RDIF is a people-driven organization – right from the people who started it with a vision, to the people who work with us to bring change at the grassroots, to the people who support our work, and most importantly the people who we serve on the ground through our work. Committed, responsible people who are passionate to make a difference to the world around them are the backbone of RDIF.
OUR FOUNDERS
For Mr. Sekhar Pattanayak, rural communities were never defined by limitations — but by untapped potential.
With a vision to create sustainable and dignified transformation, he founded the Rural Development International Foundation (RDIF) as a holistic platform integrating education, healthcare, livelihood, women's empowerment, technology access, and human security.
Through initiatives like The PRAYAS, Donate PC, Srignite, and the SRI Security Research Institute, his leadership focuses on building strong platforms that encourage innovation, develop problem-solving skills, and promote digital inclusion.
His mission is simple yet powerful: enable access, build capacity, and inspire lasting change.
For Mrs. Kabita Pattanayak, service and compassion have always been a way of life. As the Co-Founder of RDIF and the mother of Mr. Sudhansu Pattanayak, she has been a guiding force behind the values that shape the organization's mission.
She firmly believes that empowered women, educated children, and healthy families form the foundation of strong and self-reliant communities.
Her nurturing leadership and unwavering commitment continue to inspire RDIF's journey toward building resilient, confident, and empowered communities.
Tech for Social Good Advisory Board
The Tech for Social Good Advisory Board drives the meaningful use of technology across all RDIF initiatives by applying digital innovation to address real social and community challenges in practical and sustainable ways. It ensures that technology solutions are inclusive, accessible, and community-centered, promoting responsible innovation and scalable digital platforms that empower people and advance RDIF's mission of creating lasting social impact.
The PRAYAS Advisory Board
The PRAYAS Advisory Board provides strategic guidance and thought leadership for RDIF’s flagship transformation initiative, The PRAYAS. It supports the design and implementation of integrated development models that address education, healthcare, livelihood, women’s empowerment, and community capacity building in a holistic manner. The Board ensures that PRAYAS remains impact-driven, scalable, and sustainable by strengthening governance, partnerships, and measurable outcomes, while keeping community participation and long-term self-reliance at the core of its approach.
Donate PC Advisory Board
The Donate PC Advisory Board provides strategic direction and oversight for RDIF’s digital inclusion initiative, Donate PC. It guides the development of structured, transparent, and scalable systems that enable responsible technology redistribution and meaningful access to digital tools. The Board ensures that the initiative goes beyond device donation by promoting digital literacy, responsible usage, and long-term capacity building. Through strong governance, partnerships, and impact measurement, it supports Donate PC in expanding equitable access to technology and empowering individuals with the skills needed for today’s digital world.
Srignite Advisory Board
The Srignite Advisory Board provides strategic direction for Srignite, a global platform by RDIF that enables industry experts and leaders to connect directly with schools, colleges, and universities. The Board guides the development of a structured and scalable engagement model that brings real-world industry knowledge into academic environments. It ensures quality, credibility, and meaningful outcomes by strengthening partnerships, defining standards, and aligning interactions with evolving skill and workforce needs. Through its leadership, Srignite supports RDIF’s mission of preparing students to become confident, industry-ready professionals.
Education Advisory Board
The Education Advisory Board guides RDIF in designing transformative educational programs that foster digital literacy, vocational training, and leadership skills among rural youth. The board ensures access to quality education, focusing on building future-ready citizens who are empowered to lead change, break generational poverty, and uplift their communities through knowledge, awareness, and social responsibility.
Health & Well-being Advisory Board
This board advises on strategies to integrate healthcare, nutrition, and sanitation within RDIF's development model. Recognizing the vital link between health and learning, the board focuses on preventive care, child wellness, maternal health, and access to essential services. Their insights help ensure that health challenges do not disrupt education or livelihood, enabling sustainable community development.
Livelihood Advisory Board
The Livelihood Advisory Board provides strategic direction for economic empowerment through skill development, entrepreneurship, and market linkages. By promoting digital tools, smart agriculture, and local enterprise models, the board works to bridge the rural-urban divide. Its goal is to create sustainable income pathways that reduce dependency and foster long-term financial independence within rural communities.
Women Empowerment Advisory Board
This board champions gender equity by guiding initiatives that build the capacities of rural women through education, health awareness, skill training, and entrepreneurship. Focused on empowering women as change agents, the board ensures that programs are inclusive, culturally sensitive, and impactful — strengthening families, improving child welfare, and driving community-wide transformation through female leadership.
Technology Advisory Board
The Technology Advisory Board ensures the seamless integration of digital innovation across RDIF programs. From e-learning to smart farming and digital entrepreneurship, the board offers expertise on leveraging emerging tech to solve rural challenges. It supports RDIF's goal of creating future-ready villages equipped with tools that foster connectivity, efficiency, and scalable impact.