Team

CABE Foundation has a highly qualified and experienced team of professionals, committed to the cause of diveristy inclusion and accessibility. The team also has rich hands-on experience in the areas of Accessibility, Universal Design, Standards Formulation, Access Audits of Built Infrastructure, Disability Laws and their implementation, Policy Reform, Disability and Diversity Inclusion, Inclusive Education, Workplace Inclusion, Job Reservations, Training, Awareness Raising and Empowerment of various stakeholders.

Meet our Board of Directors, Team Leads and Program Leads -

The Board of Directors

Mr. Thakur Datt Dhariyal
Executive Director

A profile photo of Mr. T.D. Dhariyal, Executive Director, CABE Foundation
Mr. T.D. Dhariyal
Mr. Dhariyal has served as a Civil Servant for more than three decades in the Ministries of Defence, Home, Shipping and Social Justice and Empowerment of Govt. of India. He was the longest serving Deputy Chief  Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities in Government of India for over 13  years till 2014. 

Subsequently he served as Advisor, Disability Inclusion and  Mainstreaming with CBM, a Germany based disability and development  organisation of more than 100 years’ standing. He was appointed  as the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Govt. of NCT of Delhi to serve a term from 17th March 2017 to 31st Dec 2019 where he delivered many pathbreaking orders and judgements with wide ranging impact on the disability policy and implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016. 

In addition to his responsibilities as Executive Director of CABE Foundation, he is also currently the President of the National Association of the Blind (Delhi)  Mr. Dhariyal  
holds  Masters’ degrees in Economics and Business Administration from University of Hull, UK.

Working for empowerment of persons  with disabilities is his passion. He has been actively involed in helping  persons with disabilities to secure their rights and entitlements and the organisations to implement laws and policies for empowerment of persons with  disabilities.

Shri Dhariyal has contributed articles and presented papers on inclusive education, employment, mainstreaming disability, barrier free environment, community based inclusive development,  etc.  He also compiled a  book entitled "Judgments on Disability Issues” and contributed in bringing  out a Compendium on International and National Human Rights Regime for Persons with Disabilities; Disabled Friendly Sports Facilities; Guide book on Accessible Tourist Places in Delhi etc.


He has also been/is the Guest Faculty and trainer on a variety of disability issues in premier Training  Institutes like Lal Bhadur Shastri National Academy of Administration,  Mussoorie; Institute of Secretariat Training and Management, New Delhi; IIPA,  New Delhi; UTCS, Govt. of NCT of Delhi; State Administrative Training  Institutes, CSIR, ISRO, IOCL, NTPC, Oil India, Institute of Public  Administration, Bengaluru, etc. Shri Dhariyal has also been/is a member of  various expert committees in the Government, UGC, Universities, NIOS, Corporate  Sector, NGOs/INGOs. 


                                                              


Prof. (Dr.) Mrs. Rachna Khare

Director

Profile photo of  Prof. (Ms.) Rachna Khare
Dr. Rachna Khare
One of the authors of Universal Design India Principles developed at the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad in 2011, Rachna Khare is full Professor and Dean (Research and Faculty Affairs) at School of Planning and Architecture Bhopal. Prior to this she was a Senior Research Fellow with Jamsetji Tata Universal Design Research Chair at National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad and taught at Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra. Starting her career in the early nineties as an Exhibition Officer cum Designer in Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur, she practiced for eight years in the field and then joined academia. 

She is a dedicated teacher and keen researcher for last Eighteen years. She was recognised as ‘Inspired Teacher’ by Hon’ble President of India and stayed Scholar-in-Residence at Rashtrapati Bhavan in 2016.


Rachna is a recipient of the prestigious Fulbright Fellowship and was affiliated with the Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA during her PhD. Her research interests in the field of ‘Universal Design’ and ‘Designing for Special Needs’ have earned her grants and awards nationally and internationally. Apart from the Fulbright award, she is recipient of IMFAR-2009, Professionals from Developing Country Award, Chicago; Friends of Fulbright India Grant-2008, Lewisburg; Universal Design Award for Working professional-2011 by NEPEDP-MPhasiS, India and R&D projects from All India Council of Technical Education and University Grants Commission in India. She works closely with the United Nations and consults internationally on disability issues and public access.


She has lectured extensively on Inclusive Design all over the world and has many papers in various National and International journals and conferences to her credit. Her papers appeared in the publications like Taylor and Francis, Sage, HFES, EDRA, RESNA and Archnet MIT. Her book ‘Designing Inclusive Educational Spaces for Autism’ published by the Institute of Human Centered Design, Boston, USA was released in 2010 at ‘Build Boston’, the book received ‘Certificate of Merit’ in ArchiDesign Award-2010. She has also edited special issues of internationally refereed journals called ‘SPANDREL’ on ‘Social sustenance’ in 2012 and ‘ABACUS’ on ‘Architecture for All’ in 2007. Some major events organised by her are ‘Universal Design Workshop’ and National Student Design Competition (NSDC-211) on ‘Universal Design/Design for All’-2011 in collaboration with the National Institute of Orthropaedically Handicapped, Kolkata and NSDC-2012 on ‘Universal Design for Exploring World Heritage Sites in India’ in collaboration with the Archaeological Survey of India and UNESCO. She serves as reviewer in many publications like EDRA, HFES, The Design Journal, and was also a jury member of Berkeley Prize Essay Competition-2013, endorsed by UC Berkeley, USA. Here is her detailed CV



Mr. Subhash Chandra Vashishth, 

Director

Profile photo of Mr. Subhash Chandra Vashishth, Director
Mr. Subhash Chandra Vashishth 
An Accessibility, Universal Design & Diversity Inclusion Specialist; Lawyer & a Development Professional based in India, Mr. Vashishth is passionately engaged in advocacy for human rights particularly, inclusion of women, seniors, transgender persons and persons with disabilities in the mainstream through policy reforms, formulation of standards on accessibility, accessibility assessment of built environment and services, legal intervention for disability justice & promoting physical accessibility in public infrastructure, ICT & transportation systems.

He is a Certified Accessibility Professional with 'CPABE Level 3' international certification from International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP), the first in India to achieve this highest credential.  He is an Expert Member (Accessibility) of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Committee on National Building Code of India 2016 and has extensively contributed to accessibility provisions in the recently revised building code. He was also on the Core Committee of Ministry of Urban Development, Govt of India for drafting “Harmonised Guidelines and Space Standards for Barrier-free Built Environment for Persons with Disabilities and Elderly Persons” which stands notified under Section 15 of Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules 2017 as the accessibility standard for built environment. 

He is also a member on two other important BIS Sectional Committees namely Smart Cities (CED 59) and Active Assisted Living (LITD 35) focusing on accessibility of Information and Communication Technologies. He is also on the Committee of Experts constituted by University Grants Commission, Ministry of Education, Govt. of India for preparing Comprehensive Guidelines on Accessibility, Pedagogy and Curricula for Students with Disabilities in Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs). He has been nominated on the panel of  Subject Matter Experts by the Office of the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities to advise and review Accessibility Guidelines being formulated by different ministries and departments to implement the RPwD Act 2016.

Mr. Vashishth is also a member of the Standing Committee on Accessible Transportation and Mobility, of the Tranportation Research Board, USA that focuses on studying problems relating to transportation disadvantaged and the services that various modes of transortation should provide for them as well as an assessment of the impact and value of programs directed at improving their mobility. 

Mr. Vashishth  has been an invited constituted under Section 79 (7) of The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 to assist the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Govt. of National Captial Terriroty of Delhi. He has been nominated by Department of Social Welfare, Govt. of Delhi as a non official Member on  the Advisory Committee of Experts constituted under sub-section (7) of section 79 the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016  to assist the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, NCT of Delhi with effect from 02 June 2022 for a tenure of three years.  Earlier, he was a Special Invitee (Domain Expert: Accessibility) on this Advisory Committee since 2018. 

Mr. Vashishth is empanelled with Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India as an Access Audit Trainer under Accessible India Campaign. He has also been a visiting faculty at the National CPWD Academy, India for training of newly inducted officers (engineers and architects) and for promotional training of officers of Central Pubic Works Department, India. He has conducted Studios, Lectures, Electives, Winter/Summer Courses and Studios for students of School of Planning Architecture Delhi, Bhopal and CEPT University. 

He serves on the Jury Panel of "We Care Film Festival " — an organisation which has been showcasing short films to raise awareness on disability issues, from around the world for over fifteen years. 

Besides a professional degree in Law, Mr. Vashishth holds a Masters Degrees in Industrial Relations & Personnel Management, Economics, Social Work & a PG Diploma in Developmental Therapy (Cerebral Palsy & Other Neurologically Disabling Conditions). He has also completed a course on "Universal Design & Accessibility Planning : an interdisciplinary approach to inclusive environments" from the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee. For more details visit www.subhashvashishth.com

                                                                     

Mr. Amor Kool
Director

a Profilee photo of Mr. Amor Kool, Director
Mr. Amor Kool 
Mr. Kool is a consulting Architect and Sustainability Expert. He is converging the philosophy of sustainability with that of accessibility and universal design in his architectural practice. He has been involved with several research projects ranging from View Shed Analysis through Global Information System (GIS), to Global Collaboration Process through 4D modeling. 

He is an Environmental Strategist working on various aspects of sustainable development. His experience varies from practicing core architecture, construction management, sustainable development, ESG initiatives; to matters pertaining to climate resiliency, adaptation and sustainable finance.

Author of an academic book titled “A Leadership Guide for the construction professional” he is also a Member of BIS Technical Committee for Construction Management (including Life Safety in Construction), India, a Panel Member for Part 8 Section 1 Lighting and Ventilation; Part 4 Fire and Safety  & also on Panel on Part 11 Approach to Sustainability in National Building Code of India. 


He has conducted training sessions on Sustainability in Built Environment at National CPWD Academy for the Architects and Engineers of CPWD and has conducted numerous workshops, webinars and training sessions on the subject. 

He is an Accredited Professional for LEED and IGBC. He has a Bachelors Degree in Architecture from School of Architecture, IPSA, Indore, M.P, India and a Master’s Degree in Construction Management from University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.   He has also completed a course on "Universal Design & Accessibility Planning : an interdisciplinary approach to inclusive environments" from IIT Roorkee, India.


Mr. Mandeep Kumar Singh
Director
a profile photo of Mr. Mandeep Kumar Singh, Director
Mr. Mandeep Kumar Singh

Mandeep is a highly accomplished and result-driven business executive who brings a wealth of experience and passion to his role as Team Lead for Resource Mobilization and CSR at the Foundation. His career is marked by a profound dedication to the Freight & Express Industry, where he currently serves as the Global Head of Business Development at Yuvraj Supply Chain Services (YuvrajSCS). 

Mandeep's professional journey began with a successful 10-year tenure in the Express Industry, during which he demonstrated his expertise in Business Development, Customer Service, and Product Development. His innate ability to connect with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds has made him a natural leader who leads by example and fosters a high-performance work culture within his sphere of influence.

Mandeep's specialization spans various aspects of the industry, including International Freight Forwarding, Customer Service, Cargo Charter Services (both Domestic and International), Customs Clearance (Import and Export), and Transitioning New Business. Consequently, he is an invaluable resource for the Foundation, contributing significantly to the development of new business opportunities, building corporate relations, and spearheading sustainability and CSR projects within the realm of social development. His passion and expertise make him an indispensable asset to the Foundation's mission and goals.

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The Team Leads

Mr. T.D. Dhariyal
Team Lead - Research, Consultancies & Disability Inclusion

Mr. Subhash Chandra Vashishth 
Team Lead -  Capacity Building, Access Audits & Advocacy

Mr. Mandeep Kumar Singh
Team Lead - Resource Mobilization and CSR

Mr. Amor Kool
Team Lead - Sustainability and Access

Dr. Gaurab Das Mahapatra
Team Lead - Research and Development on Universal Design

Dr. Gaurab Das Mahapatra
Dr. Gaurab is an expert in the field of Universal Mobility, especially in the domain of accessibility in the urban Indian context. His professional focus (by thinking global and acting locally) is to (a) Improve the mobility experience for the elderly and persons with disabilities in the pedestrian route of urban precincts or large-scale campuses in India, (b) Facilitate and upgrade the accessibility audit process for accessibility auditors in India, (c) Contribute to the global inclusivity call vis-à-vis UN-SDG 11 and UN-SDG 3. He is a licensed architect registered under the Council of Architecture, New Delhi, India. Besides, he is a registered member of the Architectural Institute of Japan (AIJ), a Life Member of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), and an Associate Member of the Institute of Town Planners, India (ITPI).

Prior to his present engagement, Dr. Gaurab had teaching experience at Hokkaido University in Sapporo, Japan (Teaching Assistant) and the School of Architecture, GITAM University in Visakhapatnam, India (Assistant Professor). He was also recruited by the Andhra Pradesh Urban Finance and Infrastructure Development Corporation (APUFIDC) in the capacity of Urban Planner to Kakinada Smart City in Andhra Pradesh. While working as an Urban Planner, he was instrumental in the implementation of street development projects like incorporating street-level signages (with braille signage) and preparing proposals for universally designed ‘Eat Street’ in Kakinada Smart City. Besides, he has also worked as an Architectural Consultant with Sanon Sen Associates Private Limited.

He received his Ph.D. in Architectural and Structural Design from the Laboratory of Architectural Planning at Hokkaido University, Japan sponsored by the prestigious Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, Government of Japan (MEXT) Scholarship. His doctoral research titled “Assessing the Accessibility of Footpaths at the Core of Old Indian Cities: The Universal Mobility Perspective” is considered path-defining research in the domain of the Indian accessibility scenario. Previously, he was also affiliated with the Hokkaido University as a Research Student. He completed his post graduation from the School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal (SPA-B) with a Master of Planning with a specialization in Urban and Regional Planning while receiving the GATE Scholarship from the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India. In SPA-B, he was the proud recipient of the Chairperson’s Gold Medal and Proficiency Gold Medal. Additionally, his post graduation thesis was adjudged as the Best Thesis and was later published as a book titled “Reinterpreting Urban Fabric in Cities with Living Heritage: The Case of Central Kolkata”. He completed his Bachelor of Architecture from the Piloo Mody College of Architecture under Biju Patnaik University of Technology, Rourkela, where his thesis titled “Socio-Economic Habitat in Guwati- The Design Process and Design Outcome” was awarded as the Best Thesis. Apart from this, he was also engaged as (a) a Doctoral Intern at Hikokonishi Architecture Inc., Sapporo, Japan, (b) a graduate Intern at SANDHI Cell, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India, and (c) an Undergraduate Intern at Space Design Group, New Delhi, India.

Dr. Gaurab has been the recipient of multiple international and national awards. He has won several scholarships and funding including the DIC scholarship for Innovative Research Funding by Design Innovation Centre, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India. He was also involved as the Primary Content Creator for “Building Accessible Safe Inclusive Indian Cities” (BASIIC) on behalf of the All-India Institute of Local Self-Government, India. His publications include (a) 19 journal publications, (b) 02 books, (c) 03 chapters, (d) 04 international conference proceedings, and (e) 04 magazine publications. Additionally, he has 06 conference presentations and has also edited 02 books. In addition to this, he has conducted 04 Academic coursework expert lectures for students, and 16 Invited talks/ lectures, including an expert lecture on Barrier-free and Universal Design strategies, titled “UNIVERSAL DESIGN: IT’S NOT JUST BARRIER-FREE OR INCLUSIVE DESIGN” during the Faculty Development program on "Sustainable Cities and Communities” organised by the Council of Architecture. Dr. Gaurab has also co-founded a Japanese start-up Beeber Global and written a short story book titled “P.S. Melancholy”. He has served in various leadership roles as well. 

Dr. Gaurab represents the young crowd of Indian contemporary architecture and planning, who always aim towards ingenuity in design and believe in creating a symbiotic relationship between academics and professionals. The desired outcome of his professional engagements is a thoughtful shift of designers towards a more humane design approach, thereby prioritizing the aspect of inclusivity in the built environment. Access his detaild CV here. [PDF 227KB]

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The Program Leads

Mr. Kiran P. Bhagwat 
Program Lead - Access Appraisals 

Kiran Bhagwat is a certified architect registered with the Council of Architecture in India, with over 14 years of extensive experience in the management of large-scale residential and commercial projects and developments. His expertise spans various facets, including conceptual design, schematic design, working drawing preparation, cost estimation, securing building and land approvals, meticulous site supervision, and efficient project management, including cashflow analysis. Kiran has notably contributed to the realization of multistoried high-rise residential and commercial buildings, as well as township projects across major cities in India, including Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Bangalore. His impressive portfolio also includes substantial involvement in Special Economic Zone (SEZ) projects for the Maharashtra State Textile Corporation (MSTC).

Kiran holds a Bachelor's degree in Architecture from Mumbai University, and he has further enriched his knowledge by completing a Masters in Design Research (with a focus on Disability) from London Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom. His research findings have been recognized and published by the Royal College of Art, London, in its prestigious INCLUDE Conferences, highlighting his significant contributions to the field of accessibility and design research. Kiran Bhagwat's wealth of experience and dedication to inclusive design make him an invaluable leader in the realm of Access Appraisals.



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