Swati Pandey — Career Bureaucrat | Aviation & Infrastructure Leader | National Award-Winning Filmmaker | Author l
With over 28 years in the civil services, Swati Pandey serves as VC&MD of the Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC), leading key airports and driving new aviation projects across Maharashtra. Recipient of the Homi Bhabha Award of Excellence from the Department of Atomic Energy, Ms Pandey is also a National Award-winning filmmaker for “Elephants Do Remember” (2019). Her recent book, “Invisible in Plain Sight”’ stands as a powerful testament to the unseen lives in Mumbai’s red light district, Kamathipura—stories told with rare honesty, empathy, and grace.
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Silent Battles of Women and Children | Swati Pandey and Nandita Puri in Conversation | OCLF
On 22nd Nov 2025 04.00 PM To 04:40 PM
The session "Veiled Voices, Unheard Truths: The Silent Battles of Women and Child Safety" featured author and journalist Nandita Puri in conversation with bureaucrat, filmmaker and author Swati Pandey. The discussion shed light on the harsh realities faced by women and children who become victims of trafficking, exploitation and loss of identity.
Nandita Puri spoke about her research for the book Jennifer, which uncovers the story of a young Indian girl trafficked through an adoption racket and subjected to repeated abuse overseas. Swati Pandey shared insights from her work in Mumbai’s Kamathipura, describing the challenges women face without basic identity documents and how opening a post office branch in the area helped many begin reclaiming their financial independence.
The conversation highlighted the need for empowerment through documentation, banking access, awareness and community support. Audience questions focused on practical ways to strengthen protection systems and bring vulnerable women and children into the mainstream.