An interview with Dr. Madhu Sharan, a Sociologist in the Development Sector.

Dr. Madhu Sharan is a Livelihoods and Gender Specialist with over two decades of extensive field research and global work experience in facilitating social and economic empowerment of rural women in India. As President of a leading NGO in India, Hand in Hand India, she oversees projects related to women empowerment, financial inclusion skilling and entrepreneurship among women living at the bottom of the pyramid across several states of India. Prior to this, she has worked as a Consultant with several bi-lateral and multilateral organizations including the Asian Development Bank, GIZ, and DFID for monitoring and evaluating projects related to financial inclusion, gender equality and development. Dr. Sharan is a sociologist, having completed her graduation from Delhi University and her post-graduation, M Phil and PhD in Sociology from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. In all her works, both theoretical and practical, Madhu has relentlessly advocated the cause of women’s inclusion and participation in the work force to enable them to achieve economic independence, self-reliance and ultimately, greater gender equality in society.