Our Board of Directors

Ms. Mittal Patel started working with Nomadic communities as part of a research schol-arship in 2005. In 2010, Vicharta Samuday Samarthan Manch – VSSM was created and registered as Non- Government Organization. Mittal Patel is a member of Government of India’s Development and Welfare Board for De-Notified, Nomadic and Semi-No-madic Communities (DWBDNCs).

After completing her Masters in Journalism Studies from Department of Journalism of Gujarat University, Mrs. Mittalben Patel was selected for the scholarship on the ‘Social and Economic Study of Migrant Workers’ by ‘Charkha’ – a Development Communication Network. In this context, she conducted a study on the ‘Sugarcane workers of South Gujarat’. The experiences gathered while staying with the families for a month were so profound that their upliftment became a mission of her life.

In year 2006, she joined an organization called ‘Janpath’. Initially, it was an idea to conduct a research on Nomadic Tribes and De-Notified Tribes Communities. But during her fieldwork, the plight of the communities compelled her to work for these community. After gathering enough experience and findings, she founded Vicharta Samuday Samarthan Manch, later in year 2010. 

When she took up this mission, she did not know any whereabouts of these communities. Today, we have reached to more than 2,00,000 families from over 5000 settlements in 90 blocks of 22 districts. Not only that she has also founded Vimukt Foundation – a section 8 company – to institutionalize each programme for wider and intensive impact. She is acting as a Managing Director in this recently founded Vimukt Foundation (VF).

Since beginning, she has acclaimed many renowned awards and recognitions for her path-breaking contribution not only for some of the most marginalized communities but for the environment conservation activities also.

Mittalben has been,

• Conferred with Real Hero Award by CNN – IBN and Reliance Foundation in March- 2012.
• Awarded with ‘Girnar Seva Siromani Purshkar – 2013’ by Doordarshan regional Gujarati Channel DD Girnar.
• Honored as Ashoka fellow by Ashoka Innovators for the Public in 2013.

Ashoka recognizes and felicitates dynamic global community of leading social entrepreneurs who deliver high-impact solutions to society’s most pressing problems. Ashoka accelerates Fellows’ progress as an individual, a leader of an organization, a participant in collaborative initiatives, and as a member of a global community of peers.

• Invited for a TED Talks in 2013.

TED is global community, welcoming people from various discipline and culture who seek deeper understanding of the world. It publishes the ideas worth spreading.

• Conferred with Glory of Gujarat Award by the hands of His Excellency Shri O. P. Kohli, The Governor of Gujarat organized by Indian Council of Social Welfare at Raj Bhavan, Gandhinagar on 24th July 2015.
• Awarded with Nari Shakti Award on 2nd incredible Gandhi Festival jointly organized by Satyagrah Ashram (Kochrab Ashram); Gujarat Vidyapith; Parshwanath Corporation; Navgujarat Samay; and TrueInnovation (India | USA) on 2nd October 2016.
• Honored with Nari Shakti Award at National Level for most significant work in the field of women empowerment by the hands of His Excellency Shri Ramnath Kovind – the President of India on Womens’ Day 8th March 2018 at Rashtrapati Bhawan.
• Awarded Nari Shakti Award at State Level for most significant work in the field of women empowerment by the hands of Honorable Chief Minister of Gujarat – Shri Vijaybhai Rupani on Womens’ Day 8th March 2018 at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar.
• Conferred with Asmita Puraskar of the year 2018 by news channel ABP Asmita.
• Awarded with Banas Ratna Award by Rotary Club Palanpur City for the year 2021.