India’s #1 Platform for NGO Support, Social Sector Jobs & Development Consulting.
Founder, Development Wala. Social entrepreneur and development practitioner.
Building a more connected development ecosystem.
I work at the intersection of people, organisations, knowledge and opportunity, with a long term focus on strengthening the infrastructure around social and economic development.
Grassroots practice in Jharkhand, development studies in India and London, and a platform built for the sector that shaped him.
Kumar Preetam Puri is a social entrepreneur and development practitioner whose work has grown from grassroots development in Jharkhand into a wider effort to connect talent, organisations, knowledge and opportunity.
He is the Founder of Development Wala and Co Founder of Gramin Bharti Sewa Sanstha. His experience spans grassroots programmes, development education, community support, organisational work and the UK charity sector.
“Stronger organisations create stronger impact.”
The founder story is best understood through the combination of where the work began, what was studied, and what has been built since.
Growing up in rural Jharkhand and co founding Gramin Bharti created a direct connection with questions of livelihoods, education, rural and tribal development, community institutions and migration.
Academic training at RKMVERI, Azim Premji University and SOAS brought together agriculture, rural and tribal development, development studies, migration, labour and social policy.
The experience of working with people and organisations led to building a platform that helps make talent, opportunities, knowledge, partnerships and professional support more accessible.
A timeline of the experiences that gradually shaped the work.
Started undergraduate study in Agriculture, Rural and Tribal Development at RKMVERI, combining academic learning with field exposure and student engagement.
Co founded Gramin Bharti Sewa Sanstha in Jharkhand, working around education, livelihoods, youth, women, sustainable agriculture, WASH and community led development.
Joined Azim Premji University for an MA in Development, alongside community engagement and work connected with social security and development sector careers.
Moved to London for an MSc in Migration, Mobility and Development at SOAS University of London as a Marang Gomke Overseas Scholarship recipient.
Founded Development Wala with a focus on building practical infrastructure around talent, organisations, opportunities and knowledge in the social sector.
Began working in community support in London, gaining direct experience of welfare systems, information and advice services, community programmes and partnership working.
Development Wala now brings together professional services, an opportunity platform, communities, conversations, knowledge and partnerships for the wider development ecosystem.
It is being built as an ecosystem support organisation for the people and organisations doing development work.
Through Development Wala, Preetam is bringing together talent, organisations, opportunities, knowledge, communities and partnerships. The aim is simple: make the development ecosystem more connected, discoverable and capable.
Alongside its wider platform and community work, Development Wala has three core professional service verticals.
Development professionals, leaders, students and changemakers.
NGOs, nonprofits, CSR teams, foundations and social enterprises.
Jobs, fellowships, grants, scholarships, RFPs and learning.
Research, documentation, conversations and practical resources.
Development Wala’s professional work is organised around three connected service verticals.
Helping mission driven organisations find, assess and build the teams needed to deliver their work, from specialist roles to leadership positions.
Explore recruitmentHelping organisations turn programme experience and evidence into stronger monitoring, research, proposals, reports and impact documentation.
Explore the workStrengthening people and organisations through training, workshops, leadership development, mentoring and practical organisational support.
Explore capacity buildingAs Co Founder, Kumar remains connected to grassroots development in Jharkhand, with work spanning livelihoods, education, youth, women, sustainable agriculture, WASH and community institutions.
Visit Gramin BhartiHis professional experience in London’s charity sector has added another perspective on welfare systems, community support, information and advice, partnership working and access to services.
SOAS University of London
Marang Gomke Overseas ScholarshipAzim Premji University, Bengaluru
Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute
MHFA England certification
Preetam has engaged with students and development professionals through talks, mentoring, workshops and career conversations.
A visual record of some of the experiences that have shaped the journey.
Work and achievements featured in print and digital media, with a focus on career pathways in the social sector and the journey from rural Jharkhand to SOAS.
Invited to speak and run career conversations at TISS, Azim Premji University, IIT campuses, RKMVERI, SOAS University of London and other institutions.
Community organisations and development networks have recognised the contribution to mentoring young professionals and strengthening the nonprofit ecosystem.
For guidance on careers, admissions and scholarships in the social sector and development field. Sessions run on Google Meet and are booked through Topmate.
Schedule a sessionTopmate · Google Meet · 30 minutes
Jobs, internships, fellowships and NGO recruitment.
TISS, APU, NIRDPR, Tata Dhan, IITs and others.
Exam preparation, statement of purpose, interviews and application strategy.
MGOS, Chevening, Felix and Commonwealth application review and mentoring.
Strengthen your CV for applicant tracking systems, jobs, fellowships and study.
Position your profile for jobs, fellowships and higher education.
For partnerships, institutional conversations, recruitment, research, capacity building or opportunities to collaborate with Development Wala.