The Founding Members of Bharatiya Stree Shakti – 1988
1. Smt. Urmila Balvant Apte
A person with multifaceted organizational skills, she was a Mathematics lecturer before becoming an office-bearer of People’s Education Society.
2. Smt. Geeta Balvant Gunde
She is a nationalist activist with an M.Sc. in Chemistry. She worked at Glaxo for 12 yrs as Production Officer before leaving her job in 1984, to pursue social work full-time.
3. Smt. Shubhangi Avinash Thorat-Pethe
A committed, hardworking social worker and a B.Com. graduate who formerly worked in Dhulia, Maharashtra.
4. (Late) Smt. Bakultai Jayant Deokule
She was a fearless, aggressive activist. She worked as a senior worker of Rashtra Sevika Samiti. She was the founder of Grihini Vidyalay, a training centre for women for leadership and economic activity. She also founded a women’s hostel in Thane.
5. (Late) Smt. Jaywantiben Navneet Mehta
She was a leader connected with the masses. An MLA who later became an MP – Former Union Minister of State for Power – Govt. of India.
6. (Late) Prof. Nirmala Pramod Vaidya
She was a very soft spoken VHP activist, sensitive to women’s problems. She founded a trust to help needy school children. One of the founders & president of ‘Drishti Stree Adhyayan Prabodhan Kendra’, a research initiative and documentation centre.
7. Smt. Sunjeevani Hari Raikar
She is a teacher and an Ex-MLC who was elected thrice from the Teachers constituency. She was an office bearer of Shikshak Parishad, an all-India teachers organization. She is also the founder of ‘Vatsalya Trust’ – a reception and adoption centre for children.
8. Dr. Kirtida Ramesh Mehta
She is a Gujarati writer and presently works as a trustee in Vidyanidhi Educational Trust.
9. Smt. Shobhana Prakash Bhide
She is a teacher and expert in innovative teaching and learning processes. This Ex-ABVP worker was also a member of Maharashtra Rajya Madhyamik Pustak Mandal.
10. Smt. Chhaya Janardan Potphode
This passionate social worker was a founder member of a mahila mandal and a women’s cooperative credit society in Kamathipura, Mumbai.
11. Dr. Jyoti Shreeram Patwardhan
She is a former Professor and current HOD of the Chemistry Department – Ruia College, Mumbai. She has always been a committed social worker.
12. Smt. Jayashree Ravindra Pawar
She is known for her dedicated and sensitive approach to social work.
13. Smt. Swati Suresh Nagwekar
She is a committed social worker who contributed during the initial growth-phase of BSS in Mumbai.
14. Smt. Swati Padmakar Gokhale
She is a Vocational Trainer for Special children and currently gives vocational training at Pragati Sanstha.
The First Executive Council – 1988
| Sr. No. | Name | Office or Designation |
| 1 | Smt. Urmila Balvant Apte | President |
| 2 | Smt. Chhaya Janardan Potphode | Treasurer |
| 3 | Smt. Shubhangi Avinash Thorat- Pethe | General Secretary |
| 4 | Smt. Swati Padmakar Gokhale | Vice President |
| 5 | Smt. Swati Suresh Nagwekar | Office Secretary |
| 6 | Smt. Shobhana Prakash Bhide | Member |
| 7 | Smt. Jayashree Ravindra Pawar | Member |