Vriddha Mitra logo
About Us

Vriddha Mitra

The flagship program of SCHOOL

aims to reach out to every elderly person in India, with a special focus on the most vulnerable and the needy.

Society of Community Health Oriented Operational Links (SCHOOL) is a registered not-for profit organization working towards the attainment of SDG-3 Good Health and Wellbeing

We believe that every elderly deserves affection and care. We are whole-heartedly committed towards ensuring that the older people not only receive support but also live a healthy and fulfilling life. ‘Vriddha Mitra’ is implemented, guided and steered by a set of diverse professionals that belong to the field of social work, public health, governance, law, economics, epidemiology and many more.

Main about page

All our efforts are geared to achieve the following Strategic Outcomes:

Holistic Community Care

Holistic Community Care

Establish community-based approaches to nurture physical, psycho-social and environmental support system to promote healthy ageing

Independence & Self-Reliance

Independence & Self-Reliance

Improve independence and ability amongst elderly for self-care and self-sustenance

Dignity Through Inclusion

Dignity Through Inclusion

Promote respect and inclusion of the older people through inter-generational dialogue.

India map showing outreach

Our Mission

To build an age friendly ecosystem for the elderly population in India.

Our Vision

To provide integrated solutions for the challenges faced by the elderly populations with a continued vigour of empowerment and equality.

Our Compliances

Registered in the year 2007 under Section 8 of Companies Act (erstwhile Section 25)

Registered no. U85100MP2007NPL019346

As a not-for-profit organization, we abide by all compliances:

Registered in the year 2007 under Section 8 of Companies Act (erstwhile Section 25)

Registered with NGO Darpan

Audited statements and annual reports of last three years

We are also registered for undertaking CSR activities (Registration no: CSR00001624)

Our Board Members

Dr Benazir Patil

Dr Benazir Patil

Chief Executive Officer

With specific expertise in policy advocacy and health systems strengthening Dr. Patil has been working in the field of social development for more than 25 years and has led several large-scale projects. She has worked with the World Bank, the EU, the British High Commission (DFID), the UN agencies and various national and international development partners. She has been credited for devising an innovative concept of ‘Community- based service delivery mechanism’ under the flagship program ‘Vriddha Mitra’ in the same spirit as that of the United Nations and its successful implementation to reach out to the elderly to serve them within their households with the aim to build an age-friendly ecosystem for the elderly population in India.As a researcher, Dr. Patil has been a Principal Investigator for a number of research studies in India, Nepal, Bangladesh & the UAE, specifically in the domain of RMNCAH, Neglected Tropical Diseases, and Non-Communicable Diseases. Dr. Patil has authored various national and international reports, policy documents, articles and publications with Government of India and international organizations specifically on Health Systems, RMNCAH and Urban Health, with national and international journals like ‘Journal of Perinatology’, ‘Indian Journal of Medical Ethics’ and ‘Indian Pediatrics’. She has authored two academic books: 1. Communication Strategies in Reproductive Health; and 2. Body image, human reproduction and birth control – a tribal perspective.Over the years, her leadership and vision in addressing the social and health care concerns of the elderly population has bestowed upon her the honour and distinction of being a public health professional in the field of elderly care.

Dr Pawan Pathak

Dr Pawan Pathak

Chief Operations Officer

As a technical health specialist, Dr. Pathak has contributed to large scale, multi-country, global health programs like MCHIP and MCSP, and global health platforms like ‘Call to Action’ for ending preventable maternal and child death and ‘Partnership for Maternal Newborn and Child Health’. He is well versed in addressing implementation level challenges both at the community and facility levels so as to ensure effective program outcomes. With more than 16 years of work experience, he brings in a skill-mix of teaching, training and mentoring on health systems, service provision, and thematic subjects.His expertise in program implementation has resulted into focused efforts in improving the quality of life for vulnerable older people that are reached directly in ‘Vriddha Mitra’ program across 5 geographies in India. His recent portfolio has brought him closer to the issues of the elderly population and he comes across as an ardent advocate of breaking the isolation, building social support and ensuring health-care and well-being of the elderly (60+) women and men.

Dr Rahul Singh Bhadouria

Dr Rahul Singh Bhadouria

Chief Strategy Officer

A public health specialist with 18 years of techno-managerial experience, Dr. Bhadouria brings in expertise for implementing multi-sectoral programs right from grass root level. He has worked with WHO, UNICEF and many other national and international development organizations. He has contributed to many health care innovations in the country including that of Special Newborn Care Units; Model Maternity Wings; Integrated Paediatric Units; FRU operationalization; and Nutritional Rehabilitation Centres. His technical skill-set pertain to MNCH, Nutrition and HIV/AIDS. Team section will include just photos of the remaining members.

Advisory Board

Capt. Sunil Saraf

Capt. Sunil Saraf

Prof (DR) Rukshana Shroff

Prof (DR) Rukshana Shroff

Our Staff

Mr. Akhilesh Sharma

Mr. Akhilesh Sharma

Deputy General Manager - Operations

Nitin Ghatge

Nitin Ghatge

Senior Program Manager

Sushil Mane

Sushil Mane

Senior Program Manager

Ms. Zoya Shaikh

Ms. Zoya Shaikh

Senior Manager: Resource Mobilization & Partnerships

Mr. Shamshuddin Sheikh

Mr. Shamshuddin Sheikh

Program Manager

Mrs Anita Chougule

Mrs Anita Chougule

Program Manager

Dr. Aastha Tandon

Dr. Aastha Tandon

Program Manager

Dr. Tanu Bhargava

Dr. Tanu Bhargava

Program Manager

Mr. Bipin Yadav

Mr. Bipin Yadav

Program Manager

Ms. Shivani Puranik

Ms. Shivani Puranik

Program Manager

Dr. Mudita Suryawanshi

Dr. Mudita Suryawanshi

Program Coordinator

Mr. Mukesh Kumar

Mr. Mukesh Kumar

Program Manager

Mr. Aditya Sharma

Mr. Aditya Sharma

Assistant Program Manager

Mr. Rajat Gupta

Mr. Rajat Gupta

Finance Manager

Ms. Neha Deshmukh

Ms. Neha Deshmukh

HR Manager

Mr. Satyendra Pednekar

Mr. Satyendra Pednekar

Finance Manager

Mrs. Tejashri Mhandare

Mrs. Tejashri Mhandare

Admin Assistant Manager

Mr. Vishal Jagtap

Mr. Vishal Jagtap

Admin Assistant

Mr. Namameesh Singh

Mr. Namameesh Singh

Admin Assistant Manager

Mr. Durgesh Kushwah

Mr. Durgesh Kushwah

Assistant Manager HR & Admin

Mr. Ajay Mishra

Mr. Ajay Mishra

Assistant Manager Finance

Ms. Pooja Kushwah

Ms. Pooja Kushwah

Admin Executive

Mr. Harish Gohadiya

Mr. Harish Gohadiya

Admin Coordinator

Ms. Ashika Gupta

Ms. Ashika Gupta

Manager Finance & Operations

Mr. Harsh Verma

Mr. Harsh Verma

Admin Executive

Ms. Siddhi Vasaikar

Ms. Siddhi Vasaikar

Data Coordinator

Mrs. Pradnya Sarwade

Mrs. Pradnya Sarwade

Program Coordinator

Mr. Ajaykumar Nikumbh

Mr. Ajaykumar Nikumbh

Program Coordinator

Dr. Vrushali Patil

Dr. Vrushali Patil

Program Manager

Mr. Vinod Rathod

Mr. Vinod Rathod

Program Manager

Ms. Megha Tomar

Ms. Megha Tomar

Program Coordinator

Mr. Mohit Tiwari

Mr. Mohit Tiwari

Program Coordinator

Mr. Vishal Baiwav

Mr. Vishal Baiwav

Program Coordinator

Dr. Jayveer Sisodiya

Dr. Jayveer Sisodiya

Physiotherapist

Dr. Ajay Srivastav

Dr. Ajay Srivastav

Physiotherapist

Dr. Poorva Agrawal

Dr. Poorva Agrawal

Physiotherapist

Dr. Radha Iyer

Dr. Radha Iyer

Physiotherapist In Charge

Dr. Rutika Khadgave

Dr. Rutika Khadgave

Physiotherapist

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Every contribution strengthens our mission and creates real impact on the ground.