One United Voice for a Child Marriage Free India

 

A Collective Commitment to End Child Marriage

Child marriage remains one of the most persistent violations of children’s human rights in India. It deprives children—especially girls—of education, health, dignity, and the freedom to choose their own futures. Ending this harmful practice requires sustained efforts from government institutions, civil society organizations, and community members working together.

Taking a pledge against child marriage is not just a symbolic act; it is a reaffirmation of our collective responsibility to protect childhood and uphold human rights.

A Significant Step by the Varanasi Administration

In an important move towards realizing the vision of Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat, the Varanasi District Administration has constituted a District Child Marriage Free India Steering Committee. This committee brings together key government departments—including administration, police, education, health, and women & child welfare—along with child protection units and civil society organizations.

The formation of this committee recognizes that child marriage cannot be eliminated by government action alone. It requires close coordination with grassroots organizations that work directly with communities, identify risks early, and support prevention and protection mechanisms.

(Details of the initiative can be read here: https://pvchr.blogspot.com/2025/12/varanasi-administration-forms-district.html)

Grassroots Leadership: The Role of PVCHR and Jan Mitra Nyas

For decades, People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) and Jan Mitra Nyas (JMN) have played a crucial role in advancing human rights and social justice in eastern Uttar Pradesh and beyond. Co-founded by Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi and Shruti Nagvanshi, these organizations have consistently worked with marginalized communities to challenge structural inequalities rooted in caste, poverty, and patriarchy.

In the context of child marriage, PVCHR and JMN have focused on:

• Community-based vigilance and early warning systems to prevent planned child marriages

• Strengthening Village Child Protection Committees and Bal Mitra Committees

• Awareness campaigns on the legal age of marriage, health risks, and gender equality

• Supporting families and children to access education and social protection schemes

• Coordinating with local authorities to report and stop child marriage cases

Their work demonstrates that sustainable change is possible when communities are empowered with knowledge, confidence, and institutional support.

Child Marriage: A Human Rights Issue

Child marriage is not merely a social custom—it is a violation of multiple human rights, including the rights to education, health, protection, and personal liberty. It disproportionately affects girls from marginalized communities and reinforces cycles of poverty, violence, and exclusion.

Addressing child marriage therefore requires a rights-based approach that tackles its root causes while ensuring accountability, protection, and rehabilitation for affected children.

Moving Forward Together

The pledge against child marriage, the formation of the district-level steering committee, and the long-standing grassroots work of organizations like PVCHR and JMN together represent a shared commitment to safeguarding children’s futures.

To build a Child Marriage Free India, we must:

• Strengthen collaboration between government and civil society

• Invest in education and awareness at the community level

• Ensure prompt action and protection when child marriage risks are identified

• Center the voices and rights of children in all interventions

Ending child marriage is possible—when communities, institutions, and individuals act together with determination and compassion.

Together, we can ensure that every child grows up free, educated, and with dignity.

Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat is not just a goal—it is a collective promise to India’s children.

HTDS Millennial Awards 2025 | Featuring Lenin Raghuvanshi

Viksit Bharat begins with Human Dignity 🌱

 

Viksit Bharat begins with Human Dignity 🌱

At Lakhania Dari, Mirzapur, the PVCHR team came together for renewal after resistance—reminding ourselves that development is meaningful only when it protects people, nature, and democracy.

Side by side, Shruti Nagvanshi and Lenin Raghuvanshi stand as co-founders and lifelong companions in the struggle for justice—showing that movements endure not through power, but through trust, solidarity, and moral courage.

In an age of climate crisis and shrinking civic spaces at global level, Lakhania Dari became a living lesson:

• There can be no Viksit Bharat without human rights.
• There can be no development without dignity.
• There can be no democracy without justice.

From grassroots action since 1996, PVCHR continues to work for a Viksit Bharat that is:

✔️ democratically vibrant

✔️ socially inclusive

✔️ ecologically sustainable

✔️ grounded in the rule of law

🔗 Read the full OP-ED:

👉 https://pvchr.blogspot.com/2025/12/lakhania-dari-human-dignity-and-long.html

#ViksitBharat #HumanDignity #PVCHR #ShrutiNagvanshi #LeninRaghuvanshi #JusticeTogether #ClimateJustice #Democracy #RuleOfLaw #SDGs

A Cherished Encounter with Otto Tausig — A Bridge Between Cultures and Humanity

PVCHR: A Cherished Encounter with Otto Tausig — A Bridge ...:   A Cherished Encounter with Otto Tausig — A Bridge Between Cultures and Humanity In 2009, during a visit to Vienna, I experienced ....

 Flying Through Fog: A Passenger’s Journey, Airline Responsibility, and the Future of Aviation in India

Air travel is often seen as a symbol of modern efficiency, yet moments of disruption reveal the deeper realities of infrastructure, communication, and human behavior. My recent journey with IndiGo Airlines from Delhi to Varanasi between 18–20 December 2025 offers an important case study—one that reflects not only individual passenger experience but also broader global trends in aviation management, climate-related disruptions, and public communication.

The Incident: Safety First, But Communication Matters

On 18 December 2025, the IndiGo flight from Delhi to Varanasi was unable to land due to zero visibility caused by dense fog—a common winter phenomenon in North India. The aircraft was diverted to Kolkata and later returned to Delhi.

From a global aviation safety perspective, this decision was correct. International aviation norms prioritize safety above all else, and landing in poor visibility without adequate CAT-III infrastructure would be irresponsible.

However, what followed exposed a recurring challenge in Indian aviation:

lack of timely, clear, and humane communication with passengers.

Passengers—many of them pilgrims, elderly individuals, children, and ill persons—were left confused, receiving limited updates. While safety was ensured, emotional reassurance and logistical clarity were insufficient.

I expressed this concern publicly on social media, tagging relevant authorities—not to blame, but to highlight the gap between operational safety and passenger care.

https://x.com/neodalit/status/2001649103705698339?s=20

Ground Reality: Understanding Constraints with Empathy

That night, I stayed in a hotel arranged by myself. Though I was hungry, food arrived late at night. Importantly, I acknowledge that:

• 19 December had no scheduled flights

• The ticket price was low

• It is not always financially viable for airlines to provide hotels in such disruptions

From a global low-cost carrier (LCC) model, this is understandable. Airlines like IndiGo operate on thin margins, similar to Ryanair or AirAsia.

What stood out, however, was the human dimension:

• Indian passengers tend to become chaotic under stress

• Airline staff, especially young frontline workers, carry enormous emotional pressure

At Delhi Airport on 18 December, I noticed a young IndiGo staff member visibly stressed. When I handed over my boarding pass, he handled the change smoothly, calmly, and professionally. This moment reflected the silent resilience of aviation workers—often overlooked in public criticism.

A Turnaround Experience: 20 December 2025

On 20 December, my flight finally operated.
The experience was remarkably positive.

• The attitude of IndiGo staff onboard was excellent

• Professional, polite, and genuinely people-oriented

• Clear announcements and a calm environment

This reinforced my belief that IndiGo’s core strength lies in its human resources. Despite structural limitations, its staff often go beyond expectations.

I later tweeted upon reaching Delhi T2, as I prepared for arrival in Kashi—a journey deeply spiritual for millions of pilgrims.

https://x.com/neodalit/status/2002223647499653479?s=20

Pilgrimage Flights Are Different

Flights to destinations like Varanasi, Prayagraj, Ayodhya, or other pilgrimage centers are not ordinary commercial routes. They carry:

• Elderly passengers

• Children

• Medically vulnerable travelers

• People driven by faith, not convenience

Globally, airlines operating pilgrimage routes (e.g., Hajj flights, Vatican routes) adopt special passenger-care protocols.

Indian airlines must do the same.

At minimum:

• Clear multilingual communication

• Priority food and water for children, elderly, and the sick

• Visible help desks during disruptions

Policy-Level Reflections: Aviation, Monopoly, and Modernization

This experience also raises larger structural questions:

1. Fog-resistant infrastructure
   The Government of India must support airlines with:

   • Advanced landing systems

   • Better fog-navigation technologies
     This is not just an airline issue—it is a public infrastructure responsibility.

2. Strengthening Air India
   A strong national carrier ensures diversity, competition, and resilience. Globally, aviation ecosystems function best when no single corporate group dominates.

3. Against concentration of business power
   I do not support the control of India’s critical sectors by a few families or corporations. Aviation must remain competitive, diverse, and accessible.

Faith, Reflection, and Perspective

With no flight on 19 December (Amavasya), I spent the day in reflection and prayer, visiting Nigambodh Ghat in Delhi and praying to Mother Kali. Sometimes disruptions create unexpected moments of spiritual grounding.

Critique with Care, Loyalty with Logic

I remain critical where necessary—but fair.

• Safety decisions were right

• Communication needs improvement

• Staff professionalism deserves appreciation

• Policy reform is essential

Despite everything, I say this clearly:

👉 I still love IndiGo.

Because institutions improve not through blind praise or blind anger—but through honest feedback, humane understanding, and systemic reform.

न्याय, स्वतंत्रता, समता : आज़ाद भारत में दलित

 

Justice, Freedom, Equality: Dalits in Independent India

(न्याय, स्वतंत्रता, समता : आज़ाद भारत में दलित)

Justice, Freedom, Equality: Dalits in Independent India is a powerful and deeply researched book by noted human rights activist Lenin Raghuvanshi. Published in 2017 by Frontpage Publications, Kolkata, this Hindi paperback critically examines the lived realities of Dalits in post-independence India—more than 70 years after freedom.

Despite India being the world’s largest democracy, justice remains elusive for millions. Caste continues to shape political, social, and economic life, denying Dalits equal access to resources, dignity, and protection under the law. The book exposes how systemic discrimination, abuse of power, and the nexus between authority and dominant castes often result in denial of justice to the most marginalized communities.

Drawing extensively from case studies in Uttar Pradesh, where crimes against Dalits remain alarmingly high, Raghuvanshi documents brutal practices such as social humiliation, custodial violence, false arrests, illegal detention, and deaths in custody. He highlights the failure of law enforcement agencies, the culture of “police raj” in rural India, and the limited effectiveness of human rights institutions.

The book also critiques structural corruption embedded in India’s administrative framework—an inherited legacy that continues to derail government welfare schemes in rural areas. Through lived experiences and ground-level activism, the author reveals how governance failures perpetuate inequality and injustice.

Lenin Raghuvanshi, an Ayurvedic doctor by profession, is the founder of People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), established in 1996 with his wife Shruti. His work focuses on child labor, torture survivors, and the rights of Dalits and marginalized communities in eastern Uttar Pradesh. An Ashoka Fellow, Raghuvanshi has received numerous national and international recognitions for his contributions to human rights.

This book is an essential read for scholars, students, policymakers, activists, and anyone interested in Dalit studies, human rights, Indian democracy, and social justice.

Book Details:

• Author: Lenin Raghuvanshi

• ISBN: 9789381043257

• Language: Hindi

• Binding: Paperback

• Pages: 172

• Year: 2017

• Price: INR 295

• Publisher: Frontpage Publications, Kolkata

📚 Available at BJP Central Library

Call No.: 06353

🔗 https://bjplibrary.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=6344

🛒 Buy the book (Free Shipping):

🔗 https://frontpagepublications.com/book/न्याय-स्वतंत्रता-समता-आज़ाद/

न्याय, स्वतंत्रता, समता : आज़ाद भारत में दलित वरिष्ठ मानवाधिकार कार्यकर्ता लेनिन रघुवंशी द्वारा लिखित एक महत्वपूर्ण पुस्तक है, जो आज़ादी के सात दशकों बाद भी भारत में दलितों की सामाजिक, राजनीतिक और आर्थिक स्थिति का यथार्थ चित्र प्रस्तुत करती है।

भारत विश्व का सबसे बड़ा लोकतंत्र है, लेकिन जाति व्यवस्था आज भी करोड़ों लोगों के जीवन को नियंत्रित करती है। संसाधनों, सत्ता और प्रशासनिक गठजोड़ के चलते दलित समुदाय को न्याय मिलना आज भी एक चुनौती बना हुआ है। पुस्तक में दलितों पर होने वाले अत्याचार, अवैध गिरफ्तारियाँ, हिरासत में उत्पीड़न, झूठे मुकदमे और सामाजिक अपमान की घटनाओं का सजीव विवरण मिलता है।

लेखक ने विशेष रूप से उत्तर प्रदेश से लिए गए केस स्टडी के माध्यम से यह दिखाया है कि किस प्रकार प्रशासनिक उदासीनता और उच्च जातियों के संरक्षण में दलितों के मानवाधिकारों का उल्लंघन होता है। ग्रामीण भारत में सामाजिक ऑडिट की अनुपस्थिति, पुलिस राज की मानसिकता और मानवाधिकार आयोगों की सीमित शक्तियों पर भी यह पुस्तक गंभीर प्रश्न उठाती है।

औपनिवेशिक काल से चली आ रही भ्रष्ट प्रशासनिक संरचना आज भी स्वतंत्र भारत में न्याय के मार्ग में बड़ी बाधा बनी हुई है। इस कारण अनेक सरकारी योजनाएं अपने उद्देश्य में विफल हो जाती हैं।

लेनिन रघुवंशी ने 1996 में अपनी पत्नी श्रुति के साथ मानवाधिकार जन निगरानी समिति / पीपुल्स विजिलेंस कमेटी ऑन ह्यूमन राइट्स (PVCHR) की स्थापना की। वे दलितों, बाल श्रमिकों और यातना पीड़ितों के अधिकारों के लिए दशकों से सक्रिय रूप से कार्य कर रहे हैं। उनके योगदान को राष्ट्रीय और अंतरराष्ट्रीय स्तर पर अनेक पुरस्कारों और सम्मानों से मान्यता मिली है।

यह पुस्तक दलित विमर्श, मानवाधिकार, इतिहास और राजनीति में रुचि रखने वाले पाठकों के लिए अत्यंत उपयोगी और विचारोत्तेजक है।

📚 बीजेपी सेंट्रल लाइब्रेरी में उपलब्ध

कॉल नंबर: 06353

🛒 पुस्तक खरीदने के लिए (निःशुल्क डिलीवरी):

https://frontpagepublications.com/book/न्याय-स्वतंत्रता-समता-आज़ाद/

Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi ON: The Caste System in India: Slavery in Modern Time

Recognition, Memory, and the Work That Never Ends

 

Minister Nand Gopal Gupta ‘Nandi’ Champions Innovation at HTDS Millennial Awards 2025; Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi Honoured for Human Rights Leadership

Lucknow — The HTDS Millennial Awards 2025 brought together a dynamic community of young innovators, entrepreneurs, and social changemakers, marking a significant moment in Uttar Pradesh’s evolving innovation ecosystem. The event was graced by Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Nand Gopal Gupta ‘Nandi’, who delivered an inspiring address focused on resilience, innovation, and long-term vision.

In his keynote remarks, the Minister emphasised the importance of transforming challenges into opportunities and underscored the need for inclusive growth frameworks that empower entrepreneurs, creators, and communities alike. His address reflected the state government’s continued commitment to entrepreneurship, industrial development, and youth-led economic growth.

The ceremony was attended by Mr. Pranshu Mishra, Resident Editor, Hindustan Times, whose presence underscored the media’s vital role in amplifying stories of innovation, leadership, and social impact emerging from the region.

Among the distinguished awardees, Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi was conferred the HTDS Millennial Award 2025 in recognition of his exceptional leadership in human rights advocacy and social justice. A globally respected human rights defender, Dr. Raghuvanshi has dedicated his life to advancing justice, dignity, and equality, particularly for marginalised and vulnerable communities. His work has generated sustained social impact and continues to inspire a new generation of ethical leaders.

Dr. Raghuvanshi received the award from Hon’ble Minister Nand Gopal Gupta ‘Nandi’ and Mr. Awanish Awasthi, Advisor to the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and former IAS officer, marking a proud and memorable highlight of the ceremony.

Organised by HT Digital Streams Limited, the HTDS Millennial Awards 2025 celebrated excellence across entrepreneurship, technology, education, social impact, and digital innovation, further reinforcing Uttar Pradesh’s emergence as a hub of progressive ideas, leadership, and transformative growth.

🔗 Event glimpse:

https://x.com/i/status/2000537376251343228

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1543880556817065

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/lucknow-news/htds-millennial-awards-2025-puts-spotlight-on-innovators-and-changemakers-101765651196689-amp.html

Recognition arrives quietly for those who work on the margins—carrying memory, not celebration. Writing as witness, not spectator, on what it meant to see human rights work acknowledged at the #HTDSMillennialAwards2025. ✍🏽

Read the memoir: https://medium.com/@shruti_25784/recognition-memory-and-the-work-that-never-ends-528f62c92c26

                                   Featured in Hindustan: HTDS Millennial Awards 2025 celebrating young leaders who are driving innovation, courage, and meaningful change.

#HumanRights #Memory #Justice #PVCHR #EthicalLeadership #SocialImpact #ShrutiNagvanshi

 धन-धान्य, सुख-समृद्धि के लिए शुक्रवार का व्रत — संमार्ग के संपादकीय पृष्ठ पर प्रकाशित लेख

02 दिसंबर 2025 को संमार्ग हिंदी समाचारपत्र के संपादकीय पृष्ठ पर प्रकाशित।

भारतीय आध्यात्मिक परंपराओं में शुक्रवार का दिन विशेष रूप से माँ लक्ष्मी को समर्पित माना गया है। यह दिन धन, सौभाग्य, सुख और समृद्धि की प्राप्ति का प्रतीक है। संमार्ग के संपादकीय पृष्ठ पर प्रकाशित इस लेख में शुक्रवार के व्रत के महत्व, इसकी उपयोगिता और इसे करने की विधि पर विस्तृत प्रकाश डाला गया है।

शुक्रवार के व्रत का महत्व

शुक्रवार का संबंध सीधे माँ महालक्ष्मी से माना जाता है। विश्वास है कि यदि यह व्रत श्रद्धा और नियमपूर्वक किया जाए, तो जीवन में आर्थिक स्थिरता आती है और गृहस्थ जीवन में खुशहाली बनी रहती है।

यह व्रत मानसिक शांति, दाम्पत्य-सौहार्द और मनोकामना-पूर्ति के लिए भी अत्यंत उपयोगी माना गया है।

कैसे करें शुक्रवार का व्रत?

1. सुबह की तैयारी:

स्नान के बाद साफ-सुथरे वस्त्र पहनें और पूजा-स्थान को सजाएं। देवी लक्ष्मी की प्रतिमा या चित्र के समक्ष दीपक जलाएं।

2. शुभ रंग:

व्रत के दौरान सफेद, गुलाबी या हल्के रंग के वस्त्र पहनना शुभ माना गया है।

3. प्रसाद:

खीर, पूड़ी-हलवा या कोई भी मीठा पकवान प्रसाद के रूप में अर्पित करें।

4. मंत्र-जाप:

“ॐ श्रीं महालक्ष्म्यै नमः” मंत्र का जाप विशेष लाभकारी माना जाता है।

5. शाम की आरती:

शाम को पुनः दीपक जलाकर माँ लक्ष्मी की आरती करें और व्रत का संकल्प पूर्ण करें।

व्रत करने से प्राप्त होने वाले लाभ

• धन और संसाधनों में वृद्धि

• पारिवारिक खुशहाली और सौहार्द

• दाम्पत्य जीवन में मधुरता

• मन की शांति और आत्मविश्वास

• कार्यों की सिद्धि और बाधाओं का निवारण

कौन कर सकता है यह व्रत?

शुक्रवार का व्रत किसी भी व्यक्ति के लिए उपयुक्त है—चाहे गृहस्थ हों, विद्यार्थी हों, व्यापारी हों या जीवन में स्थिरता और समृद्धि की आकांक्षा रखने वाले।