Unsung Heroes: How Vishwala Patel, a Bengaluru-based biker is revving up change one step at a time

An alumna of RV College of Engineering, she headed the National Service Scheme (NSS) Club and that’s where her journey began. Indulging in several activities such as marathons, awareness drives and plantations, she excelled in her studies and launched a promising career in her field.

The ‘Kavach team’ also organises blood donation drives to aid easy blood transfusions for thalassemia patients in association with centres like Sankalp and Rashtrotthana. (Express photo)

However, after graduation, she was left with no fixed medium to carry out such social work which she so selflessly enjoyed. Patel couldn’t ignore the call to make a difference in her community, so there she was – with help from a couple of friends and college volunteers, trying to officiate a platform for community service. Her love for biking, combined with a deep sense of social responsibility, paved the way for Kavach Trust. “I have always been very passionate about bikes. Growing up, a cousin of mine taught me how to ride one. In fact I went to get my driver’s licence on my 18th birthday!” she said.

Kavach, which means “shield” or “protection”, gets its name from a blanket distribution drive that Patel and her friends undertook in 2019. Patel envisioned the NGO as a protective shield for the underprivileged, providing them with essential resources and opportunities. Since its inception, Kavach Trust has initiated numerous projects aimed at education, healthcare, and environmental sustainability.

Rural schools in Krishnaraja Pete, Mandya, have been revamped with local techniques making it easier for regular maintenance and upkeep. Stationery kits were also distributed to facilitate effective learning. As part of academic outreach, she also teaches computer science and English to students of a government school in Magadi Road, Bengaluru.

Kavach, which means “shield” or “protection”, gets its name from a blanket distribution drive that Patel and her friends undertook in 2019.

The ‘Kavach team’ also organises blood donation drives to aid easy blood transfusions for thalassemia patients in association with centres like Sankalp and Rashtrotthana. Plogging, yet another initiative they have undertaken, has been fruitful so far with over 150 kg of plastic waste collected per trip from Shivagange, a popular tourist attraction.

Vishwala Patel is also the founder of ‘vNurture’, the proceeds of which go to her trust. It is a home grown brand that makes natural bio enzyme cleansers from citrus fruit peels replacing chemical-based cleansers. Through this, the NGO has also rejuvenated the Allalasandra lake in Bengaluru where considerable water quality improvement was noticed with lab testing before and after treatment.

“We add diluted natural citrus bio enzymes to lakes in a proportion based on the size of the lake. Adding these bio enzymes help enhance the oxygen levels of water, reduce bad odour of polluted lakes and also favour aquatic life growth.” Several unnamed lakes in Chikkaballapur, Tumkur, Ramnagar, among others have been rejuvenated in the same way by the trust.

Patel couldn’t ignore the call to make a difference in her community, so there she was – with help from a couple of friends and college volunteers, trying to officiate a platform for community service.

From food distribution drives to other activities like plog treks, blood donations for Thalassemia patients, rural school rejuvenation, sanitary kits distribution, career counselling sessions and plantation drives amongst others, the Trust has come a long way. “We have a diverse volunteering base with over 150 people whose time and effort we deeply value.” Patel added. In addition, she also hosts Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) events on a corporate front with other NGOs tied up with her workplace.

Balancing a demanding career with extensive social work is no easy feat, but Vishwala Patel handles it with grace and grit. She attributes her ability to juggle these roles to an unwavering support system – her parents, who have helped her break stereotypes in all her varied endeavours.

“I would like to nudge the upcoming generations to involve their children in such activities to teach them the importance of social service.” Asked what keeps her going, Patel replied, “The satisfaction I derive from being a do-gooder is rewarding beyond measure.”

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