Sheela Patel

Sheela Patel, born in 1952, has dedicated her life to advocating for urban poor communities since founding the Society for Promotion of Area Resource Centres (SPARC) in Mumbai in 1984. After earning her Master's in Social Work from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in 1974 and working at the Nagpada Neighbourhood House, she established SPARC to support pavement dwellers' rights to housing and basic amenities. Her impact extends globally through her role as Chair of Slum/Shack Dwellers International (SDI), a network spanning Asia, Africa, and Latin America that has helped 14 million people across 500 cities access housing and infrastructure. She co-founded several influential organizations, including Swayam Shikshan Prayog working with women's collectives in Maharashtra, the Asian Coalition of Housing Rights, and the Asian Women and Shelter Network. As Secretary and Chief Executive of SPARC Samudaya Nirman Sahayak since 1999, she helps slum communities undertake construction projects for homes and sanitation. Her groundbreaking work has earned numerous accolades, including the UN Human Settlement Award (2000), the David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Award (2009), and the Padma Shri (2011), India's fourth-highest civilian honor. She currently serves on the UN Secretary General's panel for UN-Habitat effectiveness and the Adaptation Commission, while continuing to advocate for urban poor communities through policy changes and practical solutions.