Poonam Muttreja

Poonam Muttreja is the Executive Director of the Population Foundation of India (PFI) in New Delhi. The organization is a leading think tank that works toward the implementation of gender sensitive population policies, sexual and reproductive health, and development strategies. She has more than forty years of experience in development – and has set up and led several NGOs, contributing to policy and advocacy, creatively building a field, improving organizational capacity, strengthening communications for social good, promoting innovations and scaling up pilots, making grants, teaching, advising, and mentoring.

Poonam has co-conceived the popular, transmedia initiative, Main Kuch Bhi Kar Sakti Hoon - I, A Woman, Can Achieve Anything launched by PFI in 2014. In its third season, the program has introduced an Artificial Intelligence powered chat bot – SnehAI, a first of its kind initiative for a behavior change communication initiative in India. Poonam holds an undergraduate degree from Delhi University and a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard University. Poonam serves on the governing council of several non-governmental organizations and is a regular commentator in India and globally for television and the print media.

 

A woman walks past a graffiti on a street, amidst the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Mumbai, India, May 10, 2021.
Governance

COVID in India: Drawing Lessons From its Biggest Public Health Crisis

by Poonam Muttreja

India needs to address inequities in rural health-care access, quality and infrastructure

A million blooming flowers—and then some! Here a woman works inside her mustard field on the outskirts of Srinagar, India, on March 26, 2015. The photo shows a woman bending over in a field of bright yellow blossoms. REU-TERS/Danish Ismail
Governance

We Must Let a Million Flowers Bloom

by Poonam Muttreja

For India to thrive, the voluntary, non-governmental organization sector must survive

Migrant workers and homeless people wait on the banks of Yamuna river in Delhi on April 15, 2020, as police arrange buses to transfer them to shelters after India extended a nationwide lockdown. This is an eerie and haunting photo with several people sitting on the ground in an outdoor location in low lighting. They are bathed in a dark red light. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis
Migration

Coronavirus in India

by Poonam Muttreja

Mitigating the health effects of COVID-19 beyond the immediate

A mother kisses her child as she walks past graffiti in Mumbai on March 27, 2014. The image is striking with a large, artistic image behind a woman who is walking and holding a child. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui
Gender

Human Development is the Best Contraceptive—Why India Does Not Need a Two-Child Norm

by Poonam Muttreja

Key to harnessing potential of India is enhancing capabilities of young people and expanding freedoms of girls and women