PVCHR: Lakhania Dari, Human Dignity, and the Long Road to a Viksit Bharat: Why Justice, Democracy, and Nature Must Walk Together

Rooted in nature, bound by conscience, strengthened by collective hope.

At Lakhania Dari, Shruti Nagvanshi and Lenin Raghuvanshi stand not only as co-founders, but as companions in a lifelong journey of justice—walking together through struggle and renewal, alongside communities and friends.

Their shared commitment reminds us that movements endure not through power, but through trust, dignity, and love for humanity.

In early 2025, members of the People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) gathered at Lakhania Dari in Mirzapur, a place where rock, water, forest, and sky come together in quiet dialogue. At first glance, it appeared to be a simple team retreat—colleagues cooking together, sharing food, laughing, walking along the rocks, and momentarily stepping away from the relentless pressures of human rights work. Yet, in truth, it was something deeper: a moment of collective renewal after years of struggle, resistance, and resilience.

For PVCHR, founded in 1996, and for Jan Mitra Nyas (JMN), established in 1999, such moments are rare. Our work—rooted in defending the rights and dignity of marginalized communities—has often been carried out under intense pressure. Over the years, and particularly in recent times, non-state actors have attempted to intimidate, delegitimize, and conspire against human rights defenders. These pressures are not abstract; they take emotional, physical, and psychological tolls on individuals and movements alike.

And yet, Lakhania Dari reminded us of something essential: movements for justice must also nurture life, joy, and solidarity. Resistance cannot survive on struggle alone; it also needs care, community, and moments of shared humanity.

Nature as Healer, Witness, and Teacher

Lakhania Dari is not just a scenic destination in eastern Uttar Pradesh. It is a reminder of the deep connections between nature, human survival, and social justice. The flowing water, rocky formations, and surrounding forests speak of endurance—of ecosystems that have adapted over centuries, much like the communities PVCHR works with: Dalits, Adivasis, women, children, minorities, and informal workers.

In the age of climate change, such landscapes force us to confront uncomfortable truths. Climate change is not only an environmental issue; it is a human rights crisis. The first and worst impacts of ecological degradation—erratic rainfall, water scarcity, heat stress, displacement, food insecurity—are borne by the very communities already pushed to the margins.

For PVCHR, whose work has long centered on survivors of torture, bonded labor, trafficking, and structural violence, the climate crisis is inseparable from questions of dignity and justice. A child displaced by drought, a woman walking miles for water, a tribal family losing land to deforestation—these are not “natural” tragedies. They are outcomes of policy choices, governance failures, and unequal power structures.

Lakhania Dari thus became a classroom without walls. Sitting together by nature, the team reflected on a simple but profound realization:

There can be no human rights without environmental protection, and no sustainable development without social justice.

PVCHR in 2024–25: Continuity, Resistance, and Democratic Engagement

The years 2024 and 2025 have been significant for PVCHR. On the one hand, they have been marked by continued grassroots work—supporting survivors, strengthening community vigilance, advancing child rights, food security, and access to justice. On the other, they have also involved deeper engagement with democratic institutions, particularly where these institutions have acted in alignment with constitutional values.

It is important to say this clearly: democracy is strengthened when civil society and institutions engage constructively. The Government of India and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) have, in several instances, played a positive role in addressing issues affecting marginalized communities, supporting rehabilitation mechanisms, and creating spaces for dialogue. Such actions matter—not only for immediate relief, but for reinforcing faith in the rule of law.

PVCHR acknowledges this role not as uncritical praise, but as recognition of the fact that institutions, when they function according to constitutional mandates, become allies in the pursuit of justice. In a polarized world, such acknowledgments are necessary to keep democratic pathways open.

The SDGs as a Moral and Practical Framework

The reflections at Lakhania Dari also reaffirmed PVCHR’s alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—not as distant global targets, but as lived realities:

SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) remind us that structural injustice, not individual failure, produces deprivation.
SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) connects directly with PVCHR’s work on trauma healing, testimonial therapy, and psychosocial support.
SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) resonates deeply in regions where water scarcity is becoming a daily crisis.
SDG 13 (Climate Action) underscores that climate justice must be people-centered.
SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) speaks directly to PVCHR’s foundational belief: without justice, peace is fragile; without strong institutions, rights remain promises on paper.

At Lakhania Dari, these goals felt tangible. Nature itself seemed to ask: What kind of development are we pursuing, and at whose cost?

Viksit Bharat: Development with Dignity

The idea of Viksit Bharat (Developed India) is often framed in terms of infrastructure, GDP, technology, and global rankings. These are not irrelevant. But for organizations like PVCHR and JMN, development must be judged by a more fundamental metric:

Does it enhance human dignity?

A truly developed India is not one where highways flourish while villages dry up, or where digital growth accelerates while human rights defenders are silenced. A Viksit Bharat must be:

Democratically vibrant, where dissent is protected, not punished.
Socially inclusive, where caste, gender, religion, and class do not determine one’s access to justice.
Ecologically sustainable, where development does not destroy the very conditions of life.
Legally grounded, where the rule of law applies equally to all.

Since 1996, PVCHR has worked at the intersection of these ideals. Since 1999, JMN has carried forward the vision of a Jan Mitra Samaj (People-Friendly Society)—a society where institutions serve people, not power.

Why Retreats Matter in Movements

Some may question the significance of a retreat in the face of urgent crises. But movements are made of people, not slogans. After years of legal battles, field interventions, advocacy, and resistance to intimidation, the Lakhania Dari retreat was an act of survival.

Cooking together, sharing meals, playing, walking in nature—these are not escapes from struggle. They are ways of sustaining the capacity to struggle ethically and humanely. In a world increasingly defined by burnout and polarization, such spaces help movements remain grounded, empathetic, and principled.

Looking Forward: Hope as a Collective Practice

As PVCHR moves forward in 2025 and beyond, the message from Lakhania Dari is clear:

Hope is not passive. It is practiced.

It is practiced when communities organize despite fear.

It is practiced when institutions uphold constitutional values.

It is practiced when nature is respected as a partner, not a resource.

It is practiced when development is measured by dignity, not displacement.

The journey that began in 1996 continues—with renewed energy, deeper solidarity, and a clearer understanding that human rights, climate justice, and democracy are inseparable.

In that sense, Lakhania Dari was not a pause in the movement. It was a reminder of why the movement exists in the first place: to build a better world—humane, democratic, and sustainable—where no one is left behind.