Rituparna Neog
Founder- Director

Rituparna Neog

Rituparna Neog is a queer rights activist, social worker, and library educator with deep roots in grassroots community work across Assam. Born and raised in a remote village in Jorhat, her lived experience as a trans woman growing up in rural Assam has shaped her unwavering commitment to advancing gender justice, education, and queer rights. With a Master's degree in Social Work from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Guwahati, Rituparna brings years of experience in community mobilisation, nonprofit management, participatory learning, and leadership development. She has led initiatives focused on children, youth, women, and LGBTQIA+ communities, with a special emphasis on transgender empowerment and free community library development.

Rituparna founded the Akam Foundation to assert the rights of herself and her community. Her vision is grounded in the belief that social transformation must be community-led, culturally rooted, and deeply intersectional.

She is also a nationally recognised voice in queer advocacy. Rituparna currently serves as:

-Associate Vice Chairperson, State Transgender Welfare Board, Government of Assam -North East India Representative, National Council of Transgender Persons, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India
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Our Advisory Council

Dr. Sathyashree Goswami

Development Professional, SRHR Advocate

Dr. Sathyashree is a senior development professional from Assam currently based out of Bangalore. She was a co-founder of Rural Volunteer Centre in Assam during the early 2000s and has worked with organizations such as National Foundation for India and CRY. She has been working with youth, women, and sex workers on SRHR for a long time.

Dr. Sunita Agarwal

Vice Principal, Dispur College

Dr. Sunita Agarwal is Retired. Vice Principal of Dispur College and an eminent teacher on education. She has written textbooks for undergraduate students of Bodoland University. A passionate individual on social issues, and also a translator. Now in her retirement innings, she is actively working with NGOs and translating Assamese literature into Hindi.

Prof. Polly Vauquline

Professor, Dept. of Women’s Studies, Gauhati University

Prof. Vauquline has been a prominent contributor to the feminist movement in north-east India for over two decades. As an academic, her work in the women's rights movement is widely appreciated. She has also served as an expert member in ICC with Airport Authority of India, Guwahati Airport, and as a Former Governing Board Member with North East Network.

Sadam Hanjabam

Founder & Director, Ya_All Manipur

Sadam is a queer rights activist based in Imphal, Manipur. He is recognized for his work on mental health within the queer community and promoting transgender inclusion in sports. He has represented India at international platforms, including the United Nations, advocating for the queer community in northeastern India.

Governing Body

Dr. Amrita Pritam Gogoi

Assistant Professor, Dibrugarh University

Dr. Amrita is an indigenous woman with a PhD from TISS, Guwahati. She specializes in ecology, gender, and conflict within academic spaces and is actively involved in the feminist and queer rights movements in Assam, particularly in Upper Assam.

Mayuri Deka

Queer Rights Activist, Poet, PhD Scholar

Mayuri Deka, a queer rights activist and poet from Assam, has revolutionized Assamese literature with their queer poetry. They are actively involved in promoting feminist ideals in Assam.

Purnima Rao

Free Library Activist, Director, Free Libraries Network

Purnima Rao is a documentary filmmaker and free library activist. She started volunteering with The Community Library Project in Delhi in 2015 and now serves as the Director of Free Libraries Network, India.

Bhukhan Jyoti Gogoi

Bhukhan Jyoti Gogoi

Program Associate

Hailing from Tengakhat, Bhukhan has been involved with Akam Foundation since its inception as a volunteer and is now working as a full-time team member. Bhukhan is involved in the Access to Rights and Entitlements program for trans* queer individuals in Assam. He has an M.A. in Women’s Studies from Dibrugarh University, Assam.

Dipjyoti Buragohain

Dipjyoti Buragohain

Junior Associate

Hailing from Dhemaji, Dipjyoti has been involved in Akam Foundation since January 2025, involved mostly in mobilizing community members for community gatherings and assisting in organizing community events and workshops. Dipjyoti creates the content for the organisation’s communication. Dipjyoti is a graduate in Assamese Literature from Dibrugarh University.

Kasturi Saikia

Kasturi Saikia

Community Mobilizer

Kasturi Saikia is from Dibrugarh, Assam. She is currently working as a Community Mobilizer with Akam Foundation. She is mainly involved in community mobilization work, field activities, and assisting with administrative tasks. She holds a Diploma in Textile Design from Residential Girls’ Polytechnic, Golaghat.

Lahon Lipi

Lahon Lipi

Program Associate

A non-binary person from Jorhat has been instrumental in shaping the Akam Foundation since its inception. Lipi is involved in mobilising the queer community in Upper Assam, with a focus on Jorhat. Their current focus is on research as well as capacity-building programs and awareness initiatives at the college level, and managing the organisation’s communication wing. They have an M.A. in Women’s Studies from Gauhati University, Assam.

Mayurjyoti Borah

Mayurjyoti Borah

Finance & Admin Associate

Mayur Borah is from Sivasagar, Assam. He supports the finance and administrative work of the organisation. He has over two years of experience in accounting, financial reporting, and monitoring, and has worked with banks and NGOs. Mayur holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounts and Finance, Commerce from Dibrugarh University.

Munmi Borah

Munmi Borah

Program Coordinator

Munmi Borah hails from Sivasagar, Assam. She has over three years of experience in coordinating and implementing social development programmes. She works in the areas of gender equality, youth empowerment, health and WASH across Assam. Munmi holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from Mizoram University.

Nabajyoti Hazarika

Nabajyoti Hazarika

Program Associate

Nabajyoti, a non-binary person, hailing from Jorhat, has been working with Akam Foundation since its inception. Nabajyoti, a graduate in Anthropology from Dibrugarh University, is involved in the program and operation vertical of Akam Foundation. They are currently pursuing an MSW from TISS, Guwahati, Assam.

Trishan Jyoti Gogoi

Trishan Jyoti Gogoi

Community Mobiliser

Trishan has been involved in Akam Foundation since January 2025, involved mostly in mobilizing community members for community gatherings and assisting in organizing community events and workshops.