Chief Executive Officer · Pravara Rural Education Society

Dr. Sushmita Vikhe Patil

“आदर्श विद्यार्थी घडविणे हाच प्रवरेचा ध्यास”

Shaping ideal students is Pravara's one devotion. Leading one of rural India's most storied education movements into its next era — with modern management, enterprise and timeless values.

Explore her journey Get in touch
Dr. Sushmita Vikhe Patil
Loni, Ahilyanagar · Maharashtra
  • 1964Legacy since — Pravara Rural Education Society founded
  • ₹2.25 CrStudent sales at Building Pravara Expo 2026
  • 1,000+Student entrepreneurs across 175 stalls
  • 108Educational institutions under her leadership

★ — Honours

Dr. Sushmita Vikhe Patil receiving the Shikshan Ratna Award in New Delhi
New Delhi · October 2026
Abhimanaspad! Shikshan Ratna Award announcement
अभिमानास्पद!A proud moment for the entire Pravara family — celebrated across Ahilyanagar.
शिक्षणरत्न पुरस्कार

Shikshan Ratna Award

Conferred by the Rashtra Sahyadri group, New Delhi

Recognised for her tireless work to bring quality education to rural children — to identify their potential, open doors for them, and help them dream big and fulfil those dreams. The honour celebrates her educational leadership and the effort she has invested in the students of rural Maharashtra.

For the entire Pravara family, the national recognition of this work is a matter of great pride.

“ग्रामीण भागातील एखाद्या विद्यार्थ्याला चांगल्या शिक्षणाच्या बळावर स्वतःच्या आयुष्यात प्रगती करताना पाहणं, त्याच्या स्वप्नांना नवी दिशा मिळताना पाहणं, यासारखं समाधान दुसरं कोणतं असेल?”

“What greater satisfaction can there be than watching a rural student rise through good education, and their dreams find a new direction?”— Hon. Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, President, Pravara Rural Education Society
  • #SusmitaVikhe
  • #प्रवरा
  • #शिक्षणरत्न
  • #Ahilyanagar
  • #ProudMoment

01 — About

A leader who measures success in students' lives.

Dr. Sushmita Vikhe Patil is the Chief Executive Officer of the Loknete Padmabhushan Dr. Balasaheb Vikhe Patil Pravara Rural Education Society — the institution born in 1964 at Loni from the cooperative movement that changed rural Maharashtra.

As CEO she is credited with giving Pravara “a new height of modernity”: modern management, research, technology in the classroom, discipline and value-based education — while never losing the rural soul that defines the society.

Today she leads 108 educational institutions. Her work spans schools, junior colleges, agriculture, pharmacy, nursing, engineering and aviation education. Under her guidance, Pravara students now run real businesses, children of migrant sugarcane workers learn to read, and parents are invited in as partners in every child's growth.

Roles & responsibilities

  • Chief Executive OfficerPravara Rural Education Society, Pravaranagar
  • Governing Body MemberPravara Rural Education Society
  • Accountable ManagerHAL–Pravara Aviation Institute, Ozar, Nashik (DGCA-approved)
  • DirectorSindhu Chaya Foundation — health & social work
  • DirectorSindhuchaya Gyaan Prashikshan — education & training
  • AviatorCommercial Pilot Licence holder
  • ResearcherPublished in Scopus-indexed and UGC CARE journals; speaker at national & international conferences

02 — The Legacy

Three generations. One promise to rural India.

I

Padmashri Dr. Vitthalrao Vikhe Patil

Pioneer of India's cooperative movement. Founded the Pravara cooperative sugar factory at Loni — the first of its kind in Asia — and in 1964 the Pravara Rural Education Society.

II

Padmabhushan Dr. Balasaheb Vikhe Patil

Former Union Minister. Grew Pravara into a network of schools, colleges, medical and technical institutions spanning the region between Pune and Nashik.

III

Hon. Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil

President of the Society and Water Resources Minister of Maharashtra. His vision: make Ahilyanagar district a home of industry, built on rural talent.

Now

Dr. Sushmita Vikhe Patil

Turning that vision into daily practice as CEO — modern systems, student enterprise and values that carry the Pravara name into the next generation.

03 — Journey

Milestones along the way

  1. 1964

    The foundation

    Pravara Rural Education Society is established at Loni, beginning with a single school for rural children.

  2. 2009

    Taking rural youth to the skies

    HAL–Pravara Aviation Institute opens at Ozar, Nashik — DGCA-approved and affiliated to the University of Mumbai. She serves as its Accountable Manager.

  3. 2020–21

    Sindhu Chaya

    Becomes Director of the Sindhu Chaya Foundation (health & social work) and Sindhuchaya Gyaan Prashikshan (education & training).

  4. 2024

    Parents as partners

    At the Class XI parents' meet in Loni she sets the tone: “We worry about your child as much as you do.” Pravara Navratri Utsav brings talks by accomplished women to every campus.

  5. 2024–26

    Building Pravara

    The student enterprise expo grows for three consecutive years under her guidance — from about ₹1.75 crore in sales to a record ₹2.25 crore.

  6. Feb 2026

    Sakhar Shala

    The “Sugar School” reaches children of migrant sugarcane harvesters — B.Ed. trainees teach reading and writing right where their parents work.

  7. Mar 2026

    Krushi Nova 2026

    Chief guest at the agriculture institute's annual awards: “Don't study only for a degree — make the farmer prosperous.”

  8. Sep 2026

    Pravara Cultural & Sports Festival

    Opens the games with a lifelong message: loyalty, honesty and dedication at every stage of life.

  9. Oct 2026

    A record year

    Building Pravara closes with 1,000 students, 175 stalls and ₹2.25 crore in direct sales — despite a drought year.

  10. Oct 2026

    Shikshan Ratna Award

    Honoured in New Delhi by the Rashtra Sahyadri group with the ‘Shikshan Ratna’ award for bringing quality education to rural students.

04 — Work & Impact

Initiatives that change lives

Students at the Building Pravara expo
Flagship · Think Globally, Act Locally

Building Pravara — where students become entrepreneurs

A three-day expo answering the call for a Viksit Bharat and swadeshi. Students build, price and sell — solar equipment, dairy and agro-processed products, upcycled goods, eco-friendly lanterns. Farmers' children learn to sell direct to consumers, without middlemen. Deaf and mute students sold thousands of eco-friendly Diwali lanterns and diyas.

₹2.25 Cr
direct sales
175
stalls
1,000
students
3rd
consecutive year

“Making Ahilyanagar district the home of industry is Hon. Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil's resolve — and Building Pravara is a strong step towards it.”

— Dr. Sushmita Vikhe Patil, at the closing ceremony
▶ Watch the expo reels

Sakhar Shala — the Sugar School

Children of migrant sugarcane-cutting families get letters, reading and writing on site, taught by Pravara's B.Ed. trainees — with notebooks, pens and slates provided.

Lab to Land

Every agriculture student a farm advisor. Knowledge moves from the classroom straight to the field so farming becomes modern and profitable.

Dignity of women

“Educating a girl is not the whole of progress.” She calls on families to raise boys who respect women, and brings accomplished women to speak on every campus.

Sport & culture

The Pravara Cultural & Sports Festival gives every player a platform — building discipline, teamwork, social responsibility and decision-making.

Parents as partners

Fifteen minutes of daily conversation, less screen time, reading and playing together — a simple compact between home and school.

Aviation & technical skills

A Commercial Pilot Licence holder herself, she guides HAL–Pravara Aviation Institute, where rural students train as aircraft maintenance engineers in a DGCA-approved programme.

05 — In Her Words

“जीवनातील प्रत्येक टप्प्यावर काम करताना निष्ठा, प्रामाणिकपणा आणि समर्पणाची भावना कायम ठेवावी.”
At every stage of life, hold on to loyalty, honesty and dedication. — Pravara Sports Festival, 2026
“आदर्श विद्यार्थी घडविणे हाच प्रवरेचा ध्यास.”
Shaping ideal students is Pravara's one devotion. — Parents' Meet, Loni, 2024
“विद्यार्थ्यांची जेवढी चिंता तुम्हाला आहे, तेवढीच आम्हाला आहे.”
We care about your child as much as you do. — Parents' Meet, Loni, 2024
“मुलगी शिकली म्हणजे प्रगती झाली असे नाही.”
Educating a girl alone is not progress — society must also teach respect. — Krushi Nova, 2026
“केवळ पदवी नको, कृषि शिक्षणातून बळीराजाला समृद्ध करा.”
Don't settle for a degree — use agricultural education to make the farmer prosperous. — Krushi Nova, 2026

07 — Watch

See Pravara in motion

@susmita_vikhe_patil27.3K followers · 287 posts Follow Susmita Vikhe Patil 16K followers · 352 posts Follow

08 — In the News

Press & mentions

09 — Contact

Write to the office

For invitations, institutional collaborations, media and student matters.

Office of the CEO
Pravara Rural Education Society
Loni Kd., Tal. Rahata, Dist. Ahilyanagar
Maharashtra 413713, India