Geeta Muchhala: An Empathetic Reformer proving that determination can pave new paths
The next addition to this exclusive recognition of Nari Shakti is the profile of Geeta Muchhala. A woman born and raised in a financially well-off family, has dedicated her life to serving the underprivileged tribal communities in the country. Her brainchild, Roshni Foundation and Charitable Trust, has become a center of selfless service to mankind driven by a vision to uplift the marginalized tribal communities of Dahanu and Talasari located 140 km from Mumbai.
This narrative is about her extraordinary journey of how she chose to serve the society when she could have chosen a lavish lifestyle and comfort. We have covered all of her philanthropic initiatives and endeavours in this piece of writing based on the conversation held with her. Let’s delve deeper into what Geeta Muchhala has been doing so far:
The inspiration Geeta’s father was a firm believer of doing good deeds and serving mankind. It was his deep-rooted philanthropy that shaped her values, igniting a deep desire to serve the underprivileged. As a young girl, she aspired to become a doctor to heal and nurture those in need, but some societal Geeta Muchhala Managing Trustee ROSHNI FOUNDATION & CHARITABLE TRUST norms of the time denied her that opportunity.
But these situations kept her undeterred, she pursued a B.Sc. in Microbiology and Pathology in 1981 but was discouraged from further academic pursuits. Though she set aside her professional ambitions, her love for learning never wavered. She poured her energy into educating her children, who would later become academic toppers and excel at IIT Bombay and Ivy League institutions.
A dawn of enlightenment
Many years passed by. Geeta settled down and her children grew to become adults who were able to take care of themselves. At the age of 44, Geeta’s aspiration for making a difference to human lives was reignited. She studied interior designing and ran her own firm for a decade. Her success in the field was repetitive. This venture not only brought her financial independence but also strengthened her confidence in building and leading meaningful initiatives. Yet, fate had a different calling for her.
The call for purpose
Geeta’s life took a major turning point in 2007 when her mother passed away. She was in deep grief and sought solace. It was that time when she turned to service. From setting up blood donation campaigns to providing assistance to senior living facilities, her family has a long history of charity endeavors. But she was first introduced to the grim reality of teaching tribal children in Dahanu’s Zilla Parishad schools through a fortuitous encounter with a retired principal.
She went to one of these schools as she was inspired by the Sarvodaya workers Kantaben and Harvilasben, who devoted their lives to improving tribal villages in Dang Zilla. Children without access to basic requirements, their hopes crushed by adversity, was a painful sight. She started going to the schools and making a little but significant contribution. As she ventured deeper into remote tribal villages—many untouched by any NGO or CSR initiative—she witnessed decades of neglect, poverty, malnutrition, and a lack of access to education and healthcare. These encounters cemented her resolve to drive sustainable change at the grassroots level.
In January 2013, a severe health setback further reinforced the fragility of life. It was a wake-up call for Geeta to answer. Now, she was determined to fulfill her childhood dream of serving rural communities, she had to act now. By April 2013, fully recovered, she left her design career and comfort of city life behind and joined a small group of senior citizens supplying essentials to a few Zilla Parishad schools in Dahanu. But what she saw there changed everything—children coming to school only for midday meals, schools lacking basic infrastructure, and tribal communities trapped in the cycle of poverty and migration.
Within a year, under her leadership, they expanded to 21 Zilla Parishad schools, integrating sports, arts, culture, debates, dance, technology, and hygiene programs. By 2016, these schools had transformed into “Ideal Schools” of Palghar District.
The Emergence of Roshni Foundation
After the realization of her life’s purpose, Geeta formally established the Roshni Foundation & Charitable Trust in April 2016. Her family shared their valuable support in this direction, and she began by adopting eight Zilla Parishad Schools in Dahanu. Her journey was driven with a mission to provide holistic educational opportunities for 750 underprivileged Adivasi children.
Vision & Mission
We asked Geeta to share her vision as well as the mission for her trust. To this, she responded that tribal children in India’s remote interiors face an unfair disadvantage: they lack the holistic education, exposure and resources available to urban students. The challenges are twofold:
1. Low school attendance
2. Lack of essential resources for growth and development Roshni Foundation was born to bridge this gap. Geeta’s three-fold mission is:
1. Encourage school attendance by making education engaging and empowering.
2. Ensure health and well-being, removing barriers to learning.
3. Build confidence and capability, allowing children to thrive and realize their full potential.
Through Roshni Foundation, she introduced innovative programs that not only improved academic performance but also fostered holistic development.
Roshni Bal Vikas Yojana: Transforming Tribal Schools into Centers of Excellence
In the tribal heartlands of Dahanu and Talasari, where education was once a distant dream, Roshni Foundation has turned schools into centers of opportunity. Roshni Bal Vikas Yojana is not just about education—it is about inspiring children to dream, learn, and thrive.
Once struggling with crumbling classrooms and lack of resources, Zilla Parishad schools have been transformed into Ideal Schools, equipped with smart classrooms, digital learning kits, playgrounds, and modern sanitation facilities.
The introduction of Roshni Gyanmala—School on Wheels has taken education to the doorsteps of children in remote villages, ensuring that no child is left behind. For 10-year-old Anjali, school was once an afterthought as she accompanied her parents to work in the fields. Now, she paints in art competitions, plays with hula hoops, and dreams of becoming an artist.
Rohan, once a shy boy with no access to books, now excels in science and chess, his confidence soaring with every new challenge. Beyond academics, the foundation nurtures health and well-being, providing free medical check-ups, nutritious meals, and sanitation infrastructure, ensuring children are healthy, happy, and eager to learn.
Sports, arts, and cultural programs like Saptrangi Sapne and Roshni Championships foster creativity and teamwork, helping children develop skills beyond textbooks. Thanks to Geeta Muchhala’s vision, school attendance has risen significantly, dropout rates have plummeted, and high school enrollments have surged. Education here is no longer a privilege—it is a right, a joy, and a gateway to a brighter future.
In the quiet tribal hamlets of Dahanu and Talasari, where education was once a distant dream, a silent revolution has been unfolding. Schools that were once mere shelters with leaking roofs and bare walls have now transformed into vibrant centers of learning, filled with the laughter of children eager to explore the world.
This transformation is the result of Roshni Bal Vikas Yojana, an initiative spearheaded by Geeta Muchhala through Roshni Foundation, with a singular goal—to give underprivileged tribal children the same quality education, exposure, and opportunities as their urban peers.
Roshni Gramya Vikas Yojana: Building Self-Sustaining Villages
In the heart of Maharashtra’s tribal belt, where seasonal migration disrupts education and livelihood, Roshni Foundation has been working tirelessly to turn villages into self-reliant communities. Understanding that education alone cannot uplift a society burdened by poverty, water scarcity, and lack of infrastructure, Geeta Muchhala expanded her mission beyond schools— into the very fabric of village life.
Water, a fundamental necessity, has long been a struggle for these villages. Women once walked 8-10 km daily to fetch drinking water, while farmers abandoned their lands after monsoons, leaving their children behind to fend for themselves. To address this, Roshni Foundation introduced wells, borewells, ring wells, rainwater harvesting systems, and ultra-filtration plants, ensuring yearround access to clean water. These efforts have not only reduced migration but also enabled farmers to cultivate a second crop, securing a stable livelihood.
Healthcare, another pressing concern, saw a transformational shift with the launch of Roshni’s Free Ambulance Service in 2022, now serving over 50 villages. Women’s health has also been prioritized, with over 7,500 sanitary napkin kits distributed, ensuring hygiene and dignity for adolescent girls and women.
Roshni’s impact extends beyond survival—it fosters growth and sustainability. The Kesar mango plantation drive, a cornerstone of its sustainable ecology project, has provided thousands of fruit-bearing trees to farmers, students, and schools, creating a green legacy and additional income sources.
Cultural preservation and knowledge-sharing have found a home in Roshni’s Community Science Lab and Libraries. The only facility of its kind in Palghar district, the Science Lab offers modern equipment, research tools, and e-learning resources to village children who once had no exposure to experimental learning.
The Community Libraries, equipped with books, digital learning tools, and sports kits, have become centers of learning, play, and inspiration. To further support rural sustainability, Roshni Foundation has provided domestic solar lights to families living without electricity and distributed roof sheets to rebuild homes devastated by cyclones, ensuring safety and stability in tribal villages.
Beyond all, Roshni Foundation has given families new beginnings. Through Roshni Bandhan, its mass wedding initiative, 137 underprivileged couples have been married with dignity, free from financial burdens.
Geeta Muchhala’s vision has always been clear—a village should not just survive, it should thrive. Through Roshni Gramya Vikas Yojana, tribal communities will soon no longer dependent on external aid—they are building a future on their own terms.
Roshni Stri Vikas Yojana: Empowering Women, Empowering Generations
A village’s progress is measured not just by its roads and schools, but by the strength and independence of its women. In the tribal regions where women have long been confined to labor-intensive jobs and financial dependency, Roshni Foundation has ignited a quiet revolution—one that equips women with skills, self-reliance, and confidence.
At the heart of this transformation are four Women Empowerment Centers, where hundreds of tribal women receive skill-based training in sewing, Warli art, macramé, jewelry making, and beauty services. Once hesitant, these women now earn their own income, crafting handmade products that find buyers across India. Tie-dye printing, bakery, spice-making, and honey harvesting have become pathways to entrepreneurship, enabling them to run their own small businesses.
Financial independence is just one piece of the puzzle. Roshni Foundation also ensures that women understand their rights, their health, and their safety. Self-defense workshops, financial literacy programs, and awareness sessions on hygiene and nutrition are empowering women to take control of their futures.
Today, thousands of women who once saw no life beyond household chores and daily labor are now business owners, artisans, and role models for the next generation. With every sari stitched, every jar of homemade spices sold, and every Warli painting created, these women are not just earning—they are rewriting their stories, one empowered step at a time.
Through Roshni Stri Vikas Yojana, Geeta Muchhala has proven that when you uplift a woman, you uplift an entire community.
Impact & Growth
What started as an initiative supporting 750 children across
8 schools in 2016 has now grown into a transformational
movement:
• Adoption of 60 Zilla Parishad Schools and 1 Junior College in Dahanu and Talasari Talukas of Palghar District, positively impacting more than 10000 children annually.
• 40 village development projects tackling livelihoods, healthcare, and sanitation.
• 4 Women Empowerment Centers and 4 Community Libraries.
• A free Ambulance Service & a ‘School on Wheels’ initiative.
• Over 100,000 students, 70,000 villagers, and 30,000 women benefitting from various ongoing projects.
• Team, Partnerships & Support System
• Roshni Foundation thrives on a strong, committed team:
• 3 visionary Trustees and 6 core members
• Advisors from IIT Bombay and Harvard Business School
• 12 employees, 85 school-teachers, 200+ donors, and 500+ volunteers
• Support from corporate CSR programs, local government authorities and Maharashtra’s Forest Department
• Collaboration with Indian Railways on station beautification projects
Nari Shakti in Action
Geeta Muchhala is not just an educator and social reformer; she is a changemaker who believes that empowering women is the key to societal transformation. Through four Women Empowerment Centers, she has trained thousands of tribal women in vocational skills, helping them break free from financial dependency.
Her work in health and hygiene is equally remarkable. From malnutrition eradication programs benefiting 50,000 children and 3000 pregnant women to building modern sanitation facilities in schools, her efforts have brought dignity and wellbeing to countless tribal families.
Braving the Unseen: The Risks of Reaching the Unreached
Working in remote tribal villages is not just challenging—it is often dangerous. Broken roads, dense forests, and extreme weather make travel difficult, while the absence of food, water, and medical support adds to the risks. With snake bites being common and no immediate healthcare available, every visit is a test of endurance. Yet, Geeta Muchhala and her team push forward, knowing that each step taken brings hope and change to those who need it most.
A Legacy of Light & Hope
Today, Roshni Foundation is more than an NGO—it is a beacon of hope. At 65, Geeta Muchhala continues to lead, inspire, and empower, proving that true Nari Shakti is about resilience, vision, and the courage to challenge the status quo.
Her motto, “Give Light to Life,” is not just a slogan—it is a promise she fulfills every single day.
Her incredible journey is not just about one woman’s walk in the business world; it is about the transformative power of vision, compassion, and relentless action. She turned her childhood dream into a legacy that continues to shape the future of thousands of underprivileged children.
Through the Roshni Foundation, she is not only illuminating classrooms but also igniting the potential within the children who are overlooked by the society and system. At last, she asserts that education is not a privilege, but a right for all irrespective of one’s financial status…
The Road Ahead With her relentless determination, Geeta envisions expanding Roshni’s impact to more villages, schools, and women in need. She believes that every child, regardless of their background, deserves a bright future, and every woman deserves the right to dream and achieve.
In a world where many still debate gender equality, Geeta Muchhala stands as living proof that when a woman decides to bring change, nothing can stop her. Her journey is not just her own—it is the story of thousands of children, women, and families whose lives have been transformed by her unwavering commitment to social upliftment.
