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WHO WE ARE
WHO WE ARE
We are a digital media social enterprise founded in 2015 by a diverse team of rural and urban media practitioners, with over 20 years of experience producing local language content especially with and for rural audiences.
Chambal Media's mission is to bring the perspectives and involvement of women on the margins into the digital revolution in India.
With this vision, Chambal Media produces multimedia content on youth, gender, tech, culture, environment, climate change etc in different formats like short and long feature documentaries, animation, podcasts, photo features, academic digital videos, tool kits and live events on current issues for local, national, and international audiences.
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We believe that understanding society from the perspective of those most marginalised can be empowering and transformative and is necessary for social change; and that hyperlocal content produced by communities is key to hold the largest democracies up to accountability. With this vision, we enable and produce multimedia content on youth, gender, tech, culture, development, short feature documentaries and live debates on current issues for local, national and international audiences. We are interested in having the media product travel to the last mile, where engaging, accurate, relevant news and information, local and global, is rarely seen or heard. In order to bridge online and offline, highly engaged audiences, we use closed social media networks, as well as open platforms such as Youtube, and open-air community events. We also plan and execute customised digital media campaigns nationally.
WHAT WE DO
WHAT WE DO
MEET THE TEAM
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Management
Kavita Devi is the CEO at Chambal Media & Co-Founder of Khabar Lahariya, She is Bundelkhand’s first Dalit woman anchor to host her own news and views weekly, The Kavita Show. Kavita brings with her several years of field reporting, having started out as a reporter herself, and often reports on special stories even today. Viewed as a formidable figure of inspiration and empowerment locally, especially for women, Kavita is also a TED speaker.
Fun fact: Kavita is the Queen of pickle-making. Her to-die-for achaars are exclusive to our team and not for sale though, so stop asking us! She’s also a big-time animal lover, her home a haven for lost souls ranging from (the more regular) dogs and cats to cockatiels and cows!
Pooja Pande is a writer, editor, and TED speaker whose passion for intersectional feminism led her to Chambal Media. She is currently the co-CEO and is part of the core leadership team at Chambal Media. Her books include 'Red Lipstick' (Penguin Randomhouse, 2016), a literary-styled memoir of celebrity transgender rights activist Laxmi, and 'Momspeak' (Penguin Randomhouse, 2020), a first-of-its-kind feminist exploration of the institution and experience of motherhood in India.
Fun fact: If you’re having a good day, you’ll likely meet uber-professional and to-the-point Pooja who doesn’t like meandering conversations (“What’s the meeting agenda” is her favourite phrase). But if you find yourself hanging out with chilled-out-life-of-the-party Pooja, then you’re probably having the best day ever (We recommend/dare playing a few rounds of Never have I Ever with her!).
Priya, an independent documentary filmmaker and television producer based in New Delhi, is a Director at Chambal Media and part of the core leadership team. Her films have focused on women and gender, her stories windows into myriad experiences of sexuality, body, environment, and community, mapped from a feminist perspective. Priya has been directing, producing, and editing documentary films & television programmes for New Delhi Television, Fox Traveller, CNA, National Human Rights Commission of India, Films Division of India, Public Service Broadcasting Trust & Khabar Lahariya for over a decade now.
Fun fact: When she is not working, which is hardly ever, she video calls her dog Appu back in Kerala, and spends time with the plants in her home garden. If we spot a flower in Priya’s hair, we know it’s #gorgeoushairgoodmoodday
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News & Research
Meera Devi is the Managing Editor at Khabar Lahariya. With 12 years of reporting on rural issues, Meera specializes in investigative journalism and policy reporting. Her special reports have included lifting the curtains off the administrative apathy around the broken healthcare systems combating T.B.in the rural hinterland of U.P. She also hosts a show on local politics, titled Rajneeti, Ras, Raay.
Fun fact: Meera can trek her way up the beautiful waterfalls in Panna. In chappals!
Geeta Devi is the Chief Reporter at Khabar Lahariya and heads the UP region. Having joined the organization in 2009, her special reports on the environment, climate justice, resilience, and migration, including her deep dive investigative pieces have earned her great repute in the world of reportage, nationally. With her appearance in a Google News Initiative short, international as well.
Fun fact: The best dessert chef in Khabar Lahariya, Geeta gets it from her father – who used to be a halwai. Binging on TV serials and cookery shows is Geeta’s idea of fun.
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Outreach
Leading the Outreach team at Chambal Media, Harshita is a Digital Marketing professional by education & training her passion for creative marketing and social media, coupled with her ambition, creative energy, and passion for technology, has earned Harshita a place in the leadership team at Chambal Media today. A great team player, self-confessed legit Kanpuriya, Harshita's love for photography, deconstructing influencer cultures, and understanding impact are also key-value add-ons.
Fun fact: Harshita, the in-house Virus (of 3 Idiots fame) is a compulsive traveler and dreams of owning a cafe somewhere in the Hills – a space for readers, cyclists, and maggi lovers 🙂
Srishti works with the Outreach and Communications team at Chambal Media. An experienced media professional, she has previously worked with broadcast networks like NDTV and ScoopWhoop.
Fun fact: A self-confessed reluctant writer and amateur photographer, you’ll find Srishti exploring the bylanes of Bombay on weekends. A fan of Tintin comics, practical pranks, idlis, and tennis - not necessarily in that order - she tries her best to refrain from watching an unhealthy number of shows on Netflix. Word to the wise: Never engage with Srishti on the Federer v/s Nadal argument.
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Production
A native of Madhopur chhata village, from the Sheohar district of Bihar, joined Khabar Lahariya in 2010 as a reporter. She went on to run the Bihar edition of the print newspaper before moving onto the production side of things in the Delhi newsroom, where she headed the production desk and became Senior Producer at KL in 2015. Since 2019-20, Lakshmi has moved up as core leadership at Chambal Media,, where she currently leads the production of special features, including shorts, documentaries, podcasts, and animations. Through the years, Lakshmi has also garnered experience in the areas of anchoring, editing, and voice-over skills.
Fun fact: Lakshmi aka ‘office ki chhoti mummy’ (she loves pampering the team) has the best collection of sarees and make-up. We love her trips to Bihar because they mean snacks for us!
Megha is a film practitioner, based in New Delhi. She is presently working as a producer in Chambal Media. Her works have dealt with the subjects of climate change, gender, agriculture, and public healthcare policies. Her passion for story-telling and traveling has developed in her a nuanced understanding of the various themes she works around. She has also worked as a freelance editor, cinematographer, and sound recordist for documentaries. Her film Sudhamayee (2019), part of her diploma film project in Sri Aurobindo Centre for Arts and Communication, has won best film, best director, and special mention in prestigious film festivals across India. It is currently streaming on Mubi.
Fun Fact: Megha is the last one to stop dancing at a party! She is also a die-hard cricket fan, and for her, cricket starts and ends with - you’ve been warned - Virat. She is also an alleged fantastic cook but we cannot vouch for this and are tempted to term it ‘fake news'.
Jyotsana is a visual designer & illustrator. Her practice is experimental, playful, and human-centered with a focus on iconography. This approach has led to a multi-disciplinary portfolio in food and lifestyle, music, social development, and other design communication projects. She’s also a plant enthusiast, who lives with her aquatic pets in New Delhi.
Fun fact: One can talk to Jyotsana endlessly – that’s true, conversations with her are delightful! If you’re having a dull conversation with Jyo, it can only mean one thing: YOU are dull.
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HR & Finance
Umra heads HR and admin in Chambal Media private limited. She carries an experience in teaching as well. She completed her graduation in Commerce from Allahabad university. A strong believer in the power of positive thinking in the workplace, Umra regularly develops some internal meetings to assist employees with effective mental health and team building. Umra enjoys a good web series binge but can also be found on short vacations in the mountains.
Fun fact: A Banda local, Umra is a legit Delhi girl today - your best city guide who’ll happily take you around the haunts and sights if she’s not sleeping (which to her is a competitive sport of sorts). When - not if - they make a movie about her life, it would star Alia Bhatt, we just know it. Until that movie though, might we suggest City Girls?
Radhika leverages over 14 years of experience in Accounting and Finance services for MSMEs, especially for foreign corporations setting up operations in India. She specializes in playing the finance controller role for emerging businesses. In her career, Radhika has handled myriad intertwined accounting and finance situations with aplomb. Her experience covers industries such as computer software, ITeS, wealth management, structural design, recruitment, etc.
Fun fact: Radhika is a qualified classical singer. She also loves reading and traveling.
Chetan leverages over a decade of experience in matters related to taxation and business advisory. He specializes in tax advisory and representation, transaction advisory services, CFO services, and conciliation services. Chetan has handled multiple notable engagements in his career and his experience spans multiple industries such as Information Technology, Manufacturing, Investment Advisory, and Not-for-profits.
Fun fact: Chetan is a chess enthusiast.
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Founding Members
Disha, the co-founder of Chambal Media, has a long-standing experience working in publishing and print media. She has a master's degree in Gender Studies from the University of Warwick and is an Acumen and South Asia Speaks writing fellow.
Fun fact: Disha has a love-hate relationship with writing (her not-so-hidden talent!) and is the go-to fitness guide for one and all.
Shalini Joshi, from the founding team of KL, is a Program Director for Training and Network at Meedan. As a regional lead, Shalini is involved in expanding Meedan's work and its global network in the Asia Pacific region, and brings her experience and expertise as a board member of Chambal Media.
Fun fact: A true blue pahadi, Shalini is finally living her dream as a proud homeowner in the hills of Uttarakhand, playing Mamma to the canine loves of her life Momo and Malta.