Dr Indrani Lahiri did her MSc (Botany) from Jodhpur University, Rajasthan , India and PhD from Dept. of Mycology and Plant Pathology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, (IARI), New Delhi, India.
She has been the recipient of University Gold Medal and the Amarchand Surana Gold medal for standing first in MSc in the order of merit, recipient of IARI Senior Scholarship to do her PhD at IARI, New Delhi ,as also recipient of DST Young Scientist Scheme of Dept Of Science and Technology (DST) GOI.
Post PhD she worked at Advanced Center for Plant Virology (ACPV) at IARI, New Delhi for two years as Research Associate in a World bank project on Identification and Characterisation of Plant Pathogenic Viruses, from where she joined Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi . At present she is posted at Center for Online Education (COE) at IGNOU HQ, New Delhi.
She has served on Deputation as Project Coordinator at Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC), New Delhi, Ministry of Agriculture, GoI, working on promoting Agri entrepreneurship through central sector scheme “Setting up of a Network of Agriclinics and Agribusiness Centers by Agriculture Graduates”, as also working at other Agribusiness Ventures across the country. She was Advisor to SFAC even after completion of her deputation period.
At IGNOU she has served across departments at HQ and Regional level working at development of ODL courses as well as their delivery to learners through the IGNOU Open and Distance Learning System Network.
At School of Agriculture, IGNOU she worked as Program Coordinator for developing 16 distance learning courses for certificate, diploma and masters degree in Agriculture Policy, some of which were developed in association with International Food Policy Research Institute ( IFPRI ) Washington. She was Coordinator of 24 hr Television Channel for Agriculture, The Kisan Channel of Min of Agriculture, GoI. Among other activities she also coordinated with IFPRI on CGIARs Global Open Food and Agriculture University initiative-GOFAU ( now called AGROCURI ) leading to MOU between GOFAU and IGNOU.
At Regional Services Division RSD at IGNOU HQs, she was responsible for work involving Student Services Committee, a standing committee of the IGNOU BOM, as well as promoting IGNOUs presence among weaker sections of the society SC/ST, Tribals, Economically and Educationally Backward Communities and Minorities, and at unreached locations. She was nominated as the first Incharge for operationalising the newly formed single window Student Services Center at IGNOU HQs New Delhi and since then has worked extensively on Student support. At Regional center level she has worked with Urban as well as Rural based learners as also learners in difficult and conflict zones.
Dr Indrani has been the Chairperson of Parishram Cell, AWWA, where she worked towards providing employment opportunities to War widows, (Veer Naris), and dependents of Indian Army Personnel, and Chairperson for Regional Services Division Committee Against Sexual Harassment (RSDCASH) at IGNOU. She has delivered lectures at womens forums and as invitee during womens’ day events.
She has 25 years of experience and training in diverse roles such as Agriculture Scientist, Academic administrator, Open and distance learning professional, Delivery of Online learning courses through Moocs LMS, promoting Women Empowerment and has experience in working in urban, rural and difficult areas including conflict zones.
During her career she has undertaken several trainings for Professionals and Students, organized and conducted workshops, published and presented papers and policy documents. Due to her diverse background, she has also been working on issues related to promoting Agriculture and Rural development in Border disturbed regions of our country through the use of Open and Distance learning and presented papers on this area at Commonwealth of Learning (COL) and Association of Asian Open Universities (AAOU) conference.
Her present interest is in working towards success of Online programmes of IGNOU.
