
Avinash Kumar
2023-2024 University of Chicago ScholarsRole
Member, Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan
Location
India
Biography
Facilitating social change by enabling and empowering traditionally marginalized communities, while advocating lasting people-led legislative and policy reforms.
Avinash Kumar is a human rights advocate committed to addressing critical sociopolitical issues in India, including government transparency and accountability. Avinash has worked with the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) and associated campaigns centered on advocating for rights-based legislation and social justice, including the Right to Information Act, social security pensions, and government work guarantee campaigns. Avinash has collaborated with the Safai Karamchari Andolan, an organization focused on eliminating manual scavenging and seeking compensation and rehabilitation for affected individuals. Avinash actively spreads awareness about this issue and has contributed to governmental efforts to find efficient and scalable solutions. Avinash intends to use the Scholars program as an opportunity to refine his approach and act as a coalition builder. His goal is to collaborate with various stakeholders and advocate for the modernization of sanitation work in India.