

Board

Mohit Raj

Mohit Raj is the founder of TYCIA Foundation and a leader in the Indian Social Work Sector. Mohit's 10 years of innovative achievement in the development sector have earned him recognition as both an Ashoka Fellow and an Obama Foundation Scholar.

Priyanka Upadhyay

Priyanka is a Delhi-based social worker with eight years of experience in gender equality and education programming. She is currently a project manager of a girls' in STEM education program at OneStage India.

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Dhuleshwar Ravat

Dhuleshwar is a social work professional from Bhopal with 25 years in the education field. He is currently working in a senior position at the Samavesh organization in Bhopal.

Rajaram Katare

Rajaram Khatare is a member of the local community. He is a local businessman who runs a sucsessful transport business. Prior to entering to business, he worked for Musht for three years, and thus provides us with invaluable community insight and guidance.

Dwariki Katare

Dwariki is a farmer and female leader from Langoti Village. She was a team member of Musht for four years, and now serves on our board. Presently, she works as an individual, helping women farmers build self help groups and learn profitable skills.

Core team

Lakshmi Baghel

Barakund | @Musht since 2019

Lakshmi left school in 6th grade to work on bamboo. After joining Musht, she rejoined school and is now studying for her BSW. She works on education and youth programs.

Ajay Vishwakarma

Roshni | @Musht since 2021

As a teenager, Ajay was an active participant in our youth programs, and after completing his education, he came to work with us. He currently leads physical education programs.

Shivani Rattod

Hariti Madni | @Musht since 2023

Shivani completed her BA in Harsud, and works as a local journalist. At Musht, she works on Child Rights and Child Protection.

Mohan Badkul

Banapura | @Musht since 2023

Mohan is indigenous (adivsasi) tribe member who has obtained his MSW and is currently studying physical education. He currently with Musht on Physical Education Programs.

Jyoti Dhurve

Pipliya | @Musht since 2021

Jyoti belongs to an indigenous tribe, and lived in a hostel to finish her schooling. She is currently studying for her diploma in electronics. She is currently working on Child Protection programs.

Sonu Khasde

Ambada | @Musht since 2023

Sonu is indigenous from a farming family. He completed his BSC in biotech and is currently working with Musht on Child Rights and Child protection programs.

Nassim Alam

Delhi | @Musht since 2024

Nassim studied his BSF in Delhi, but has always preferred the calmness of rural life. He is passionate about community work and now leads our finance department.