Thursday, July 16, 2026

When Recognition Becomes Responsibility: CRY's Appreciation of Kashi


 Some moments remind us that writing can do more than tell stories—it can open conversations, build bridges, and reaffirm our shared commitment to justice.

I am deeply grateful to Soha Moitra, Regional Director – North, Child Rights and You (CRY), for her thoughtful letter appreciating our book, Kashi, co-authored with Chandra Mishra and Shruti Nagvanshi. Her reflections are not merely an acknowledgment of a publication; they recognize the voices of the people whose lives and struggles inspired the book.

In her letter, Soha writes that Kashi goes beyond portraying the city as a place of temples and rituals. Instead, it presents Kashi as a living civilization rooted in dignity, pluralism, compassion, and human solidarity, bringing forward the lived experiences of Dalits, Musahars, women, weavers, migrants, and other marginalized communities whose stories are too often left untold. She particularly appreciated the chapter "Narrative of Exclusion," highlighting its documentation of resilience and its connection with community initiatives supported through the Jan Mitra Nyas (JMN)–CRY partnership.

This recognition carries special meaning because it comes from an organization that has spent decades working to protect children's rights and strengthen community-led development across India.

The appreciation from CRY reinforces a central message of Kashi: the future of India cannot be understood only through monuments, infrastructure, or economic growth. It must also be understood through the dignity, aspirations, and participation of those who have historically remained at the margins.

As I wrote in my recent essay, "Kashi, Democracy, and the Future of India: Why the Voices at the Margins Matter," the true strength of democracy lies in making invisible lives visible and ensuring that development expands dignity for everyone. The conversations emerging around Kashi—from universities and policymakers to civil society organizations like CRY—demonstrate a growing recognition that inclusion, constitutional values, and social justice must remain at the heart of India's democratic journey.

I sincerely thank Soha Moitra and the entire CRY family for this encouraging appreciation. Such recognition strengthens our resolve to continue documenting stories of resilience, promoting constitutional values, and working toward an India where every voice matters.

Read the full essay:
https://medium.com/@lenin_75290/kashi-democracy-and-the-future-of-india-why-the-voices-at-the-margins-matter-585537d3463b

NHRC's Intervention Reinforces Accountability and Human Rights Protection



 In a democratic society, the protection of human rights depends not only on laws but also on the active functioning of independent institutions that ensure accountability. The recent decision of India's National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to seek an Action Taken Report (ATR) from the Superintendent of Police, Koderma, in a complaint concerning the alleged mistreatment of advocate Raunak Kumar Yadav is a positive example of this institutional responsibility.

The NHRC has registered the matter as Case No. 282/34/12/2026 and directed the Superintendent of Police, Koderma, to conduct an inquiry and submit an Action Taken Report within two weeks. In its order dated 14 July 2026, the Commission observed that the allegations contained in the complaint constitute serious allegations of human rights violations, warranting an official inquiry.

The complaint relates to an incident allegedly occurring on 10 January 2026, when advocate Raunak Kumar Yadav visited Koderma Police Station in connection with his professional duties. According to the complaint, he was allegedly subjected to verbal abuse, physical intimidation, and obstruction while attempting to meet his client. The complaint further states that these actions caused mental trauma and interfered with his professional responsibilities as a lawyer.

Rather than reaching any conclusion on the merits of the allegations, the NHRC has followed due process by seeking a factual report from the concerned police authorities. This reflects the Commission's role as an independent statutory institution committed to ensuring that complaints of alleged human rights violations receive impartial examination.

The People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), which supported the submission of the complaint, believes that whenever allegations involve lawyers, journalists, human rights defenders, or ordinary citizens facing possible violations while exercising their lawful rights, an independent inquiry is essential to uphold public confidence in democratic institutions and the rule of law.

The Commission's intervention is therefore significant not only for the complainant but also for the broader principle of institutional accountability. Seeking an Action Taken Report is an important procedural step that enables the facts to be independently examined and helps ensure that public authorities remain accountable for their actions.

As the inquiry proceeds, it is expected that the Superintendent of Police, Koderma, will submit a comprehensive report to the NHRC within the stipulated timeframe. The Commission will then consider the findings and determine the appropriate course of action in accordance with law.

The NHRC's prompt response demonstrates the importance of independent oversight mechanisms in safeguarding constitutional rights and strengthening the rule of law. Such institutional vigilance contributes to greater transparency, accountability, and public trust in the protection of human rights in India.

Link: राष्ट्रीय मानवाधिकार आयोग ने कोडरमा पुलिस से मांगी रिपोर्ट, अधिवक्ता से कथित दुर्व्यवहार मामले में 2 सप्ताह में ATR तलब

From: <nhrc.india@nic.in>
Date: Tue, Jul 14, 2026 at 4:38 PM
Subject: Action Taken Report Called for(ATR) -282/34/12/2026
To: <sp-koderma@jhpolice.gov.in>, <pvchr.adv@gmail.com>


NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
MANAV ADHIKAR BHAWAN BLOCK-C, GPO COMPLEX, INA, NEW DELHI- 110023
Fax No.: 011-24651332    Website: www.nhrc.nic.in
(Law Division)
Case No.- 282/34/12/2026

Date : 14/07/2026  
To,
THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE
KODERMA JHARKHAND
Email- sp-koderma@jhpolice.gov.in

 
Sub : Complaint/ Intimation from

LENIN RAGHUVANSHI
SA 4/2A DAULATPUR, VARANASI
VARANASI , UTTAR PRADESH
221002
Email- pvchr.adv@gmail.com , Mob No- 9935599331

Subject: Action Taken Report Called for(ATR) -282/34/12/2026.
 
Sir/ Madam,
 
        The complaint/ intimation dated 13/01/2026, was placed before the Commission on 14/07/2026. Upon perusing the same, the Commission directed as follows:
 
         

An online complaint dated 13.01.2026 has been received from Raunak Kumar Yadav S/o Vijay Kumar Yadav, R/o House No. 218, Ward No. 07, Giridih Road, Koderma, Jharkhand, in the Commission on 13.01.2026, containing that:

The complainant alleged that while visiting Koderma Police Station on 10.01.2026 to meet his client in the course of his professional duties, he was initially denied permission and, after being allowed entry, was surrounded by police personnel who allegedly pushed him, abused him, threatened to kill him, and obstructed him from performing his duties as a lawyer. He claimed that the incident caused him mental trauma and violated his constitutional and human rights.

In view of the above, the Commission is of the considered view that the allegations leveled in the complaint are serious violations of the Human Rights of the victims. Accordingly, the Registry is directed to send a copy of the complaint to the Superintendent of Police, Koderma, Jharkhand, to make an inquiry and submit the report expeditiously within a period of 2 Weeks.

 
2.      Accordingly, I am forwarding herewith a copy of the complaint/ intimation as an attachment for taking appropriate action in the matter as per the directions of the Commission. It is requested that an Action Taken Report be sent to the Commission within 2 weeks from the date of receipt of this letter.
 
3.     Any communication by public authorities in this matter may please be sent to the Commission through the HRCNet Portal (https://hrcnet.nic.in) by using id and password already provided to the public authorities (click Authority Login). Any Audio/ Video CDs/ pen drives etc. may be sent through Speed Post/ per bearer. The reports/ responses sent through email may not be entertained.

Your’s faithfully
Sd/-
Sparsh Agarwal
DEPUTY REGISTRAR (LAW)
M-3 Section
Ph. No. 011-24663291

CC to

Complainant Details
Case No. 282/34/12/2026
LENIN RAGHUVANSHI
SA 4/2A DAULATPUR, VARANASI
VARANASI , UTTAR PRADESH
221002
Email- pvchr.adv@gmail.com , Mob No- 9935599331

Sparsh Agarwal
DEPUTY REGISTRAR (LAW)
M-3 Section
Ph. No. 011-24663291

Saturday, July 11, 2026

Turning Evidence into Relief: The Compensation Process

 From Pain to Partial Justice: How People's Testimonies and Human Rights Advocacy Forced Recognition of the Bairvan Struggle

By People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR)

"Human rights work is not merely about filing complaints. It is about transforming silent suffering into public truth, and public truth into accountability."

A Village That Refused to be Silent

For years, the people of Bairvan village in Varanasi have lived under the shadow of displacement. Their ancestral lands, cultivated over generations, became the subject of acquisition for the Mohansarai Transport Nagar project. What should have been a lawful and transparent rehabilitation process instead became a story of uncertainty, unequal compensation, police violence and fear.

The crisis reached its darkest moment on 16 May 2023, when hundreds of police personnel accompanied officials during attempts to take possession of land. Villagers allege that peaceful resistance was met with brutal lathi-charge, arbitrary arrests, destruction of crops and intimidation. Elderly farmers, women and daily wage workers became victims of violence while defending the only asset they possessed—their land.

This was not merely a dispute over compensation. It became a human rights crisis involving the rights to livelihood, dignity, bodily integrity and access to justice.

PVCHR documented these violations and transformed individual suffering into collective evidence for justice.

The First Step: Taking the Matter to NHRC

On 22 May 2023, information received from affected farmers was converted into a formal complaint by Lenin Raghuvanshi before the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

The complaint was registered as:

  • Diary No.: 8381/IN/2023
  • Victims: Poor Farmers of Bairvan
  • Category: Abuse of Power

On 30 May 2023, NHRC directed the Commissioner of Police, Varanasi, to examine the complaint, associate the complainants in the process and report action within eight weeks. Although the Commission disposed of the complaint after issuing directions, the intervention officially acknowledged that the allegations required administrative scrutiny.

Human Rights Work Did Not End With Filing the Complaint

For PVCHR, filing a petition is only the beginning.

Recognising that institutional orders alone rarely change realities on the ground, the organisation initiated a community-based rights process.

1. Folk School: Rebuilding Collective Voice

The team organised an open village meeting where people narrated experiences they had never previously spoken publicly about.

Farmers described:

  • fear of police reprisals,
  • uncertainty regarding land acquisition,
  • unequal compensation,
  • destruction of standing crops,
  • psychological trauma,
  • loss of livelihood.

The Folk School became more than a meeting—it became a democratic space where victims realised they were not isolated individuals but part of a collective struggle.



2. Making the State Listen

Many villagers had never directly interacted with public grievance systems.

PVCHR encouraged each affected family to use government toll-free complaint mechanisms. Rather than speaking on behalf of the victims, the organisation enabled people to register complaints themselves.

This simple process restored confidence that ordinary citizens could engage directly with state institutions.

3. Documenting Human Suffering Through Testimonies

Perhaps the most important intervention was the systematic documentation of 21 detailed testimonies.

These testimonies transformed allegations into evidence.

They documented:

  • police assaults,
  • arbitrary detention,
  • broken bones,
  • destruction of crops,
  • denial of compensation,
  • economic collapse,
  • psychological trauma,
  • fear of future eviction.

The testimonies became both legal documentation and historical memory.

Pain Beyond Statistics

The struggle cannot be understood through numbers alone.

Krishna Pratap (74)

A former village head, Krishna Pratap described being beaten repeatedly while trying to stop a JCB from destroying tomato crops. He suffered serious eye injuries and facial fractures.

His words capture the humiliation experienced by many villagers:

"They beat me in front of everyone as if I had committed a terrible crime. They were taking our land without compensation."

Asha Devi

While hiding inside her home, she watched police brutally assault her husband, breaking his arm.

Unable to afford treatment, the family sold her gold earrings to finance surgery.

More than ₹1.5 lakh was spent on medical treatment, pushing the family into debt.

The trauma continues years later.

Bablu

Bablu was beaten, arrested and imprisoned merely for opposing the acquisition of his land.

He recalled repeatedly asking police:

"What is my fault?"

No answer ever came.

Restoring Dignity

Several days later, PVCHR returned—not with legal notices, but with respect.

Affected families were honoured with traditional gamchas.

Their own testimonies were read aloud before the community.

This symbolic act carried deep psychological significance.

Victims who had felt abandoned discovered that their experiences mattered.

Recognition became part of healing.








Compensation: A Significant but Incomplete Relief

One month after follow-up, important progress became visible.

According to documentation collected during the follow-up:

The compensation varied considerably because it reflected differences in land holdings.

Examples include:

BeneficiaryCompensation
Shobhnath₹2,02,240
Munshi₹2,02,240
Harinath₹2,02,240
Ramji₹3,30,484
Sidhnath₹8,22,611
Ashok₹16,59,218
Lallan₹4,46,350
KunKun₹4,46,350

The official list records compensation for all 22 beneficiaries, amounting to ₹1,00,90,863.

Why Compensation Alone Is Not Justice

Receiving compensation represented an important achievement.

Yet compensation cannot erase:

  • physical injuries,
  • psychological trauma,
  • criminalisation of peaceful protest,
  • years of uncertainty,
  • loss of trust in institutions,
  • fear of future displacement.

Many families continue to argue that compensation remains unequal and that several affected persons are still awaiting fair settlement and secure rehabilitation.

Lessons from the Bairvan Process

The Bairvan experience demonstrates that effective human rights advocacy is a process, not a single legal intervention.

The process included:

  • documenting violations,
  • filing complaints before NHRC,
  • organising community dialogue,
  • encouraging direct citizen participation,
  • recording testimonies,
  • sustained field follow-up,
  • restoring victims' dignity,
  • monitoring compensation.

Each step strengthened the next.

The result was not merely monetary relief but greater visibility, institutional accountability and increased community confidence.

The Bairvan struggle reminds us that justice is rarely immediate.

It emerges through persistence, documentation, community organisation and institutional engagement.

The compensation received by 22 families is an important milestone, but it is only one chapter.

The larger struggle—for equal compensation, accountability for police violence, rehabilitation with dignity and protection of constitutional rights—continues.

As PVCHR has consistently demonstrated, the journey from pain to justice begins when victims become rights-holders, testimonies become evidence, and communities become agents of change.

From Silence to Strength: The Healing Journey of Telling Their Stories


Compensation Brings Relief to 22 Bairvan Families, But the Journey to Justice Continues


Wednesday, July 08, 2026

Empowering Young Minds Through Digital Education at the Ghalib Global Center for Diversity and Pluralism


 Empowering Young Minds Through Digital Education at the Ghalib Global Center for Diversity and Pluralism

By Jan Mitra Nyas (JMN), an initiative of PVCHR

Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh | July 2026

Education is one of the most powerful tools for promoting equality, dignity, and social justice. At the Ghalib Global Center for Diversity and Pluralism (GGCDP) of the People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), education is not merely about academic achievement—it is about empowering children and young people from marginalized communities to become confident, informed, and active citizens.

In this spirit, Jan Mitra Nyas (JMN) has partnered with ADORE to provide free online educational programmes for children and youth. This collaboration, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on 22 June 2026, combines technology, volunteerism, and community participation to ensure that quality education reaches those who need it most.

Learning Beyond Boundaries

The online learning programme is conducted at the Ghalib Global Center for Diversity and Pluralism, which serves as a community learning hub where students can access digital education in a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment.

Under the partnership:

  • ADORE provides expert volunteer teachers, digital learning platforms, and interactive online classes free of cost.
  • Jan Mitra Nyas mobilizes students, coordinates attendance, mentors learners, and ensures continuous follow-up with families and volunteers.

The programme reflects the shared commitment of both organizations to bridge educational inequalities through collaboration and innovation.

A Strong Beginning

Following the signing of the MoU, students from Classes 5 to 12, along with college students pursuing undergraduate studies, registered for the programme.

On 24 June 2026, the first round of online learning sessions brought together 13 enthusiastic students, who participated in three simultaneous classes covering:

  • English Speaking
  • Science
  • Mathematics

The sessions were highly interactive and encouraged students to actively participate, ask questions, and build confidence in their abilities.

Interactive Learning That Builds Confidence

The English-speaking class focused on practical communication skills, including introductions, greetings, vocabulary development, prefixes and suffixes, and the fundamentals of spoken English.

Science classes introduced students to the fascinating world of plants, microorganisms, health, speed, and velocity through interactive discussions that encouraged curiosity rather than rote learning.

Teachers recognized outstanding participation by awarding creative titles to students, celebrating curiosity and encouraging active engagement in every session.

Students Find a New Path

The response from students has been overwhelmingly positive.

Before one session began, facilitators asked participants how they felt about the programme. Students responded enthusiastically, saying they understood the lessons well and enjoyed learning from the volunteer teachers.

Some remarked that if they had received such guidance earlier, their school examination results would have been even better. Many expressed gratitude to Jan Mitra Nyas and PVCHR for creating opportunities that their families could not otherwise afford.

A Community Learning Space

The Ghalib Global Center is becoming more than a classroom—it is emerging as a community resource.

Parents have begun visiting the centre to inquire about admissions after hearing positive feedback from participating children. During one session, a single mother sought information about enrolling her child, and the team introduced her to both the free education programme and available student sponsorship opportunities.

Such community engagement reflects growing trust in the initiative and demonstrates the importance of accessible educational opportunities for underserved families.

Challenges That Require Collective Support

As participation continues to grow, so do the needs of the learning centre.

To serve more students effectively, the programme requires:

  • Additional laptops and desktop computers
  • High-speed and reliable internet connectivity
  • More desks, chairs, and classroom furniture
  • Continued volunteer support
  • Financial assistance to strengthen digital learning infrastructure

Although all classes are provided completely free of charge, expanding the programme depends on the generosity of individuals, institutions, and organizations committed to educational equity.

Education for Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Justice

The work taking place at the Ghalib Global Center for Diversity and Pluralism reflects PVCHR's broader vision of building a society grounded in human rights, diversity, inclusion, pluralism, and equal opportunity.

By combining digital education with community participation, Jan Mitra Nyas and ADORE are not only helping children improve academically but also nurturing critical thinking, confidence, communication skills, and hope for the future.

This initiative demonstrates that technology, when combined with compassion and community engagement, can become a powerful instrument for social transformation.

Join Us

Every child deserves the opportunity to learn, regardless of economic or social circumstances. By supporting the Ghalib Global Center for Diversity and Pluralism, you can help bridge the digital divide and create brighter futures for children and youth from marginalized communities.

Learn More

Together, we can ensure that quality education becomes a reality for every child and that learning remains a pathway to dignity, opportunity, and social justice. 

At the Ghalib Global Center for Diversity and Pluralism (GGCDP) of PVCHR, children from marginalized communities are enthusiastically participating in free online classes in Mathematics, Science, and Spoken English through our partnership with ADORE. Guided by dedicated volunteer teachers, these interactive sessions are helping students strengthen their academic skills, build confidence, and embrace digital learning. Together, we are creating an inclusive learning environment where every child has the opportunity to learn, grow, and realize their full potential. 🌱📚






















Learning Through Creativity, Confidence, and Collaboration!

At the Ghalib Global Center for Diversity and Pluralism (GGCDP) of PVCHR, children are exploring important life values through interactive role plays, teamwork, and creative learning activities. These sessions help nurture confidence, communication skills, empathy, and leadership while creating a joyful and inclusive learning environment. Every activity empowers young minds to express themselves, respect diversity, and grow into compassionate changemakers.



Wednesday, July 01, 2026

From Trauma to Transformation: Why Capacity Development in MHPSS Matters

Reflections on the BMZ Recommendation Paper and Lessons for Community-Based Mental Health

The recently published Recommendation Paper on Training and Capacity Development in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) in Development Cooperation, commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and developed by GIZ together with leading international organisations, is an important contribution to the field of humanitarian mental health. The paper provides evidence-based guidance for designing, implementing, and sustaining Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) training programmes in conflict-affected settings, particularly drawing on experiences from Syria and Iraq.

Although the recommendations emerge from the Middle East, they have significant relevance for countries like India, where survivors of torture, caste discrimination, communal violence, trafficking, and structural exclusion continue to experience profound psychosocial distress.

Beyond Clinical Care: A Rights-Based Perspective

One of the report's strongest messages is that mental health cannot be separated from social, political, and human rights realities. Psychosocial distress is often a natural response to violence, displacement, discrimination, and injustice rather than merely an individual medical condition. The report therefore advocates approaches that integrate empowerment, dignity, social participation, and community support into psychosocial care.

This perspective resonates strongly with rights-based organisations working in contexts where structural violence shapes people's everyday lives.

Building Human Capacity Rather than Delivering Short-Term Training

The recommendation paper argues that effective MHPSS training is not a one-time workshop but a long-term process of developing competencies. It emphasizes:

  • relationship-building and supportive communication;
  • self-awareness and reflective practice;
  • supervision and continuous mentoring;
  • contextual adaptation rather than standardized models; and
  • strengthening existing local capacities instead of replacing them.

The report highlights three core principles:

  1. invest in long-term competency development rather than brief trainings;
  2. build upon the experience and strengths that trainees already possess; and
  3. adapt every training programme to local cultural, social, and political realities.

These recommendations are particularly valuable for organizations working in fragile and marginalized communities.

Community Participation as the Foundation of Healing

Rather than limiting psychosocial support to specialists, the paper recommends strengthening the capacities of teachers, social workers, community workers, humanitarian practitioners, and local volunteers who already maintain trusted relationships within their communities. This reflects an ecological understanding of mental health in which families, schools, and communities all contribute to psychosocial wellbeing.

Such an approach is especially relevant in low-resource settings where access to psychiatrists and psychologists remains limited.

Context Matters

The report repeatedly emphasizes that MHPSS programmes should never be detached from local realities. Training must account for:

  • ongoing violence or post-conflict conditions;
  • cultural understandings of distress;
  • local belief systems;
  • gender dynamics;
  • safety and risk management;
  • political and historical contexts; and
  • the lived experiences of trainees themselves.

This reinforces an important lesson for practitioners: effective psychosocial support cannot simply be imported from one context to another—it must be co-created with local communities.

Relevance for India

Many of the recommendations have direct implications for India, where psychosocial distress frequently intersects with caste discrimination, communal conflict, gender-based violence, displacement, bonded labour, and torture.

Community-based organizations have long demonstrated that recovery involves more than counselling alone. It requires restoring dignity, strengthening social networks, enabling participation, and addressing structural injustice alongside emotional healing.

Looking Forward

The BMZ Recommendation Paper offers a comprehensive framework for strengthening Mental Health and Psychosocial Support systems in humanitarian and development settings. By emphasizing locally grounded capacity development, human rights, community participation, and long-term supervision, it moves beyond traditional clinical models toward a more holistic understanding of psychosocial wellbeing.

As governments, civil society organizations, universities, and humanitarian agencies expand investments in MHPSS, this publication provides timely guidance for building sustainable, culturally responsive, and rights-based support systems.

For practitioners working at the intersection of mental health, human rights, and community development, this recommendation paper is an essential resource that deserves careful study and wider application.

Reference

Recommendation Paper on Training and Capacity Development in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) in Development Cooperation: As Exemplified in the Context of the Crises in Syria and Iraq. Commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and developed by GIZ in collaboration with international MHPSS partners. 

Link: https://www.bmz.de/resource/blob/97996/recommendation-paper-on-training-and-capacity-development-in-mhpss.pdf

https://www.scribd.com/document/1056955180/From-Trauma-to-Transformation-Why-Capacity-Development-in-MHPSS-Matters