Shantha Sinha

Shantha Sinha (born January 7, 1950)[1] is an Indian anti-child labour activist. She is the founder of Mamidipudi Venkatarangaiya Foundation, popularly known as MV Foundation (which is named in memory of her grandfather Mamidipudi Venkatarangaiah), and is a professor in the Department of Political science in Hyderabad Central University. She headed the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights for two consecutive terms (three years each); The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) was set up in March 2007 under the Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005, an Act of Parliament (December 2005). Sinha was its first chairperson. She was awarded the civilian honour of Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1998.[2]

Shantha Sinha
Prof. Shantha Sinha in her office
Born (1950-01-07) 7 January 1950
Nellore
NationalityIndian
OccupationSocial Work
OrganizationChairperson, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, India.
AwardsPadma Shri (1998)

Ramon Magsaysay Award

2003 Social Work

Early life and background

Shantha Sinha is an alumnus of St. Ann's High School, Secunderabad[3] up to class 8. She studied from classes 9 to 12 in Keyes High School for Girls, Secunderabad.

College education

She went on to complete her M.A in Political Science from Osmania University in 1970. She obtained her Ph.D from JNU in 1976.

Career

Sinha is an academician with Hyderabad Central University. She gained the internationally renowned 2003 Ramon Magsaysay award[4][5] for community leadership. She has also been awarded the Padma Shri (1999),[6] and the Albert Shanker International Award (1999) from Education International. She has also been awarded with Hyderabad Women of the Decade Achievers Award for Social Service by ASSOCHAM Ladies League.[7] A rights activist, her contribution to a phenomenal reduction in child labour in nearly 500 villages of Ranga Reddy district in Telangana is perhaps unparalleled. Recognizing her work, the Government of India appointed her as the first chairperson of the newly formed NCPCR.

Sinha, Chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) advocated amendment of the Child Labour Act and also requested for including adolescent labourers under its purview in presence of Yogesh Dube, Member of NCPCR and Neela Gangadharan, Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Welfare, in a function organised by ILO, NCPCR and United Nations Children's Fund on the occasion of Anti-Child Labour Day.[8]

References
  1. "Shantha Sinha | University of Hyderabad - Academia.edu". uohyd.academia.edu. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
  2. "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  3. Syeda Farida (12 June 2006). "St Ann's — Shining on". The Hindu.
  4. Thirty-sixth Foundation Day Lecture delivered by Dr Shantha Sinha-Source-IIM Bangalore
  5. Shantha Sinha wins Magsaysay Award for anti-child labour activities-Source-Rediff News
  6. Padma Shri Awardees-Source-india.gov.in
  7. Video on YouTube
  8. "NCPCR for change in Child Labour Act, seeks cover for teens".
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