Shelly Batra is a renowned gyne & obstetric surgeon in New Delhi. She has a deep desire to serve the community. She has worked pro-bono for dissemination of medical information with many television stations and newspapers and written two books. For the past 2 decades, she has been performing surgeries free of cost for the needy. Very often, she would run out of money for consumables and essential medicines. Then she would call one of her friends for help. Sandeep Ahuja was one such person whom she called in 1998. Sandeep immediately took up fundraising and requested Shelly to concentrate on her core competence – surgery. Together they organized 60-70 free surgeries every year.

In 2004, Sandeep obtained a World Bank Scholarship and Harris Fellowship and joined the University of Chicago for further studies. He specialized in health administration and management of nonprofits. At the same time, he recognized the capabilities of the social sector in the US. He utilized this opportunity and decided, along with Shelly, to expand their work. They organized incorporation of two nonprofits, one in New Delhi and another in Chicago. He also organized tax exemption in India as well as in the US (under section 501c3 of the tax code). To represent the unity of promoters and programs, both organizations were named Operation ASHA. Sandeep returned to India in the middle of 2006. After much deliberation, the organization’s efforts were focused on eradicating tuberculosis among its target population of the poorest of the poor.