Mittal Patel, founder of Vicharta Samuday Samarthan Manch (VSSM) and Board Member of the Development & Welfare Board for De-Notified, Nomadic & Semi-Nomadic Communities, has spent over two decades fighting for the fundamental rights, legal identity, housing, and dignity of over 200,000 members of India’s nomadic tribes.
The Historic Marginalization of De-Notified & Nomadic Tribes
Across India, Nomadic and De-notified Tribes (NT/DNTs), including communities like the Dafer, Nat, Vadi, and Saraniya, have historically endured severe social exclusion. Under British colonial rule, many of these communities were targeted under the oppressive Criminal Tribes Act of 1871, which branded entire hereditary groups as “criminals by birth.” Although the independent Indian government repealed the discriminatory act in 1952, reclassifying these groups as “De-notified,” deep-seated societal stigma, police harassment, and systemic administrative neglect persisted for decades.
Because these wandering communities moved constantly in search of seasonal livelihoods, they remained excluded from official government records. Generations lived without basic citizenship documents such as Ration Cards, Voter ID cards, or birth certificates. Deprived of permanent land ownership, healthcare, and formal schooling for their children, millions of nomadic citizens effectively existed as invisible non-entities within their own homeland.
The Genesis of VSSM: From Journalism to Grassroots Advocacy
While pursuing a postgraduate degree in journalism in the early 2000s, Mittal Patel encountered nomadic families living on the dusty outskirts of villages in Gujarat. Appalled by their extreme poverty and the total absence of basic human rights, she realized that reporting on their plight was not enough; direct action was urgently required. Choosing to forgo a conventional media career, she chose to immerse herself completely in grassroots social work.
In 2006, Mittal Patel formally established Vicharta Samuday Samarthan Manch (VSSM) in Ahmedabad. Her initial objective was simple yet formidable: to bridge the vast gap between government welfare frameworks and wandering tribal groups. She traveled extensively across rural Gujarat, camping alongside nomadic settlements, earning their trust, and documenting their specific socio-economic grievances.
Securing Identity, Voting Rights, and Permanent Settlement
Recognizing that legal documentation is the prerequisite for all state benefits, Mittal Patel initiated mass campaigns to secure official identification for nomadic families. Through persistent administrative advocacy, VSSM assisted more than 200,000 individuals in obtaining voter cards, Aadhaar cards, and ration cards. For thousands of elderly tribal citizens, receiving a voter ID marked the very first time they were officially acknowledged as citizens of India, enabling them to exercise their democratic franchise.
Beyond documentation, homelessness remained a critical challenge. Because nomadic groups lacked land titles, local authorities frequently evicted them from temporary shelters. Mittal Patel worked tirelessly with local governance bodies to secure legal land allotments, facilitating the construction of permanent housing colonies. These structured settlements provided clean drinking water, solar lighting, and sanitation, offering nomadic families a stable foundation for the first time in generations.
Livelihood Restoration and Educational Inclusion
To break the cycle of intergenerational poverty, VSSM introduced targeted economic and educational interventions. Recognizing that traditional nomadic crafts and performances were losing commercial viability, Mittal Patel set up micro-credit programs, vocational training workshops, and self-help groups. These initiatives enabled nomadic artisans, blacksmiths, and traders to access soft loans, modernize their crafts, and establish sustainable alternative livelihoods.
Simultaneously, VSSM established makeshift bridge schools (Tents of Knowledge) near nomadic encampments, preparing first-generation learners to transition into formal government schools. By providing hostel facilities, educational kits, and mentorship, the organization has enabled thousands of children from nomadic backgrounds to pursue higher education and vocational degrees.
Shaping Policy at the National Level
Mittal Patel’s groundbreaking work earned widespread national acclaim, culminating in the prestigious Nari Shakti Puraskar conferred by the President of India. Recognizing her deep field expertise, the Union Government appointed her as a Board Member of the Development and Welfare Board for De-Notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities (DWBDNCs) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
In this national advisory role, she continues to advocate for policy interventions, dedicated budget allocations, and comprehensive socio-economic surveys across states to ensure that historically marginalized nomadic communities receive equitable access to national development frameworks.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The life and work of Mittal Patel illustrate how dedicated grassroots leadership can dismantle centuries of institutional neglect. By securing legal identity, land, and education for nomadic communities, VSSM has redefined social inclusion in India. Millions of citizens who were once pushed to the extreme margins of society now possess the tools, dignity, and political voice to shape their own futures. Achieving true democratic equality requires that state institutions and civil society proactively extend constitutional rights to every wandering and marginalized community across the nation.
How can state governments build streamlined, single-window administrative mechanisms to ensure nomadic and semi-nomadic populations receive instant access to welfare schemes?
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