Sanjay Kumar (activist)

Sanjay Kumar (born 15 January 1976) is an Indian social activist who is the deputy director of Aashray Adhikar Abhiyan in New Delhi, which has worked for the rights of homeless people since 2000.

Kumar is working in the field of social work and social policy since the year 2000 on the issues of urban poor, homelessness, street and working children, old age pension, right to education, right to food and citizenship rights. Managing and implementing a campaign with hundreds of volunteers to insure access to shelter, health-care, justice capacity and skill building, mobilization of marginalized people. Organizing mass events/rallies, conducting census/surveys, Documenting and researching interventions. Networking and advocacy with government departments, NGOs, and movements. Fighting against inequality, discrimination and sensitizing civil society for the realization of the larger goal of marginalized people.

Kumar is also associated as a research scholar on the issue of Homelessness with Department of Social Work.

Education

He is pursuing a PhD in Homelessness from the University of Delhi. He has done MSW (Master of Social Work), UGC, NET, a diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication, a diploma in Rural Development, MA in History, and BA (Honors) in History.

Publications and documentations

Treatment of Homeless persons with severe Mental Illness: Making a Difference, Begharo Ki Karah case studies of Homeless people, Meri Kahani Meri Jubani The Testimonies of homeless people caught Under Bombay Prevention Of Beggary Act: published in People Without A Nation, Towards Reclaiming Our Humanness AAA publication.

Awards and fellowships

He received a scholarship for an emerging social entrepreneur from Leader Quest organization London, UK 2007-08.

Achievements

• Beghar Sandesh (parallel postal service) first ever initiative to connect lives living without addresses at Delhi.
• Voter ID cards for homeless people, the first ever initiative in democratic India to insure voting rights with voter ID cards for people living on the streets.
• Opening of saving bank accounts in nationalized banks of INDIA, the first ever initiative in democratic India for homeless people to get accounts in banks including the Union Bank of India and Punjab National Bank.
• A public-private model of Mental Health initiative for the urban poor and destitute.
• "Save the Lives" campaign in partnership mode with the Delhi government for the homeless and destitute during the winters of Delhi.
• Established Maha-Panchayat, a yearly parliamentary forum of homeless people.
• Beghar Ratri and Prateh Milan: for the awareness of the homeless and the civil society, early morning and late night marches in the streets .
• He established a computer learning center at the shelter for the homeless.

References