Mittal Patel | |
|---|---|
| Born | 13 January 1981 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation(s) | Indian Social and Environmental Activist |
| Organization(s) | Vicharta Samuday Samarthan Manch (VSSM), Vimukt Foundation (VF) |
| Known for | Founded VSSM |
| Spouse | Maulik Patel |
| Awards | Real Heroes Award, Nari Shakti Puraskar |
| Website | www |
Mittal Maulik Patel is an Indian social and environmental activist, known for her work with marginalized and nomadic communities in Gujarat. She is the founder, Secretary, and Managing Trustee of Vicharta Samuday Samarthan Manch (VSSM), an organization working on social justice, education, livelihood support, environmental sustainability, and community development.
Patel was born in Shankhalpur, Mehsana district, Gujarat, into a farming family involved in agriculture and animal husbandry. She completed her postgraduate studies in journalism at Gujarat University.[citation needed]
In 2004, she received a research fellowship from the Charkha Development Communication Network to study the socio-economic conditions of migrant sugarcane laborers in South Gujarat. During this period, she lived with laborer families and witnessed their poor living conditions and systemic neglect, which inspired her to dedicate her career to social work.[citation needed]
Early Work
After completing her fellowship, Patel joined Janpath, where she was introduced to nomadic and de-notified tribes. She observed that these communities faced social discrimination, lacked identity documents, and were often excluded from government welfare schemes.
In 2005, she began working to provide legal recognition, documentation, and basic support to these communities. Her early work included facilitating voter ID cards and ration cards for families without official records.
Vicharta Samuday Samarthan Manch (VSSM)
In 2010, Patel founded Vicharta Samuday Samarthan Manch (VSSM) with a small team. The organization has since grown to over 200 members and operates across Gujarat, focusing on education, livelihood support, housing, water conservation, and environmental initiatives.
Key programs under her leadership include:
Patel emphasizes the integration of social and environmental welfare, including conservation projects to restore natural habitats for both people and wildlife.
Through her work, Patel has facilitated access to education, livelihood support, housing, and legal recognition for to considerable amount of families across 26 districts in Gujarat. She has also contributed significantly to environmental sustainability by planting trees and reviving water bodies in drought-prone regions.
Publications
Patel has authored several books highlighting the realities of marginalized communities and environmental issues:
She is also a regular columnist in Gujarati newspapers such as NavGujarat Samay, Phulchhab, Gujarat Guardian, and Gujarat Mitra.[citation needed]
References