Dr. Janhavi Nilekani is a public policy professional working in maternal health. She is a 2018 alumna of Harvard where she completed her PhD in Public Policy, and holds a 2010 BA, cum laude, in Economics and International Studies from Yale.

Janhavi’s personal experience with childbirth in India left her feeling disempowered and disappointed. It brought to light the inadequate standard of maternity care in the country, and deeply inspired Janhavi to instigate change.

In 2019, she founded Aastrika Foundation, supported by Nilekani Philanthropies. Aastrika Foundation strives for India wide improvements in the quality of maternal healthcare, through capacity building initiatives and professional midwifery training programmes.

Janhavi founded Aastrika Midwifery Centre in 2021, an interdisciplinary birth centre in Bangalore. AMC provides ethical, evidence-based, respectful maternity care, and a team that supports mothers through every stage of their journey.