Birth: May 20, 1940, Jodhpur (Rajasthan) Father: Late Shri Moolraj Dhariwal, RAS Mother: Late Smt. Kesar Kanwar Dhariwal Husband: Late Shri Parsmal Bohra Education: M.A. (Political Science), B.Ed.
Special Interests
Social service for the upliftment of rural women, orphans, persons
with disabilities, and the visually impaired—particularly focused on
making them self-reliant by providing self-employment opportunities.
Deep interest in eliminating social evils such as child marriage,
funeral feasts, untouchability, addiction to alcohol and opium, and
dowry.
Actively engaged in areas like family planning, adult education, tree
plantation, healthcare, promotion of khadi, and resolution of family
disputes and unsuccessful marriages.
Lecturer, Mahesh Teachers' Training College, Jodhpur (1967-1984)
Project Director, District Women's Development Agency, Govt. of
Rajasthan, Jodhpur (1984-1998)
Involvement in Various Institutions
Founder President, Netraheen Vikas Sansthan - Working for the
rehabilitation of the blind, deaf, mute, and intellectually disabled
students (Since 1977)
Founder Honorary Secretary, Sambal Mahila Prakoshth, Bhagwan
Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti, Jaipur - dedicated to the
welfare and rehabilitation of widowed and distressed rural women
(Since 1990)
District Governor, Lions Club International, District 323 E-2
(1999-2000)
President, Bal Shobha Sansthan (an orphanage providing free
education, lodging, and food) (1987-2002)
President, Gandhi Peace Foundation Centre, Jodhpur (1990-1995)
President, Samyak Gyan Pracharak Mandal, Jaipur - involved in
publishing Jain scriptures and the monthly magazine Jinwani
(1997-2000)
Vice President, Prani Mitra Sansthan - working in drought-hit areas
of Western Rajasthan for sheltering cows and stopping illegal export
for slaughter (Since 1999)
Member, State Level Wome's Security and Support Centre
Committee (2013)
Member Judge, District Lok Adalat, Jodhpur (2011-2013)
Member, Internal Complaints Committee on Sexual Harassment,
District & Sessions Court, Jodhpur (2016-17)
Member, Family Court
Member, Chief Minister's Budget Advisory Committee, Govt. of
Rajasthan
Special Honors and Awards
16th Mahavir Award - ₹10.00 lakh, presented by Hon'ble Vice
President Shri Hamid Ansari at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi (2013)
National Award - For exceptional service in the field of disability
welfare, presented by Hon'ble President Shri K.R. Narayanan (5
Dec. 1992)
Satpal Mittal National Award - ₹2.5 lakh by Union Minister Shri
Prakash Javadekar (2019)
Sadguru Gyananand National Award - ₹51,000, Chennai (2001)
Sarojini Trilokinath Award - ₹50,000 (2007)
Sambodhi Seva Ratna Award - ₹50,000 for Netraheen Vikas
Sansthan (2015)
Marwar Ratna Award - ₹31,000, Mumbai (2014)
Marwar Ratna Samman - Rao Jodha Smriti Puraskar, Mehrangarh
Museum Trust (2009)
Nari Shakti Award - ₹11,000 by Govt. of Rajasthan on International
Women's Day (2001)
Vishisht Swadhyayi Samman - ₹11,000 from Samyak Gyan
Pracharak Mandal for delivering discourses on Lord Mahavir's
principles across cities like Hong Kong, Mumbai, Kanpur, Guwahati
etc. for over 40 years
5th Helen Keller National Award - NCEDP and Shell Company
(2003)
Mahavir and Mahatma Award - by Times of India Group
Jodhpur Gaurav Alankaran - by Jodhpur Municipal Corporation
(2007)
Marwar Gaurav Samman - by Zee Rajasthan News (2017)
Mother Teresa Award - by Lions Club, Mumbai (2015)
Gaurav Ratna Samman - by Jai Narayan Vyas University, Jodhpur
(2019)
State-Level Indira Mahila Shakti Award - ₹51,000 (2022)
Acharya Hasti Ahimsa Karyakarta Award - ₹5 lakh, Ratanlal C.
Bafna Foundation, Jalgaon (2022)
Dr. Thomas Kangan Social Leadership Award (2023)
Acharya Hasti Vishisht Karuna Award - by Karuna International,
Chennai
Recognition by Government of Rajasthan and Jodhpur
Administration
State-level Best NGO Award - ₹50,000 by then Governor Smt.
Pratibha Patil on Republic Day, 26 Jan 2007
Recognized on 15 Aug 1983 (for rehabilitation of blind)
26 Jan 1985 (for work in disability sector)
15 Aug 1989 (for women's empowerment)
26 Jan 1992 (for social reform and women's development)
Acknowledged by DRDA, Jodhpur (for women's development)
Lionsism Awards
SInternational Leadership Medal (1998-99)
International President's Appreciation Certificate (5 times)
Founder Member Growth Award (1999-2000)
Club Extension Award (for founding 13 new clubs)
Best District Directory & Publication Award at Multiple 323 level
during her tenure as District Governor (1999-2000)
Melvin Jones Fellowship
Outstanding President Award - Gold Medal as President of Lions
Club of Jodhpur (1996)
Numerous other honors from district, state, and national institutions
for her social contributions
Other Achievements
Interviews on AIR and Doordarshan
Between 1981 and 2017, she shared her experiences on 64
interviews broadcast by All India Radio and Doordarshan.
International Training - London
Impressed by her humanitarian service, the Small Industries
Development Bank of India (SIDBI) sponsored her one-month
training on “Finance for Micro Enterprises” at Cranfield School of
Management, London in 1993. She has traveled across India,
Europe, the USA, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia for various
conferences, seminars, and training programs.
Summary
Born on May 20, 1940 in Jodhpur, Mrs. Sushila Bohra began her
career as a lecturer after continuing her studies following the
untimely death of her husband. She taught at Banasthali Vidyapith
(1966) and later at Mahesh Teachers' Training College (1967-1984).
She was appointed as Project Director of the District Women
Development Agency in 1984 and served until her retirement in
1998.
Education and Rehabilitation for the Disabled
She is the Founder President of Netraheen Vikas Sansthan,
established in 1977, dedicated to rehabilitating visually, hearing,
speech, and intellectually disabled students. The institute provides
free education and lodging up to Class 12, benefiting 1247 students
at present.
Women Empowerment
As Founder Secretary of Sambal, she has worked since 1990 to
support widowed and distressed rural women by enabling them to
start self-reliant ventures like general stores, tailoring, beauty
parlors, flour mills, etc. Over 7500 women have benefited through
grants and loans in Jodhpur district.
Support for Orphan Children
She founded Bal Shobha Sansthan in 1987, which offers free
education, shelter, and meals to orphaned children. She served as
President till 2002. Currently, 150 orphans from rural areas of
Western Rajasthan are being supported.
Promotion of Gandhian Values
Inspired by Gandhian ideology, she has worn khadi since 1967. She
served as President of the Gandhi Peace Foundation Centre,
Jodhpur (1990-1995), promoting Gandhian thought and literature
and running a large library. The center also organizes an annual
Sarvodaya Vichar Pariksha.
Contribution to Lions Movement
She served as District Governor (1999-2000) of Lions Club
International, District 323 E-2, and was the only woman among 47
Governors in India that year.
Biography Published by Times of India (2009)
In 2009, The Times of India published her life story in their book
Footprints, highlighting her contributions to society.
