Shantha Sinha

Shantha Sinha
Prof. Shantha Sinha in her office
Born	7 January 1950 Nellore
Organization	Chairperson, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, India.

Prof. Shantha Sinha is an anti-child labour activist of international reputation. 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 (3 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). Professor Sinha was its first chairperson. She was awarded the civilian honour of Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1998.^[1]

Early life and background

Shantha Sinha is an alumnus of St. Ann's High School, Secunderabad^[2] 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

Shanta Sinha is an academician with Hyderabad Central University. She gained the internationally renowned 2003 Ramon Magsaysay award^[3][4] for community leadership. She has also been awarded the Padma Shri (1999),^[5] 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.^[6] A rights activist, her contribution to a phenomenal reduction in child labour in nearly 500 villages of Ranga Reddy district in Andhra Pradesh is perhaps unparalleled. Recognizing her work, the Government of India appointed her as the first chairperson of the newly formed NCPCR.

References

1. "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
2. Syeda Farida (12 June 2006). "St Ann's — Shining on". The Hindu.
3. Thirty-sixth Foundation Day Lecture delivered by Dr Shantha Sinha-Source-IIM Bangalore
4. Shantha Sinha wins Magsaysay Award for anti-child labour activities-Source-Rediff News
5. Padma Shri Awardees-Source-india.gov.in
6. Video on YouTube

External links

• Tough action sought against child labour on farms, The Hindu, 10 October 2006
• Interview, Striving for better lives , The Hindu, 5 August 2003
• Interview, "Education, an antidote to child labour", OneWorld South Asia, 19 June 2010
• MV Foundation
• NCPCR