About us
Born from a spirited debate between two Global Shapers passionate about social justice, the Centre for Data Justice (CDJ) was conceived as a study on ethical data use. With a vision to bridge the gap between technology and societal equity, CDJ strives to ensure that the benefits of the digital age are shared by all, especially the marginalized. Rooted in a commitment to fairness and advocacy, CDJ is dedicated to transforming data practices into forces for good.
Maninder Adityaraj Singh
Founder
Maninder Singh is a lawyer, technologist, and social justice practitioner with over 15 years of experience working at the intersection of law, data, and community-led change. His work spans a wide spectrum—from environmental litigation and gender rights advocacy to pioneering tech-enabled solutions for nonprofits and underserved communities across India.
He is the co-founder of YWater, a queer-led youth foundation and think tank that has impacted over 100,000 lives through programs focused on water security, climate resilience, and gender justice. YWater’s flagship initiative, the Fashion Forward Fellowship, brought sustainability into India’s fashion sector by training over 500 entrepreneurs in water stewardship and ethical production.
Maninder has led national-level innovation roles, including at India’s largest private sector bank, where he integrated AI and blockchain into legal systems to improve transparency and access to justice.
From working with forest conservationists in the Himalayan foothills to supporting trans and non-binary individuals with pro bono legal aid, Maninder’s approach has always been rooted in equity, dignity, and deep systems thinking.
He believes true impact lies in building tools and policies that not only fix broken systems—but prevent them from breaking people in the first place.
Antara Chaudhary
Co-founder
Antara is an entrepreneurship and diversity & inclusion expert with nearly a decade of experience building innovation ecosystems that are inclusive, scalable, and rooted in social equity. She currently serves as an Associate Director in PwC India’s Social Sector Advisory, where she leads large-scale entrepreneurship programs and policy interventions across sectors.
Over the last 6+ years, Antara has directly impacted 5,000+ entrepreneurs, more than half from India’s unorganized and rural sectors. Her work has supported women, youth, LGBTQIA+ communities, and tribal entrepreneurs—designing tailored incubation programs and advising state governments on how to grow local startup ecosystems.
Her notable projects include launching India’s first LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurship incubator, conceptualizing the National Startup Awards, and designing innovation strategies for Smart Cities, NITI Aayog, and DPIIT. She has helped deploy startup solutions across Indian cities and raise ₹150+ crores for social enterprises.
Antara is passionate about unlocking local innovation, shifting narratives around entrepreneurship as a career, and creating dignified livelihood opportunities at the last mile. She is also the lead author of the forthcoming book “Is it All in My Head?”—a personal and collective exploration of mental health among young professionals.