Today, the VSSM has 30 field officers who tirelessly work to get these nomadic tribes access to government schemes, identification cards, ration cards, housing and education.

• “Because their lifestyle meant that they never had a permanent address, it was difficult to obtain documents for them. We have managed to give around 60,000 individuals a Voter ID, and this number will hopefully rise in the future,” says Mittal.
• This is just the beginning of the organisation’s several achievements. The state is now recognising that nomadic and denotified tribes form a significant part of the population, and were overlooked in the Census. Residential plots were obtained for over 1000 families, while the process of obtaining ration cards was made easier.
• VSSM has also helped several families obtain interest-free loans, to start and manage their own businesses, creating professions which will last and help families become self- sufficient.
• “More than that, we are trying to get society to be more sensitive to the plight of this community. We want them to be treated with respect, and unfortunately in many places, they are still treated like criminals”, she says.
• The work that VSSM does comes with its own set of challenges. Mittal explains the difficulties she continues to face in trying to get others to understand the problems of nomadic tribes and denotified tribes. Many of the tribal people themselves do not understand the importance of government schemes and how their problems will be solved. However, she is confident that she, along with her organisation, will be able to create a significant impact.
• She adds, “I know our goals cannot be achieved overnight. For me, these people are my extended family. I want them to lead lives that give them happiness. VSSM is committed to getting these people their basic rights, but more importantly, give them the license to fulfil their own dreams.”