Merlia Shaukat

Merlia Shaukath is the Founder and CEO of the Madhi Foundation, a non-profit organisation committed to ensuring foundational learning for every child in India. Under her leadership, Madhi has partnered with state governments to design and implement large-scale education reforms that strengthen early literacy and numeracy outcomes across public schools.

An Ashoka Fellow and Rainer Arnhold Fellow, Merlia is recognised globally for her work in advancing equitable education. A UK Alumni Global Finalist and recipient of the Achievers Award for Education conferred by the UK Government, she holds postgraduate degrees from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and the University of Oxford. She brings together grassroots experience and policy insight to reimagine public education as a space of equity, dignity, and opportunity for every child.