Verve’s Power Women: Anandiben Patel

Anandiben Patel
73, Power Chief

First elected as an MLA from the Mandal constituency in Ahmedabad district in 1998, Anandiben Patel went on to become the Minister of Education, and Child and Women Welfare in the Keshubhai Patel government. Today, she stands proud as the first female chief minister of Gujarat and the only woman in the state to be elected as an MLA for four consecutive terms. Known for her no-nonsense persona, practicality and mass connect, she has made significant contributions to the areas of education, youth and sports, roads and building, revenue, women and child development, and even disaster management. The taskmaster is also the recipient of the President’s Award for Best Teacher and the Gallantry Award by the government of Gujarat.

ON BRINGING ABOUT POSITIVE CHANGE: The chief minister feels that without strong and visionary leadership, it is impossible to galvanise the government and bureaucratic machinery and to efficiently implement developmental programmes.

INSPIRATIONAL  MESSAGE: ‘I draw inspiration from moving amongst the people. This habit of mine has taught me governance. It teaches an administrator much more than an administrative or management degree.’