Vidyaben Shah (7 November 1922 – 19 June 2020) was an Indian social worker and activist known for her work with children, women and the elderly in India.

While she was already serving as Vice-President, she was appointed the first non-officio President of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC)[3] by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975.

In 1940 at a social function she met her would be husband Manubhai Shah[2] who went on to become a Union Cabinet Minister in the governments of Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri and Indira Gandhi.

Their marriage was delayed by five years due to their active involvement in the Indian Freedom Movement and also Manubhai was imprisoned by the British Colonial Authority being released from jail in 1945.

Since 1956, she was actively associated for four decades in New Delhi with Bal Sahyog,[10] a unique institution established by Indira Gandhi for the rehabilitation of vagrant children.

The Government of India appointed her as the chairman of the Central Social Welfare Board (CSWB)[16] in 1995 for three years, during which time she initiated many path-breaking programmes to revive this premier institution to its old glory.

In 1995, as a member of the official Indian delegation, she attended the Fourth World Conference on Women held at Beijing, China.

One of the most popular initiatives of the Samaj under Vidyaben's leadership was the development of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Bhavan[18] (a hospitable guest house for economically weaker sections and students coming from outside Delhi).

For several years, she was also a member of the Managing Committees of Modern School Barakhamba Road[21] and Vasant Vihar,[22] and of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.

Vidyaben played the most pioneering role in the establishment of the Triveni Kala Sangam,[24] a premier institution for imparting training in dance, music and painting.

She was responsible for initiating the concept of Navyug Schools that has proved a landmark in the educational field for gifted children from the economically weaker sections of the society.

In 1985, during the United Nations "International Youth Year: Participation, Development and Peace",[12][14][26] she provided remarkable leadership and the various organizations which she was heading or was connected with carried out outstanding reconstructive work under her able guidance.

In 2007 Vidyaben was invited to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment to examine the "Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Bill 2007".

She was President Emeritus of the All India Kitchen Garden Association which encourages the growing of vegetables and flowers using organic methods and following of healthy lifestyle and eating habits across Delhi and other states.