Board of Directors
Brig. (Retd) Mandeep Singh
Director, Charcot Marie Tooth Foundation of India (Full time)
Brigadier (Dr) Mandeep Singh (Retd) was commissioned into the Indian Army in December 1981. He retired from service in November 2018.
Before joining the National Defence Academy, he qualified for the JEE and joined IIT Kanpur. He began a B.Tech. course in Civil Engineering there and completed one semester before joining the National Defence Academy in January 1978.
During his military career, Dr. Singh held several important command and staff appointments across India. He also served as a Military Observer with the United Nations in Liberia. In addition, he worked as an instructor at the Chilean War College in Santiago, Chile.
Dr. Singh holds a B.Sc., M.Sc., and M.Phil. He also earned a Doctorate from the Department of National Defence and Security Studies at Panjab University, Chandigarh. His academic work includes articles published in various journals.
In May 2024, he authored a book titled Perspectives for India, Defence Cooperation in South Asia. He also takes a keen interest in technology. At his personal workshop, he works on 3D printing and various mechanical and electrical projects.
After retiring from the Army, Dr. Singh joined a City Gas Distribution (CGD) company in Jaipur. He worked there for four years and was involved in CNG-related operations.
Dr. Singh is currently associated with the United Services Institute (USI) in New Delhi.
Mrs. Neelam Rani
Director, Charcot Marie Tooth Foundation of India (Full time)
Neelam Rani is a Postgraduate in Punjabi Literature with more than 35 years of experience in the field of Education and Punjabi literature. Her lifelong dedication to education and social values has shaped her compassionate approach toward people and society.
As the mother of a child living with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease, she has personally experienced the challenges of diagnosis, treatment, and long-term care associated with rare diseases in India. While every parent cherishes the experience of watching their child grow, witnessing the progression of CMT alongside her son’s journey has been emotionally challenging. Despite these hardships, the constant support of her spouse and the remarkable determination and willpower shown by her son have inspired her to face every obstacle with courage and hope.
Her experiences have given her a deeper understanding of the urgent need to strengthen awareness, medical support systems, and patient care for individuals living with rare diseases in India. She strongly believes that no family should feel alone while facing such challenges.
Through the Charcot Marie Tooth Foundation of India, Neelam Rani is committed to supporting individuals and families affected by CMT disease and helping build a more aware and compassionate society.
Mr. Rakesh Jain
Director, Charcot Marie Tooth Foundation of India (Part time)
Rakesh Jain is closely connected to the cause as a father of two children affected by Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease. Despite the challenges associated with the condition, his children have achieved remarkable success in their respective careers, with one serving as an Assistant Professor and the other as a Chartered Accountant. Their journey has inspired him to work towards creating awareness, support systems, and better opportunities for individuals living with CMT.
Professionally, Mr. Jain is a well-established businessman with more than 40 years of experience in the kitchenware industry. Apart from his business activities, he actively contributes to social and community welfare through various leadership roles. He currently serves as the Maha Nagar Adhyaksh of Akhil Bhartiya Udyog Vyapar Mandal and also holds the position of Upadhyaksh of Digambar Jain Samaj Kashi. Through these roles, he has consistently worked towards community development, social support, and public welfare initiatives.
His association with the CMT Foundation is driven by both personal experience and a strong desire to support families affected by neuromuscular disorders. He actively contributes to the organization by guiding awareness initiatives, supporting patient outreach, helping in organizational planning, and working towards making treatment support, physiotherapy facilities, and surgical aids more accessible and affordable for CMT patients across India.
Dr Priyanshu Agrawal, MBBS
Co-founder and Director, Charcot Marie Tooth Foundation of India
I am Dr. Priyanshu Agrawal, an MBBS graduate from Government Medical College, Jabalpur. During my internship, I began experiencing worsening neurological symptoms. These symptoms eventually led to my diagnosis of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 4C.
That experience changed my life completely. It shaped my perspective not only as a doctor but also as someone living with CMT every day.
Since 2023, I have been actively working in the field of CMT. My commitment to this cause is deeply personal. Over the years, I have stayed in close contact with doctors, researchers, scientists, and organisations around the world.
These connections have helped me better understand CMT. They have also allowed me to explore new opportunities for better care, greater awareness, research, and treatment.
As the Director of the Charcot Marie Tooth Disease Foundation of India, I aim to build a strong and united community for people and families affected by CMT. Improving awareness among doctors and the public remains a key priority.
I also want to support early diagnosis and encourage research collaborations. Another important goal is to help India become an active contributor to global CMT research and advocacy.
This is only the beginning. My ultimate goal is simple but meaningful. I want to contribute in every possible way towards finding a cure for CMT.
Above all, I hope to help people with CMT live with greater dignity, independence, and hope.
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