Nitesh is a Senior Engagement Associate at The Council, where he supports stakeholder engagement and strategic implementation for large-scale public programmes in Uttar Pradesh.

At CEEW, Nitesh works closely with senior officials from the Government of Uttar Pradesh, including the Commissioner, Rural Development, UPSRLM, UPPCL, district administrations, and other state-level institutions across 75 districts. His work primarily focuses on the Vidyut Sakhi programme, a women-led energy service delivery initiative that aims to strengthen rural livelihoods while improving last-mile electricity services. More recently, he has also started contributing to CEEW’s work on the PM-KUSUM programme, supporting clean energy transitions and decentralised renewable energy initiatives in the agriculture sector.

Since joining CEEW, Nitesh has played a key role in supporting the Vidyut Sakhi programme, which has generated more than INR 2,700 crore in revenue out of a total collection of nearly INR 3,300 crore. The programme has also created livelihood opportunities for thousands of rural women, particularly in the energy sector, which has traditionally been male-dominated.

Prior to joining CEEW, Nitesh worked with PRADAN, where he engaged extensively with grassroots communities, including Gond, Baiga, and Korku tribal groups. His work centred around rural livelihoods, community mobilisation, and strengthening local institutions through participatory development approaches.

Nitesh holds a degree in Civil Engineering and a Post Graduate Diploma in Forestry Management from the Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopal.

Outside of work, Nitesh enjoys travelling to new places, exploring local cuisines, and interacting with local communities to better understand their culture, stories, and lived realities.