Dr. Sweta Rajpurohit, batch PFM 2007-09, is currently the Programme Director (Climate Change) with Centre for Environment Education (CEE) India. She is based out of Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Previously, she has worked with CEPT Research and Development Foundation (CRDF), CEPT University as Environmental Expert and Sr. Researcher and with GEER Foundation as Manager (Climate Change and Forestry).
She works on various aspects of climate change (research, policy, action and education), forest and biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services valuation as well as related capacity building and training. Currently, she is focusing on translating climate policies into climate actions.
She has successfully completed many projects in the field of climate change and sustainability which include policy recommendation for climate change education integration in school ecosystem and beyond, planning and implementing adaptation interventions for natural resource dependent communities under the National Adaptation Fund on Climate Change (NAFCC) Project of Government of India, conservation mapping of LRK under the BCRLIP Project of the World Bank. She has published the first sub-national level emissions inventory for the state of Gujarat that comprehensively covered all emissions categories and subcategories included in IPCC guidelines. She has published research papers, reports, action plans and a book on different aspects of climate change, forestry and conservation she has worked on.
She completed her PhD from CEPT University on the subject of environmental economics in the year 2017. She is also an alumnus of a premier professional exchange program sponsored by the US Department of States called ‘International Visitor Leadership Program’ (IVLP) which she attended in 2015.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sweta-rajpurohit/
Insta: @sweta_r_purohit
Twitter: @SwetaRajpurohit
FB: Sweta R Purohit
Q. How has been your journey from IIFM so far?
A. IIFM gave me the first break to a place I ought to be in – Gandhinagar (I was to get married there). I must say it was very coincidental that for the first time, GEER Foundation had come to IIFM for campus placement (God sent!).
Since then, till date, one after another, assignments, learnings and experiences of all colors is what the journey has been about. And I tried to keep it around what I always love to work on – climate change and sustainability. I can see myself moving – from climate change research, policy analysis and trainings in the initial half to actual project implementation and bridging policy gaps in the second half of the journey – trying to do what was not done before. At every step, this journey has been fulfilling!
Q. What were some of the key milestones/learning in this journey that you would like to share with us?
A. There have been some small and big milestones in these 14 years of journey now. Small ones included recognitions in the government sector and funders for my works while big ones included getting selected for the IVLP programme of the US Dept of States in 2015, completing my PhD in 2017 while also publishing a few reports and articles on my work.
One can never cease to learn, and there have been countless learnings. One of the learnings worth mentioning has been that there is much being said and done at global and national levels, but the real action happens at ground level. Hence taking that experience is very essential – going out and working with the communities, and becoming a means to finding solutions to their problems. That, I guess, would bring the needed fire and satisfaction in the work.
Q. What is the most satisfying part in your career?
A. Working in the area of my interest and connecting with so many amazing people in the field and the workspaces on the way has been the most satisfying part of my career. I am happy that we could see positive change and happiness in the lives of communities we worked for, especially the women. More recently, the work I am involved with at CEE brings me much satisfaction to be working for children, youth and other communities on climate change and sustainability issues.
Q. Has your learning at IIFM helped in shaping how you approach your professional roles?
A. Cent percent; IIFM provided us the core understanding of the concepts and ideas related to climate change that helped us build on in professional circles. This, together with the unique blend of mainstream management subjects made us a complete package for technical-cum-managerial roles. The tech. savvy courses that got us hands-on with GIS, MIS, SPSS, modeling etc. were a boost especially in my research projects and PhD.
At IIFM, being exposed to challenges and problems to deal with in real life through case-studies in classrooms and through internships and field visits were a wonderful learning experience. I clearly remember the interactions with forest officials, villagers and SHG members during our field visit to Karnataka which were revealing. Meetings with officials of Bhopal Development Authority and EPCO for my CIS (Course on Independent Study) was another practical exposure to deal with issues of development and environment through government systems and people’s welfare at the center. Plus, my internship with GUDC helped me understand government functioning and initiatives better.
Q. Who (or what) are the biggest influences or drivers in your careers? What would be your advice to freshers and IIFM graduates who are looking to choose similar sectors/roles.
A. I owe all that I am today to my parents. My mother has been my constant ‘life coach’ who I looked up to for deriving inspiration. She is a very strong-willed person who is way ahead of her time in achievements and still deeply rooted, and my father has been my strongest support.
As for my career, I must admit that my trajectory has been self-paced; I never ran behind positions or opportunities. But yes, it still had influences. Dr. C. N. Pandey, Retd. IFS, Prof. Amit Garg, IIM Ahd, Sh. Kartikeya Sarabhai, Director CEE are the prominent names of mentors in this journey.
If one would like to work in the similar sector, then I would advise some liking and go-getting for field experiences. It is important to know how the world works in the villages, in coastal areas, in forests, in rural schools or n-number of other places that one can only understand by being there; who are the actors, what exists that can be leveraged and what next can be proposed for making things better – all these insights are a wealth that can enrich every project one will work on. And second is linking this and those who take decisions – all in all – try best to bridge the gaps between policy and practice – trust me, there is much work needed to be done there and its never enough!
Q. How did you decide to go for higher studies post IIFM? And how was the experience?
A. This drift to pursue PhD besides working just happened, and I do give some credit to the fact that I had to work with and manage a team of researchers and PhDs. Tagging this experience just ‘overwhelming’ will be meager; doing this together with a full-time job, children and family responsibilities was something to write a book on! Just kept moving in the hope to see the end of tunnel sooner enough! And that’s how it happened. The lion share of credit goes to my husband whose all-important support enabled me to complete the journey. It did bring lots of joy, content and recognition in the end, worth every effort!
Q. What are your favorite memories during your IIFM days?
A. As all would agree, at IIFM, we make memories every day and relive them through the tangible and intangible takeaways. Every memory was special. Our first interactions with seniors, batchmates and professors was very memorable (for all the good and bad reasons😊) and so were the memories of having fun with friends (anytime anywhere!), the field trips, the lectures, the mess, the food, Kalpataru performances, sports days, club events at 119, vivid internships, our assignment and project presentations (can’t stop laughing at this moment! 😀 believe me, just read your assignments and presentations after some years). Can’t miss to highlight the Holi celebration we did, and the 12’o clock birthday parties! Ours was a very talented batch when it came to performing arts. There were so many good singers, instrumentalists, dancers and mono-actors – Snehashish, Sharmila, Siddharth, Ashish Tirkey, Dhruv, Nitish, Shweta Sharma, Gitesh – just enjoyed their performances to the core whether on the stage or off it! Our professors were no less, I remember the songs Prof. Madhu Verma sang for us on our batch’s farewell event, what an amazing singer she is! She also got a prominent Hindustani classical guru of Bhopal to train our Batch’s coir group on one of my favorite Saraswati Vandana “Hey Sharde Ma..”. Those were the best days of my life😊.
Q. In hindsight, what was the biggest contribution (courses, faculty, library, friends, alumni.. Anything else!!) from IIFM that you think played a critical role in shaping you as an individual or professional?
A. All of it actually. The unique blend of managerial and niche technical skills and competencies that we imbibed at IIFM was a very big plus for us when we moved out. Also, the faculties, who worked so hard in designing and delivering the courses that were not just contemporary but also provided practical linkages, who mentored us on various academic and non-academic fronts – they were the real contributors in igniting this journey. I owe so much to our dear professors – Prof. Madhu Verma, Prof. CVRS, Prof. Yogesh Dubey, Prof. Manmohan Yadav, Prof. Suparva Patnaik, Prof. CS Rathore, Prof. Biswas, Prof. H. S. Gupta and Prof. Rekha Singhal.
Adding to it, our beautiful campus that never ceased to mesmerize, the infrastructure and all the support staff – gave us whatever remained in facilitating us to the pursuit of our journey there are thereafter. Couldn’t have asked for more! As in case with all of us, I also took away some lasting relations with friends and faculties, and of course our strong network of alumni. Can’t recollect a professional event where I didn’t find an IIFM’ite😊.
Q. As an alumni, what’s your advice to freshers or those are joining IIFM to get best out of the 2 years there?
A. My advice to the freshers would be to make the most of the time you are there. IIFM has something to offer for everyone’s interest! You can certainly find that interest within studies, co-curricular activities, or even in the many informal discussions with professors or fellow students. So, learn, unlearn, read, think, question and participate in the many events that keep happening all year round, I think anyone can easily grab atleast one trophy before leaving IIFM😊.
Secondly, never miss the opportunity of field tours, visits etc. that IIFM offers, interact with stakeholders whom you meet in such visits, these learnings will be precious.
Q. What was your typical day at the work? And how does it look like while you are on a break?
A. Typical day starts with sending kids to school, and that’s an action-packed time equivalent to a good workout session😊.
Heading to the office is the next, and these days I travel between two cities. Thanks to the revamped highway between Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad, it doesn’t take that much time as earlier. I and my husband try to go together, and that’s the best time we can talk and discuss so many stuffs.
At the office, things are waiting to be taken up. Typically attending emails, meetings and calls, overlooking project tasks, coordinating with involved people, preparing write-ups and reports. Often, it also involves deliberating programme strategy with colleagues and team, travel pertaining to field work or events, meeting new people and pitching projects to funders. I have a habit of making a to-do list for the office and ensuring that the tasks on the list are ticked before calling off the day, which sometimes means sitting late. My day ends with listening to stories of children on how their day went. Household work fills up the space in between.
Long breaks are a rarity, if I can muster that time, I would love to go to my parents. The only surely happening break I look forward to are the weekends, and that’s totally for children.
Q. And how about weekends, hobbies, family and anything else you want to add?
A. Weekends are somewhat lazy days though also making sure of doing the end-of-week worklist, spending time with children and socializing. My family is socially active, and we make sure to be there for every social gathering, event or function that keeps happening frequently. Many times, I am running between these and the office. We love hosting our near and dear ones at home over weekends, so that’s another something I enjoy doing.
Talking about hobbies, down the line some years as children grow up, I hope I will be able to find time for pursuing my resting hobbies that include sketching, poetry and writing, while I also aspire to nurturing a piece of land.
Q. Favorite Books, movies, authors?
A. I love the beautiful insights and narrations of Sir David Attenborough in all his series on our Natural Worlds, he is so far the best in this. I also enjoy watching Young Sheldon, The Good Doctor series and Panchayat series when I can find time. For books, I love reading ‘joy-to-read’ genera like The Inimitable Jeeves (old and classic), Elenor Oliphant is completely fine. I also liked reading the ‘self-help’ genera like Atomic Habits and The Alchemist and I look forward to also reading the Power of Now and Big Magic. For movies, I enjoy all kinds of science fiction movies – Interstellar being top of the list.
Q. IIFM is driven by alumni’s passion and commitments towards its goal. How would you like to contribute to IIFM or IIFM alumni, students? Your engagement with IIFM Placement or OT/SI?
A. I am up and ready to support in ways like having discussions with students, mentoring them if they want to work in this field and provide connects and leads of other experts in this field. CEE also open to student internship programme, so those interested to work here can approach me for this also.
Q. What do you think is different at IIFM now vs when you studied there?
A. There must have been many changes after 2009, I am not be aware of them all. The one welcome change that I am aware of is a new course on sustainability management – which again no other Institute is offering. And IIFM’ites from this course can go long way in various areas from responsibly implementing and leading CSRs to various multilateral projects looking into sustainability as a crosscutting aspect.
Q. Any suggestions on who you want to get profiled/interviewed here?
A. IIFM has a long list of big-time achievers as its alumni and thanks to the efforts of IIFMight.com Team that we get to read about one inspiring profile every week!
From my batch, if not already interviewed, must go for are Munish Sikka, Dhaval Negandhi, Saurabh Singh, Ashish Tirkey, Siddharth Mani, Snehasish, Rewasa, Bela Arora, Vertika Shukla, Shweta Sharma, Varun Dudeja and Vikram Singh.