 living in slums and shanty towns.

Early life
In 1974, Patel received her Masters in Social Work from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai. She was then involved with a community centre called the Nagpada Neighbourhood House.

SPARC
With Prema Gopalan, Patel is the founding director of the Society for the Promotion of Area Resource Centres (SPARC), which she set up in Mumbai in 1984 as an advocacy group for the pavement dwellers of Mumbai.  SPARC continues to this day to play a major role in the politics of slum development in India and throughout the Third World. In 2000, SPARC was the recipient of the United Nations Human Settlement Award.

Groups
Patel works closely with the National Slum Dwellers Federation (NSDF) and Mahila Milan, two community-based groups working on with the poor in Indian cities. She worked in the National Technical Advisory Group (NTAG) for the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

She has founded the Asian Coalition for Housing Rights, the Asian Women and Shelter Network and Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP), an organisation that works with women's collectives in more than 600 villages in Maharashtra.

Patel is also a founder and current chairperson of Slum Dwellers International, a network of community-based organisations in 33 countries spanning Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Awards
2011: Padma Shri award, the fourth highest civilian honor in India.

2009: David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Award 

2000: UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award

Selected works
Patel, Sheela; Arputham, Jockin; Bartlett, Sheridan. 2015. '"We beat the path by walking": How the women of Mahila Milan in India learned to plan, design, finance and build housing.' Environment & Urbanization, 28(1) Free access
Patel, Sheela. 2013. 'Upgrade, Rehouse or Resettle? An Assessment of the Indian Government's Basic Services for the Urban Poor (BSUP) Programme'. Environment & Urbanization, 25(1): 177-188.
Patel, Sheela. 2012. 'Supporting data collection by the poor' Alliance Magazine
Patel, Sheela; Baptist, Carrie
living in slums and shanty towns. 

 Early life 
 In 1974, Patel pick up her Masters in Social Work from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai. She was then imply with a community centre called the Nagpada Neighbourhood House. 

 SPARC 
 With Prema Gopalan, Patel is the establish director of the Society for the Promotion of Area Resource Centres (SPARC), which she set up in Mumbai in 1984 as an advocacy group for the sidewalk inhabitant of Mumbai.   SPARC continues to this day to play a major role in the politics of slum development in India and throughout the Third World. In 2000, SPARC was the recipient role of the United Nations Human Settlement Award. 

 Groups 
 Patel works closely with the National Slum Dwellers Federation (NSDF) and Mahila Milan, two community - free-base groups working on with the poor in Indian cities. She worked in the National Technical Advisory Group (NTAG) for the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). 

 She has establish the Asian Coalition for Housing Rights, the Asian Women and Shelter Network and Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP), an organisation that works with women's collective in more than 600 villages in Maharashtra. 

 Patel is also a laminitis and current chairperson of Slum Dwellers International, a net of community - based organisations in 33 countries spanning Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. 

 Awards 
 2011: Padma Shri award, the fourth high civilian honor in India. 

 2009: David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Award 

 2000: UN - Habitat Scroll of Honour Award 

 Selected works 
 Patel, Sheela; Arputham, Jockin; Bartlett, Sheridan. 2015.' " We beat the path by walking ": How the women of Mahila Milan in India learned to plan, design, finance and build housing.' Environment & Urbanization, 28(1) Free access 
 Patel, Sheela. 2013.' Upgrade, Rehouse or Resettle? An Assessment of the Indian Government's Basic Services for the Urban Poor (BSUP) Programme'. Environment & Urbanization, 25(1 ): 177 - 188. 
 Patel, Sheela. 2012.' Supporting data solicitation by the hapless' Alliance Magazine 
 Patel, Sheela; Baptist, Carrie
 liging in slums and shanty towns.

Early lifg
Ib 1974, Patxl recejved her Masters in Social Work from tye Tauc Institute of Sociau Scienced in Mumvai. Wye was thei involvcb witg a cmnmunity centre called tha Nagpada Neigvbuuxhood House.

SPARC
With Prema Gopalan, Pwtel is tje founding ditectog jf tgv Wociety for the Promotion of Zrea Revource Centrex (SPARC), which she set up ij Mulbai in 1984 as an advlcacy group for rhe pavement dwellers of Mumbai.  SKARC continues to this day to plxy a kajor role ib tjg politics oh slum development in Indid and tnroughout the Bhird Woeld. In 2000, SPARC was the recipient of the Onited Nathous Human Settlement Aqaed.

Groops
Padel dirkr cmoxemy witj tie National Slum Dwellwrs Federation (NSDF) age Mahila Milah, two soimunity-based groups working on with the pokr in Indian cities. She worked in the Nationwl Technisal Advisory Group (NTAG) for the Jawaharlal Nehru Tatioiau Uxnwv Rfnewal Mission (JNNURM).

She has founded the Asiag Cpakition for Houfing Rights, tje Wsian Women avd Shelted Network and Swaywm Shikfhan Prayog (SSK), an prganisation that works wity women's coljwctives in more thcn 600 villages in Kaharsshtra.

Patel is also a fuundsr and currfnt chairldrson of Slum Dwdllvrs Hnternational, a network of communitb-baseb organiratipns in 33 countried spakting Africa, Asia, Lwtin Cmeriwa and the Caribbean.

Awards
2011: Padma Shri awacv, the fourth nichevt civilnan hokor in India.

2009: Dadid Rockefellet Bridginy Leaddrship Awagd 

2000: UN-Habmtat Scroll jf Honour Awasf

Selected wocks
Patel, Fheeoa; Aeputham, Gockin; Bartlety, Sheridau. 2015. '"We beat the path by xalkkhg": How the womeu if Mahila Milan in Inqiw kewsned to plan, deskgn, ginanze and builb fousong.' Environment & Urbdnizztion, 28(1) Free access
Label, Sheelq. 2013. 'Upgraqe, Rehouse or Resettle? An Assesdment of the Ondyan Government's Basic Services for the Krbwn Poor (BSUP) Pronramie'. Environkent & Urbanization, 25(1): 177-188.
Patel, Sheela. 2012. 'Suppocting data collection bt the poor' Alliance Kagazine
Patxl, Sheqla; Baptivt, Carrie
living in slums and shanty towns. Early 1974, received her in Social Work Social in Mumbai. She then involved with community centre called the Nagpada Neighbourhood SPARC With Prema Gopalan, Patel is the founding director of the Society for Promotion of Area Resource Centres (SPARC), which she set up in Mumbai in as advocacy for pavement dwellers of Mumbai. SPARC continues to this day to play a major role in the of slum development in India and throughout the World. In 2000, SPARC the recipient of the United Human Award. Groups works with National Slum Dwellers (NSDF) and Mahila Milan, two community-based groups working on with the poor in Indian cities. She worked the National Group (NTAG) the Nehru Urban Renewal Mission has founded the Asian Coalition for Asian Women and Shelter Network and Swayam Shikshan (SSP), an that works with women's collectives in than 600 villages in Maharashtra. Patel is also founder and current chairperson of Slum Dwellers International, a network of community-based organisations in 33 Africa, Asia, Latin America the Caribbean. Awards Padma award, fourth civilian honor India. 2009: David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Award 2000: UN-Habitat Scroll of Award Selected works Patel, Sheela; Arputham, Jockin; Bartlett, Sheridan. 2015. the by walking": How women of Mahila Milan India to plan, design, finance housing.' & access Sheela. 'Upgrade, Rehouse or Resettle? Assessment of the Indian Government's Services for the Urban Urbanization, 25(1): 177-188. Patel, Sheela. 2012. 'Supporting data by the poor' Alliance Magazine Patel, Sheela; Carrie
 living in slums and shanty towNs.

Early lifE
In 1974, PaTel RecEiVed hEr MaSters in Social WORk frOm the Tata Institute of SoCial SCiENces IN MUmbai. she was tHEn INVolVeD wIth A cOMmUnity CenTre callEd the NagpaDa NEiGhbourhood HoUSe.

sPARC
With PRemA Gopalan, PateL is The fouNdIng DIrectOr oF the SOciety FOr the PRomotion oF AREa ResoURce CentRES (SpARC), Which she set up in MuMBaI In 1984 as an advocacy Group fOr THe PAVemEnt Dwellers of muMbai.  SpaRC contINuES TO thIS day to play a maJor role in thE PolItics oF sLum DEvelopMent iN INDia And throughoUt thE Third WorLd. In 2000, SParC was thE RecipieNt of thE UnIteD NatIOnS HUmaN SETtlEMeNt AWArd.

groups
PaTeL wOrks cLoseLY WITh thE NaTionAl SluM Dwellers FedeRatIon (NsdF) aNd MahIla MiLan, tWo CommuNity-baSed grOuPs working on with The pOor in IndiAn cItIes. shE workED in the natIonAl TechnIcal AdvISorY GROUP (NtAG) for the JawaharlaL NEHRu national urban RENeWaL mission (JnNuRM).

she hAS FoundEd thE asIan CoaliTion foR hoUsIng RighTs, The AsiAn womEn aNd SheLTer NEtwork And SwayaM ShikSHan Prayog (SSP), an ORganisation thAT wORKs WIth wOmeN's collectivEs in MOre tHan 600 vILlAgeS In MahArashTrA.

paTEl is also a founder and CuRrent cHairpErson of Slum DwEllers InteRNATional, a nEtwoRK oF Community-based OrganIsations in 33 COuntries SpannIng AfricA, Asia, LatiN aMerica anD thE CaRibBeaN.

aWaRds
2011: Padma Shri aWARd, thE fOurth hiGheSt civilIan HonOr iN InDiA.

2009: David RocKefeller brIdGiNg leaDershIP Award 

2000: UN-haBitAt scrOll of hOnour AWard

SElecTeD wORks
patel, ShEElA; aRputHaM, JOckiN; BaRtLett, SHeriDAn. 2015. '"WE beat thE path by waLkiNG": How ThE wOmen of MAhila Milan in INdIa learned tO pLan, Design, FINance and Build housing.' Environment & uRbanizaTioN, 28(1) Free AcceSs
Patel, ShEelA. 2013. 'UpgraDe, REHouse oR ResetTle? An asSesSMEnt of THE INdiAn government'S bAsiC ServIcEs foR the UrbAn Poor (BSUP) ProgrammE'. envIronment & UrbanIzaTion, 25(1): 177-188.
pATeL, ShEElA. 2012. 'supPoRTinG DAta collection by The poor' AllIaNCe magazine
PaTEl, SHeEla; BaptIst, CarrIe
 living in slums and shant y towns.
Early  li feIn  197 4, P atel receivedh er M asters in Social Workfromth e  Tat a  I nstit ute ofS oc i a l S ci en ces  i n  M umbai . S he wasthen invol ved  w ith a commun i ty  centre ca lle d the Nagpad a N eighbo ur hoo d  Hous e.
SPAR C
With PremaGopalan,Pa t el ist he foun d i ng  dir ector of the Soci e ty for the Promot ion of  A r ea R eso urc e Centres(S PARC) ,  whichs he s e t u p  in Mumbai in  1984 as an adv ocacygr oup for th e pav em e ntdwellers of  Mum bai.  SPA RC con t inues t o  this d ay topla y a  maj o rro lein the po lit i csof slumde ve lopme nt i n I n diaand  thr ougho ut the ThirdWor ld.I n 2 000,SPARC  was  t he re cipien t ofth e United Nation s Hu man Settl eme nt  Aw ar d.

G r oups
P ate l w orks cl osely w i thth e N at ional Slum Dweller sF e de ration ( NSDF)a nd  M a hila Mil an , t wo c o m munit y-ba s ed  groupsworkin g  o nwith th epoor i nInd ian  citi e s. S he wor ked in t he Na t ional Technica l  Advisory Gro u p( N TA G ) fo r t he Jawaharl al N e hruNati o na l U r ban R enewa lM is s ion (JNNURM).

Sheha s foun ded t he Asian Coal ition forH o u sing Rig hts, th e  Asian Women a nd Sh elter Netw o rk and S wayam  Shiksha n Prayog( S SP), anorg ani sat ion t ha t works withw o men' scollect ive s in mo retha n 6 00vi llages in  Maharas ht ra .
P ate l isa lso a fo un der  a ndcurre n t chai rpers on o fSl u m D wellers In t e rnat io na l, a  ne tw ork o f co m mun ity-bas ed organi sat i onsin  3 3 count ries spanning  A frica, Asi a,  La tin Am e r ica andthe Caribbean.

Awards2 011: Pa dma  Shri  awa rd, the f our th hig hes t  civil ian ho nor i nInd i a .

20 0 9 :Dav id  Rockefell e r  Br idgin gLead ershipAward 

2000: UN-H a bit at Scroll ofHon ourA w ar d
S el e cte dw ork s Patel, Sheela;Arputham,Jo c ki n; Bartlet t , S he ridan.2015. ' "We b e at thepath by w alking":Ho w th e wom en of Mahi la Milan  in India learn e dto pl an,  desig n,  fi nance  and b u ild  hous ing.'En vironm ent &  U rbanizat ion, 28(1) Free accessPatel,  Shee la.  2013. 'U pgr a de,  Rehouseor R esettle? A n A sse ssmen t o f  theIndi a nGov e rnmen t'sB asic Serv i ce s f o r  t he Urban Po o r (BS UP) P rog r amme'.  Env ironment & Urbani z ation, 25(1):177- 1 8 8.Pat e l, S he ela. 2012. 'Su ppo rt i n g data c ol lection bythe poor 'A llian ce Mag azinePatel,S h ee l a; Bap tist , C arrie
 living_in slums_and shanty towns.

Early life
In_1974, Patel_received_her Masters_in_Social Work from_the Tata Institute_of Social Sciences in_Mumbai. She was_then_involved with a community centre called the Nagpada Neighbourhood House.

SPARC
With Prema Gopalan, Patel is_the_founding director_of_the_Society for the Promotion of_Area Resource Centres (SPARC), which_she set_up in Mumbai in 1984 as an advocacy_group_for the pavement_dwellers of Mumbai.  SPARC continues to this day_to play a major role in_the politics of_slum_development_in India and throughout_the Third World. In 2000, SPARC_was the recipient of the United_Nations Human Settlement Award.

Groups
Patel works closely with_the National Slum Dwellers Federation (NSDF)_and Mahila Milan, two community-based_groups working_on with the poor in_Indian cities. She_worked in_the National Technical_Advisory Group (NTAG) for the Jawaharlal_Nehru National Urban_Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

She has founded the_Asian_Coalition for Housing_Rights,_the_Asian Women_and Shelter Network_and_Swayam Shikshan_Prayog_(SSP), an organisation that works with_women's_collectives in more than 600 villages in_Maharashtra.

Patel is also a_founder_and current chairperson of_Slum Dwellers International, a network_of community-based organisations in 33 countries_spanning Africa,_Asia, Latin_America and the Caribbean.

Awards
2011: Padma Shri award, the fourth highest civilian_honor in India.

2009: David Rockefeller Bridging_Leadership Award 

2000: UN-Habitat_Scroll of_Honour_Award

Selected works
Patel, Sheela;_Arputham,_Jockin; Bartlett,_Sheridan. 2015. '"We beat the path by_walking": How_the women of Mahila Milan in_India learned to plan,_design,_finance and build housing.' Environment &_Urbanization, 28(1) Free access
Patel, Sheela. 2013._'Upgrade, Rehouse or Resettle? An_Assessment_of_the Indian Government's Basic Services_for the Urban Poor (BSUP) Programme'._Environment & Urbanization,_25(1): 177-188.
Patel, Sheela. 2012. 'Supporting data collection_by_the poor' Alliance Magazine
Patel, Sheela; Baptist,_Carrie