Sharmila Deo

Senior Program Associate

A decade ago, I engaged in environmental education leading a program at a few tribal schools in a rural area in Maharashtra, and contributed to children’s book writing. After joining Parisar to support its core work of mobility, a turning point came when a group of deeply knowledgeable and passionate air quality professionals visited Parisar. Through our conversations, I began to understand the profound impact of air pollution on human health. We realised that if we were to truly work towards sustainable cities and the well-being of citizens, the right to clean air had to become a central focus of our work.

This led me to study and engage with the issue in greater depth. Over time, we have built a collective of citizens from diverse backgrounds who, despite bringing different expertise and experiences, are united by a shared commitment to improving air quality.

Currently, I work as a Senior Program Associate at Parisar, where I anchor the Pune Air Action Hub, lead citizen awareness initiatives, and engage in advocacy with concerned authorities.

I love bird-watching, spending time in Nature, going for long walks, playing Scrabble, and drinking chai with friends.