The WRAG Team
Core Staff
Saumya Uma has served as Co-Director of WRAG from 2002-2008, and
presently works in the capacity of Executive Director. She is a human
rights lawyer and activist. She is a British Chevening scholar on human
rights (1998-99). She graduated from National Law School of India, Bangalore
in 1994; completed her first LL.M. in family law and human rights
from Bombay University in 1998, and completed her second LL.M. in
international human rights from the University of Nottingham, U.K. in
1999. From 1994 to 1998, she practised as a lawyer representing women
in cases of domestic violence in the Bombay High Court and Family
Court. She has earlier worked with Majlis – a women’s organization -
and with India Centre for Human Rights & Law. She has worked as the
Coordinator of ICC-India: the Indian campaign on International Criminal Court since its
inception in 2000 till date. As part of her work, she conducts information dissemination
programmes on law and human rights with varied groups including lawyers, academics,
police, students of law and social work, human rights activists, women, adolescent girls
and youth, particularly from underprivileged and minority communities. She has also
been closely associated with the campaign on Communal Violence Bill and the Campaign
for Implementation on Srikrishna Commission report that made findings on the Mumbai
communal violence of 1992-93. She has authored two books on the International Criminal
Court and India, which have been published in 2004 and 2005 respectively, a book on
Supreme Court judgments on Muslim law and women’s rights titled ‘Supreme Court
Speaks’ in 2007 and edited a reader on human rights titled ‘Unpackaging Human Rights:
Concepts, Campaigns and Concerns’ in 2009. Her field of specialization is women’s rights,
human rights and the law.
Akthari Sheikh is a para-professional social worker who has worked
with WRAG as a Field Officer for the Saheli Project, from 2003. She is
the President of the Saheli group and undertakes capacity-building and
advocacy activities with groups of single women living in communities,
directing her efforts towards developing peer leadership. She is a core
committee member of Aekal Mahila Adhikar Sangharsh Sanghatan and
an active member of the National Forum for Single Women’s Rights.
She is a member of mohalla committee set up by the police department
for communal harmony, and a member of zopadpatti police panchayat
where police and social workers jointly address community-related
issues. Currently she is also studying for her graduation entrance exams
from SNDT Women’s University, Mumbai. She has been awarded
‘Savitribai Phule Struggle and Network Award’ for her commitment to single women’s
issues in February 2009 by the state level network of single women.
Khatoon Sheikh has over fifteen years of work experience in working with women in
marginalized communities. She has worked as Project Officer for the Mahila Mandals Project
of Community Outreach Programme, where she has helped to secure valuable contacts
with qazis, police, governmental authorities, and mahila mandals alike. She has headed
Hukook-e-Niswaan (Rights of Women) - a federation of mahila mandals (community-based
organizations) in Mumbai consisting of a membership of over 25 mahila mandals.Her able leadership in the federation has given visibility to community
women’s demands for reform of Muslim family law. She has now
enrolled with the SNDT Women’s University, Mumbai for completing
her graduation studies. She has been appointed by the state government
as a member of a committee constituted to implement the
recommendations given by Sachar Committee report. She is presently
the Maharashtra State Convenor for Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan.
She is also the recipient of seven awards including Rajeev Gandhi Award
for Best Social Worker from Yuva foundation, National Education award
given by Priya Dutt (member of Parliament), the late Achyutrao Apte
award and Savitri Bai Phule Award for her work and commitment on
women’s issues.
Leena K.K. is the longest serving member of WRAG, having been with
the organization since its inception in 1993. She played an active role
during the data collection and assimilation phase of the action-research
titled Women & Law in the Muslim Community (1994-98). She now
works with WRAG in the capacity of Accounts Assistant and is
responsible for office administration and accounts. Over the years she
has assisted WRAG in organizing various state and national level
meetings and conferences. She is also responsible for coordination of
WRAG’s resource material and is actively involved with the distribution
of WRAG publications.
Shilpa Kashelkar-Nipunge completed her Masters in Social Work from
College of Social Work Nirmala Niketan, holds a diploma in counseling
psychology from St. Xavier’s Institute, Mumbai and a post-graduate
degree in Research Methodology in Social Sciences from Mumbai
University. Her prior experience in the social field includes
empowerment projects for women living with HIV/AIDS and women
in sex work. Her areas of special interest include mental health of
women and rights of single and destitute women. She joined WRAG
in 2001. Soon afterwards, she initiated Saheli – a project on
empowerment of single and destitute women from marginalized
communities. Now, in her capacity as Project Coordinator at WRAG,
she coordinates various activities of the Community Outreach
Programme. She has authored a publication titled ‘Our Voice’ – a study
on needs of single and destitute women in Mumbai, in 2006. She is a founder member of
Aekal Mahila Adhikar Sangharsh Sanghatan - a network of single women’s rights and National
Forum for Single Women’s Rights. She has assisted in WRAG’s campaign on Muslim
family law. She also coordinates research and publication programme of WRAG. She is a
member of the Anti-Trafficking Committee established by the state government for
Mumbai and Thane districts, and works closely with the police crime branch in this
regard. She has been awarded the Vocational Excellence and Humanitarian Service Award
from Rotary Club of Bombay Juhu Beach and Dombivili for her commitment in the social
field in October 2007 and November 2008 respectively. She is also the recipient of Social
Service Award from Tilaknagar Social & Cultural Group of Dombivili in May 2009 for
her social work and commitment on women’s issues.
Suraiyya Razzak is a para-professional social worker, with a passion
for community work with women. She joined WRAG in 2001 after
completing Standard XII. She has worked as the Project Officer for the
adolescent girls' project of the Community Outreach Program, and has
been actively involved with the capacity-building of six girls’ groups
and a group of youth and men living in communities. She has joined
the SNDT Women's University for completing her graduation studies.
She is a member of mohalla committee set up by the police department
for communal harmony, and a member of zopadpatti panchayat where
police and social workers jointly address community-related issues.
She has been awarded the Best Social Worker Award called Maitri Yuva
Gaurav Puruskar by the Maitri Organization, Mumbai in 2005.