Americares Names New India Country Director

Stamford, Conn. – April 19, 2023 – Americares, the health-focused relief and development organization, has welcomed Meenakshi Batra as director of Americares India. In her new role, Batra is responsible for designing, implementing and directing innovative health programs that strengthen health systems and expand access to care for people affected by poverty or disaster across 23 states in India.

Batra is also tasked with leading the country’s emergency response activities, implementing disaster preparedness initiatives and managing a highly successful mobile clinic program for low-income urban residents. At the same time, she oversees the operation of the Americares India warehouse, which serves as a global operational hub in the region.

“Meenakshi’s extensive experience leading teams and executing mission-driven programming in South and Southeast Asia will be instrumental as we work to deepen our impact and increase access to quality health services across India,” said Americares President and CEO Christine Squires. “We are thrilled that she has joined the team.”

Batra, who is based in Mumbai, brings to the organization more than three decades of experience working in the nonprofit and international development sectors. Prior to joining Americares India, she served as board chair of Resource Alliance India, a nonprofit organization that serves as a global network for fundraising, resource mobilization and philanthropy. Prior to that, Batra served as the chief executive officer of Charities Aid Foundation India for nearly a decade, where she oversaw all aspects of the organization’s strategic giving program and raised nearly $100 million to support the work of more than 500 nonprofit organizations across India.

A steadfast advocate for children’s rights, Batra has also held several senior leadership roles at organizations focused on supporting the health and safety of children globally. She served as country director for Save the Children UK’s Afghanistan program, national director for Child Fund International’s India and Indonesia program and as country director for War Child UK’s Afghanistan mission, among other roles.

“I am excited to be part of Americares India and look forward to bringing meaningful, positive changes to the lives of people affected by poverty or disaster across the country,” said Batra. “It is so inspiring to see how the organization has carved out its identity as a leading nonprofit in India, and I am confident that along with my team we will continue to expand Americares India’s reach and impact.”

Since its founding in Mumbai in 2006, Americares India has been supporting health services for families affected by severe storms, disease outbreaks and other emergencies across the country. The organization also operates 13 mobile health centers that provide primary care services in four states as well as a successful school-based health program reaching 50,700 children across 176 schools.

Batra earned a master’s degree in child development and family welfare from Nagpur University in Nagpur, Maharashtra. She currently serves on the boards of Resource Alliance India, the Lepra Society, the Desert Resource Centre, the Society for Promotion of Wasteland Development and Mobile Creches.

Batra has been lauded for her work in the humanitarian field and has received numerous awards for her personal achievements and those of the organizations she has led, including the prestigious Assocham India Women Achievers Award in the Best Women Leader in Nonprofit Sector category, the 2019 Great Indian Women Leadership’s Social Woman Leader of the Year Award and the United Nations General Compact Certificate of Merit for leveraging leadership, innovation and value creation in implementing sustainable development goals in India, among accolades.

Americares helps communities prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters; increase access, availability, affordability and acceptability of medicine and medical supplies; improve and expand clinical services; and prevent disease and promote good health. Since it was established more than 40 years ago, Americares has provided $22 billion in aid to 164 countries, including the United States.