Major (Retd.) Santosh Bhandari

President – Mahila Prakoshth (Women's Wing) • Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD)

Major (Retd.) Santosh Bhandari is a highly decorated military veteran, mountaineer, Indian Paratrooper, and respected social leader who dedicated 34 distinguished years of service to the nation across diverse Indian states. Serving as the President of the Mahila Prakoshth (Women's Wing) of Uttarakhand Kranti Dal, she leads ground-level initiatives for women's self-reliance, girl child self-defence, anti-drug advocacy, massive environmental afforestation, and youth induction into the Indian Armed Forces.

About Major (Retd.) Santosh Bhandari

A retired Administrative Officer of the NCC Girls Battalion Dehradun, Major Santosh Bhandari is a veteran of distinction whose 34-year tenure in national defence is marked by unwavering discipline, exemplary administrative capability, and youth mentorship. Recognized with 4 prestigious national commendations from the Government of India and the Director General (DG) NCC, she has also been honoured with numerous state-level awards for outstanding humanitarian contributions.

Under her steadfast leadership, the Mahila Prakoshth is forging a resilient, self-confident generation of Uttarakhandi women—empowered through fearless self-defence, ecological guardianship, and dedicated service to the nation and the armed forces.

An accomplished high-altitude mountaineer and certified Indian Paratrooper, Major Bhandari has conquered 6 Himalayan summits across the Garhwal and Western Himalayas, and completed more than 40 arduous treks throughout India. She channels this indomitable spirit into social transformation across Devbhoomi—mentoring rural girls in self-defence, conducting four years of sustained municipal afforestation, and spearheading civic cleanliness and anti-substance abuse drives.

Direct Citizen Interface

Connect Directly with the Mahila Prakoshth Secretariat

Women’s delegations, community self-help groups, students, and citizens wishing to collaborate on women empowerment, self-defence workshops, or community drives may reach out directly to the Secretariat.

1. Women Empowerment & Self-Defence

Conducting regular self-defence bootcamps for school and college girls across Dehradun, imparting legal and safety awareness, and fostering grassroots female leadership.

2. Armed Forces & NCC Pre-Recruitment

Coaching, inspiring, and training enthusiastic Uttarakhand boys and girls to qualify for careers in the Indian Armed Forces, NCC officer cadetships, and paramilitary services.

3. Afforestation, Anti-Drug & Eco-Tourism

Planted thousands of trees in Dehradun over the past 4 years, running extensive anti-drug awareness campaigns, community sanitation drives with civic NGOs, and promoting off-beat remote tourism and Char Dham heritage conservation.