Open Letter to Minister of Consumer Affairs regards Hunger and Starvation during Lockdown

To

Shri Ram Vilas Paswan

Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Government of India

13 April 2020

Dear Sir,

Universalize the Public Distribution System to avoid further hunger and starvation

On behalf of the Right to Food Campaign we appeal to you to urgently make the availability of rations under the Public Distribution System (PDS) universal in such a manner that any person/household that approaches a fair price shop (FPS) can get a package of grains, pulses and cooking oil to avoid widespread hunger and starvation. The national lockdown that was imposed has resulted in loss of livelihoods to millions of poor and working people across the country. The Campaign received reports of widespread hunger from urban and rural areas across the country, and also starvation deaths in Bihar, Hyderabad, Jharkhand, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh. Supply chains were broken and access to markets has also become more difficult. Despite administrative measures, food inflation and spiralling prices of even essential items are with us to stay.

The relief measures announced by the Government of India under the Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) are hugely inadequate in responding to the need. Of utmost concern is the fact that the free rations that have been announced are only for those who already have ration cards under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), thereby excluding a large number of people. The NFSA covers only 67% of the population (on average 75% in rural areas and 50% in urban areas). Even this is based on the population figures from the 2011 Census (1.24 billion) resulting in a coverage of 83 crore people. With population increase it is estimated that as of 2020, population in India would be around

1.38 billion. Therefore, even by the NFSA mandated coverage at least 92 crore people, i.e. an additional 9 crore persons would need to be included. It has to be further kept in mind that based on PLFS data it is estimated that 81.7% of people in the country earn less than 18,000 per month (68% earn less than Rs. 12,000 per month), which is even less than the minimum wage recommended by 7th Pay Commission. In the current context of increased unemployment post the lockdown the situation would be worse.

We wish to further reiterate that a very large section of those who do not have ration cards include some of the most vulnerable sections of society, such as migrants, homeless people, old persons, DNT tribes, young children and so on. As we have been pointing out time and again, it is only a universal system along with additional measures which will be able to reach the most vulnerable. In the last few years, in every state, thousands of people who have been trying to get a ration card have been told that the ‘quotas’ for the state are exhausted. We therefore urge you to make the PDS entitlements for six months at least universal in coverage in the sense that no person who approaches a ration shop for free

grains should be denied the same for lack of ration cards. Universal schemes tend to have lower leakages and minimal exclusions. Universal PDS in states such as Tamil Nadu has resulted in the rich self-selecting themselves out of the system because the opportunity cost of standing in the line and the relatively inferior quality of grain are not worth their taking the benefits. If everyone has access to the free rations, the possibility of selling the same grain in black is also reduced.

The following are some of the points we would like to bring to your notice in this regard:

1. The relief that has been announced of additional 5 kgs of free grains and inclusion of pulses has not yet reached most states due to the lockdown having caused the breakdown in the transportation system and the delay is not acceptable, given the acute distress people are facing.
2. Some states have announced their own measures, such as additional 2.5kgs of grain in Delhi for ration card holders, free grain for Antyodaya ration cardholders in Uttar Pradesh, 5 kg of free wheat, 1 kg of rice, 1 kg dal, 0.5 kg oil and salt in Rajasthan for non-NFSA households and West Bengal is giving 5 kg of free foodgrains to all NFSA ration cardholders and 19% of population with these ration cards. These need to be seen as an add on, and the central allocation of additional 5kg per head must still reach people.
3. In some states, such as Delhi, it has been announced that those who do not have NFSA ration cards will also be given rations. However, the online application system put in place for this is cumbersome and not workable. In Rajasthan the non-NFSA beneficiaries are being subjected to a survey, which is so slow and the different district administrations have come up with ridiculously small numbers. Based on this experience, we reiterate that what we need now is a mechanism where no person is rejected and is given ration without needing to apply for fresh cards. Ration shopkeepers can put marks with indelible ink on people’s hands to prevent people from taking ration more than once.
4. State governments that are expanding their PDS coverage and quantity must be encouraged and given additional allocations from the central pool for free or at NFSA prices so that they can immediately ensure that these entitlements reach people.

We demand that the Ministry of Food and Public Distribution, act upon our demands, which are as follows:

• Expand the PDS to cover every individual, irrespective of whether they have a ration card, with 10kg of grain, 1.5kg pulses and 800gms cooking oil per month per person for at least six months. There are 77 million tonnes of foodgrain stocks in the FCI godowns (including the unmilled paddy) – thrice the buffer stock norms. Once the procurement of the Rabi crop is completed, it is expected that another 35-40 million tonnes will be added. As per the PIB release, about 2.5 million tonnes have been released after the lockdown, to meet the requirements of the relief measures. It is therefore imminently possible and also urgently required to universalise the PDS.
• Ensure cooked food and running of community kitchens/feeding centres in urban areas to address the needs of migrant, unorganised sector workers, and the homeless and destitute populations.

Provisioning of dry rations to all intrastate and interstate migrant workers who are very food insecure.

Endorsements:

Organisations/Institutions/Campaigns

1. Adivasi Adhikar Samiti
2. Anna Adhikar Abhiyan, Maharashtra
3. Anna Suraksha Adhikar Abhiyan, Gujarat
4. Association for India’s Development (AID), USA
5. Association for India’s Development (AID), Bengaluru
6. Association of Bengal Collaborators for Development
7. Bal Suraksha Abhiyan Trust
8. Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha
9. Barmer Lok Adhikaar Network
10. Child Rights Trust, Bengaluru
11. Durbar Mahila, Samanwaya Committee
12. Feminist Policy Collective
13. Gitaldaha Bikas Samiti
14. Gyan Vigyan Samiti Jharkhand
15. Health Watch Forum
16. Human Life Development & Research Center
17. Human Rights Law Network
18. Islampur Ramkrishnapally Rural Welfare Society
19. Jagrukta Mahila Okkuta Community Organisation
20. Jan Swasthya Abhiyan
21. Jharkhand Nrega Watch
22. Kudari Daudi Shakti Sangathan (KDSS), Vaishali, Bihar
23. Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan
24. Malda Sahayogita Samiti
25. Mahila Punervaas Samooh Samiti, Jaipur, Rajasthan
26. Nari o Shishu Kalyan Kendra
27. New Trade Union Initiative
28. Pally Samaj Gram Unnayan Samity
29. Paschim Banga Khet Majdoor Samity
30. Rajasthan mahila Kaamgaar Union, Jaipur
31. Right to Food Campaign
32. Sahyog
33. Samsia Rural Health and Economic Development Society
34. Soochana Evam Rozgar Abhiyan
35. SEWA Bharat
36. Sewa kendra, Siliguri, West Bengal
37. Shramajivi Mahila Samiti
38. Shripur Mahila-O-Khadi Unnayan Samiti
39. The ANT, Assam
40. Tribes Right Protection Cell
41. Uttar Bangal Chai Mazdoor Adhikar Manch
42. Udayani Social Action Forum
43. Uparmaal Mazdoor Kisaan Sangathan, Bhilwara, Rajasthan
44. Vikalaang Aandolan 2016 Sangahrsh Samiti, Rajasthan

Individuals: endorsed by more than 400 individuals

1. Aaditeshwar Seth, Gram Vaani & IIT Delhi
2. Aakanksha Kaushik
3. Abha and Rajeev KhandelwalAajeevika Bureau
4. Abhijit, Hyderabad
5. Abhinash DC
6. Aditi Mehta, Retired Bureaucrat
7. Aditi Arur
8. Aditya Naik, Freelance android developer, Goa
9. Aditya Roy
10. Aditya Shrivastava, CSO Support Cell
11. Aiyni, Sahayata-O-Shramik Krishak Kalyan Kendra, West Bengal
12. Ajay Mahajan Vividhara, New Delhi
13. Ajitha George, Researcher and Social Activist, Ranchi
14. Akhil Chaudhary, PUCL
15. Alaka Rao       Doctor and RUWA
16. Albertina Almeida, Goa
17. Ali, Laxmi Nagar, New Delhi
18. Alka Rao, Doctor and RUWA
19. Ambarish Rai, RTE Forum
20. Ambika Das, Social activist, Wests Singhbhum, Jharkhand
21. Amita De, Shramajibi Mahila Samity
22. Amita Kanekar, Goa
23. Amrita Jain
24. Amrita Johri
25. Amrita Sunita Anand, Goa
26. Anchal Sondhi , Dehradun
27. Ancy, NGO Gulni
28. Anika Juneja, Ranchi
29. Aniket Zodpey
30. Anil, BGVS    Rajasthan
31. Anindita Adhikari, Doctoral student, Brown University
32. Anita Mathur    Azad Foundation
33. Anita Rego, Independent, Hyderabad
34. Anita Vachharajani, Individual, Mumbai
35. Anitha, Institute of Social Service, New Delhi
36. Anjali Bhardwaj
37. Anjali SG
38. Anjali St Joseph’s, Puranpur
39. Anjana Thampi, O P Jindal Global University, Panipat
40. Anjor Bhaskar, Azim Premji University
41. Ankita Aggarwal, City University of New York
42. Ankita Mathur, Azad Foundation
43. Anna Joseph
44. Annie Raja
45. Anomita Sen, New Delhi
46. Anthoniraj Thumma, Federation of Telugu Churches, Secunderabad

• Anuradha Marwah, Ajmer Adult Education Association
• Anuradha Talwar, West Bengal
• Aparna Choudhary, Bengaluru
• Apurva Bamezai
• Arati Roy, Bar Council of India, Mumbai
• Arati Chowksey, Bengaluru
• Arindam Banerjee, Shramajibi Samanwaya Committee
• Arjun S
• Arun Kumawat Navachar Sansthan
• Aruna Rodrigues
• Aruna Roy, Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS), Rajasthan
• Arundhati Dhuru, NAPM, Lucknow
• Arvind Ojha, Urmul Trust, Bikaner
• Asawari Nayak, Goa
• Asgar Ali, Nssc, Deoria
• Asha Kalra, Children and Women Welfare Society
• Ashish Kothari, Pune
• Ashok Khandelwal
• Ashok Yadav and Richa Audichya     Jan Chetna Manch
• Ashrifi, RTFC Jharkhand
• Asmi, Student, Sardar Patel Vidyalaya, Delhi
• Asokendu Sengupta, Kolkata, West Bengal
• Augusto Pinto, Concerned citizen, Goa
• Aiyni, Sahayata-O-Shramik Krishak Kalyan Kendra, West Bengal
• Aysha
• Babita
• Barbara Harriss-White, Oxforď Universitý, UK
• Beena Jadhav
• Bhanwar lal Kumawat CES
• Bhanwar Singh Chadana, Aastha Sansthan
• Bharat Vishakha: women’s documentation and resource centre
• Bhaskar MV, Chennai
• Bhavreen Kandhari, Citizen support, South East & North East
• Bibhu Prasad Mohapatra, Independent Researcher, Delhi
• Bidyut, Odisha
• Bina Agarwal, Manchester & Delhi
• Binni, Ekal Nari Sangthan, Jharkhand
• Biplab Mukherjee, Kolkata, West Bengal
• Bobby Ramakant, Spokesperson, SP(I)
• Brijmohan, SARD
• Brita, UP
• Bulal, Rajasthan Asangthit Mazdoor Union
• Chacko Thomas, Teacher, Nalgonda
• Chaitanya, PhD scholar, Delhi
• Chandra Kala, ENSS
• Charu Soni, Journalist, Delhi
• Charul Bharwada, Loknaad, Ahmedabad
• Chaya Pancholi Prayash, Centre For health Equity
• Chetan Ram, Urmul

• Chetna Bharti, Jharkhand
• Chhaya Pachauli, Centre for Health and Equity, Jaipur
• Chirag, Buxar
• Chirashree Ghosh
• Cynthia Mathew, Bihar
• D S Paliwal, Janwadi Mazdoor union, Udaipur
• Debmalya, Nrega Sangharsh Morcha
• Deepa Kurup
• Deepak Kalra, Umang
• Deepak Kumar, Public Health Professional, Jharkhand
• Deepika Joshi, Researcher, Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, Chhattisgarh
• Deepika, Free lancer, Patna
• Dev Desai, Social activist, ANHAD, Gujarat
• Devanshi Kukadia
• Devika Singh
• Devika Shetty
• Diana Dias, Wajood, Goa
• Dilshad Sutar
• Dinesh, CASA
• Dipa Sinha, Ambedkar University
• Dipti Arolkar, Margao, Goa.
• Dr Padma, CES, Jaipur
• Dr Vidit Panchal, Private practitioner, Indore
• Dr. Asha Kaushik, Rajasthan University Women’s Association
• Dr. Laad Kumari Jain, Rajasthan University Women’s Association
• Dr. Malti Gupta, Retired Doctor
• Dr. M. Iqbal Siddiqui, State General Secy. Jamaat-E-Islami Hind, Rajasthan
• Dr. Maya Tandon, Retired Doctor
• Dr. Niranjanaradhya, Centre for Child and the Law, NLSIU
• Dr. Pawan Surana, Rajasthan University Women’s Association
• Dr. Pritam Pal PUCL
• Dr. Sharada Jain, Sandhaan RAEA Educationist
• Dr. Sunil Kaul, Managing Trustee
• Dr. Sylvia Karpagam, Public Health doctor
• Dr.Meeta Singh PUCL and Foundation for the Dignity of the Girl Child
• Dylan DSouza, Mumbai
• Edwin Mascarenhas
• Elsa Muttathu
• Erica Lobo, Nirmala Institute, Churchgate, Mumbai
• Faisal Khan, Khudai Khidmatgar and National Executive Member, SP(I)
• Fakkir Hulokottal
• Fatima
• Favita Dias, SJAC, Curtorim, Goa
• Feroz Khan, Hadoti Media Resource Centre
• Florence Mendes, Goa
• Fr Savio Gomes, Panjim, Goa.
• Frederika Menezes, Writer, Panjim, Goa
• Ganga Ram Paikra, Convenor, RTFC
• Gaurav Singh, RTFC, Chhattisgarh

1. Gautam Minz, Social activist, West Singhbhum, Jharkhand
2. Gautam Mody, New Trade Union Initiative
3. Geraldine Fernandes, Goa
4. Gitaldaha Bikas Samiti
5. Gloria
6. Gopa Khan, Counselor, Mumbai
7. Greta Lopes, Mumbai
8. Gurpreet Sidhu, NCR/Goa
9. Guru Moorthy, Spokesperson, SP(I)
10. Gurumoorthy Mathrubhutham, Sochara Bengaluru
11. Harkesh Bugaliya, Rajasthan Nirman and General workers Union
12. Harsh Mander
13. Hugh Netto, Assagao, Goa
14. Indira Pancholi Mahila Jan Adhkar Samiti
15. Jahnvi Andharia, Delhi
16. James Herenj
17. Jashodhra Dasgupta
18. Jawahar Mehta
19. Jawahar Singh Dagur, Prayas
20. Jayshree Vencatesan, Managing Trustee. Care Earth Trust, Chennai
21. Jeevika Shiv
22. Jennifer Fernandes, Housewife, Mumbai
23. Jitendra Ratwani, Mumbai
24. Johanna lokhande, Chairperson, Jan Sangharsh Manch
25. Jose Kallely, Indian, Kusumkot
26. Josephine, CWSN, Chennai
27. Jothi SJ, Right To Food/ Work Campaign, West Bengal
28. Judith Almeida, Concerned citizen, Goa
29. K. Lalita, President, Anveshi Centre for Women’s Studies, Hyderabad, Telangana
30. K. Satyavti, Social Activist, Hyderabad
31. Kadma Banra, Social worker, West Singhbhum, Jharkhand
32. Kailash Kumbhakar, Academy for Socio Legal Studies
33. Kailash Meena, PUCL and NAPM
34. Kalamuddin Ansari, Tameer E Insaniyat, Gadwa, Jharkhand
35. Kamal Tak, RTI Manch
36. Kamayani Bali mahabal, Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, Mumbai
37. Kanchan Asarani
38. Kanchan Mathur, Women Studies Consultant
39. Karuna Mahila Jan Adhkar Sangathan
40. Karuna, M.RD, Consultant Chennai
41. Kathyayini Chamaraj, Executive Trustee, CIVIC, Bengaluru
42. Kavita Srivastava, PUCL
43. Kirity Roy, Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), West Bengal
44. Komal Srivastava, Bharat Gyan vigyan Samiti
45. Kripal Singh, Mandloi Khudai Kihidmatgar
46. Kusum Saiwal AIDWA
47. Lal Singh, School for Democracy
48. Lata, SURE
49. Laveena Fernandes, New Delhi

1. Laxmi S Wagle, Goa.
2. Lissy Joseph, CFTUI, Hyderabad
3. Loresina Fernandes
4. Lubna Sarwath, General Secretary, SP(I), Telangana
5. Lumina Almeida, Seraulim, Goa.
6. Madhu, PUCL
7. Magdalene Almeida, Nirmala Seva Society, Gujarat, Dt Ahmedabad
8. Maggie, Nirmala Niketan Institute, Mumbai
9. Mahananda Talwar
10. Mahnoor, The People, Hyderabad
11. Malay Prayatn Sanstha
12. Malini Subramaniam, Independent Journalist, Hyderabad
13. Mamta Jaitley, Vividha Features, Jaipur, Rajasthan
14. Man Singh Sisodia, Wagad Mazdoor Sangathan
15. Manju, FORUM
16. Manjula Pradeep
17. Maria Fernandes, Cuddalore, TN
18. Mazher Hussain, Executive Director, COVA, Hyderabad
19. Meera Samghamitra, National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), Hyderabad
20. Melna, Family, Goa
21. Merlyn Dsa, Municipal Corporator
22. Mewa Bharti, Domestic Workers Union
23. Michelle, Education, Mumbai
24. Mihika Noronha, Bangalore
25. Milan Vaingankar, Concerned Citizen, Goa
26. Minakshi, NFIW
27. Minakshi Rajdev, Dialogue Empathic Engagement and Peacebuilding (DEEP), Goa
28. Minar Pimple
29. Mira Bhayander
30. Mithilesh Kumar, Coordinator, DAAA-NCDHR, Jharkhand
31. Mohammed Hasan, Independent Academic
32. Mohammed Jahiruddin, Uttar Dinajpur Sangrami Biri Shramik Union
33. Mohammed Nazimuddin, Jamait-e-Islami Hind
34. Mohd Arif, NIRDPR Hyderabad
35. Mohd. Mahmood, Aman Biradari, Bihar
36. Mridula Bajaj
37. Mudita Vidhrohi
38. Mujahid Nafees, Gujarat
39. Mukesh, Asangatith Mazdoor Union
40. Mukta srivastava
41. Mukto Kantho, Mahila Samity
42. Munnalal, Socialist Mazdoor Sabha, UP
43. Nachiket Udupa
44. Nagraj Adve, Activist, Delhi
45. Nanajee Valluri, National Workers Welfare Trust, Kakinada, AP
46. Nandini Dey, NIRDPR, Hyderabad
47. Nandini Nayak
48. Nandini Rao
49. Nandita de Souza, Pediatrician, Goa

• Nandita Narain Delhi University
• Narayan Kharade, Concerned citizen, Goa
• Narendra Gupta Prayas, Devgarh
• Naresh K. Sharma, University of Hyderabad
• Naveen Sampath Krishna
• Nawasha Mishra
• Neelaiah, Right to Food campaign, Karnataka.
• Neelam Singh, Foundation for Rural Recovery and Development (Forrad), New Delhi
• Neelanjana, Public Health Resource Network, Chhattisgarh
• Neelapu Kanaka Rao, National President, Confederation of Free Trade Unions of India
• Neeta Hardikar, Anna Suraksha Adhikar Abhiyan, Gujarat
• Neeta Mahadevia
• Neeta Ratwani, Mumbai
• Neha Shah
• Nesar Ahmad, BARC
• Nidhi, Delhi
• Nigel
• Nikhil Dey, Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS), Rajasthan
• Nilesh Jain, Cement Collective, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh
• Nimisha Desai
• Nimmi Chauhan
• Niraj Singh, Socialist Yuvjan Sabha
• Nirja Mishra
• Nirjhari Sinha, Gujarat
• Nirmala Rebello, Goa
• Nirmala, Lohardaga, Jharkhand
• Nisha Sidhu, National Federation Indian Women
• Nishat Hussein National Muslim Women’s welfare society
• Niyati Kukadia
• Noor Mohammad, AMIED
• Noorjahan Diwan
• Olga Netto, Counsellor, Assagao, Goa.
• P.L. Mimroth and Satish         CDR
• Pallavi Sobti Rajpal, Utthan
• Pankti Jog, Mahiti Adhikar Gujarat Pahel
• Pannalal Surana, Socialist Party (India)
• Paul Lakra, Human Life Development & Research Centre, Siliguri, Darjeeling
• PC Rath, Raipur
• Persis Ginwalla
• Philomena Fernandes, Concerned Citizen, Goa
• Prabhu Prasad Mohapatra, Department of History, University of Delhi
• Prabir KC, SHRC, Raipur, Chhattisgarh
• Prabodh Nanda, Raipur, Chhattisgarh
• Pradnya Deshpande, Psychologist
• Prajval Shastri, Astrophysicist, Bengaluru
• Prakash Kashwan, Associate Professor, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT
• Prakriti, Student, Azim Premji University, Bangalore
• Prantosh Bandopadhyay, Jana Sanghati Kendra
• Preeti Sampat

• Prem Krishan Sharma, PUCL and Academy for Socio Legal Studies
• Prem Prakash Oraon, Van Jeevan Gramin Vikash Samiti , Jharkhand
• Prem Prakash Verma, Convenor, Jharkhand Nagrik Prayas
• Priyanka Borpujari, International Christian University, Tokyo
• Priyanshu Gupta, IIM, Calcutta
• Prof Anuradha Chenoy
• Prof Kamal Chenoy
• Purbayan Chakraborty, Karnataka State Law University
• Purshottam Dass Bhatt, Delhi
• Purwa Kushwaha, Independent and Translator
• Pushpa Kali
• Pushpendra, TISS Patna
• R. Padmini, Child’s Rights Trust (CRT), Bengaluru
• Rabin Chakraborty, Kolkata
• Rachana Bhavnani
• Radhika Desai, Hyderabad
• Rahul Varman Professor, IIT, Kanpur
• Raj Kumar Dogra NIFW
• Rajalakshmi Sriram
• Rajender kumar, Delhi
• Rajendran Narayanan, Asst, Professor, Azim Premji University
• Rakesh Ranjan
• Rakhi C.F.A.R, Jaipur
• Rakhi Sehgal, Shramik Kendra, Gurgaon
• Ram, Panipat
• Rama S.Melkote, Former state advisor on food security, Prof. (Retd.),Osmania University
• Ramesh, Sankalp
• Ramesh Asher, Film Maker, PUCL
• Ramkaran ji, S.W.R.C.
• Ramlal Bhatt, Uttarakhand
• Rashid Hussain Helping Hands
• Rashmi Patni, Historian
• Rathaur, Coordinator- MGNREGA Majdoor Union Rajatalab, Varanasi
• Ravi Chaturvedi, Urmul
• Ravinder Kumar, Humana People to People India, Narela Delhi
• Rebecca Mathai, Concerned citizen, Hyderabad
• Renita
• Renu Khanna
• Renuka Pamecha, Women’s Rehabilitation Group
• Reshma
• Richa Jan Chetna
• Richa Singh, Sangtin Kishan Majdoor Sangthan Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh
• Richa, Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, Delhi
• Rikta Krishnaswamy, DYFI, New Delhi
• Rita Dey Pereira, Vasco, Goa.
• Roopa Naik, Spoorthy
• Rosamma Thoma, Journalist, Pune
• Rubeena Khatun, Humsafar, Lucknow

• Sabina Martins
• Sachin Jain, Madhya Pradesh
• Sakina Dhorajiwla
• Samar Kanrar, Hosiery Workers Unity Centre
• Sameet Panda, Odisha Khadya Adhikar Abhijan
• Sandeep Pandey, Socialist Party (India), UP
• Sandhya Srinivasan, Indian Journal of Medical Ethics, Mumbai
• Sangeeta Sahu
• Sannybhai, Lok Manch, Delhi
• Sanyukta Saha, Aagaaz Theatre Trust, New Delhi
• Saranga Ugalmugle, Advocate, High Court, Mumbai
• Sasmita Jena , RTF, Jharkhand
• Savitri Ray, Individual, Delhi
• Sawai Singh, Rajasthan Samgra Seva Sangh
• Sayantoni Dutta, Researcher, Kolkata, West Bengal
• Sejal Dand
• Shabnam Aziz, Hunger Project
• Shailesh Nagar, Delhi
• Shakeel, Basti Suraksha Manch
• Shakuntala, Rajsamand Mahila Manch
• Shama, Mumbai
• Shambhu Ghatak, Inclusive Media for Change Project, New Delhi
• Shankar Singh, Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS), Rajasthan
• Shantha Sinha
• Sharada Gopal, Right to food campaign, Karnataka
• Sheba George
• Sheetal Pradeep
• Shilpa Kolkar
• Shishupal, Barabanki
• Shobha Bajpai Dsilva, Reay Road, Dockyard Mankhurd east and west
• Shobhita Rajagopal, IDS Director
• Shrinidhi Datar, Doctor Sewagram, Wardha
• Shubha Jindel PUCL
• Shuka Jain, Delhi
• Shyam Lal Menariya Astha
• Siddharth Chakravarty, The Research Collective, Delhi.
• Siraj Dutta
• Sister Carol     Sasvika, Ajmer
• Sita Ram, Sakhi Apni Bachat Ghar Yojna Mahila Manch samiti
• Smita Pandya Gandhi
• Snehal Shah, Delhi
• Solomon
• Soma KP, MAKAAM, Delhi
• Somnath Ghosh, Asanghtait Kshetra Shramik Sangrami Manch
• Sonal Mehta
• Sonia Pereira, Advocate, Goa
• Sophia Fernandes, Mangalore
• Sophia Khan
• Stan Swamy, Ranchi

• Sowmya Kidambi, Hyderabad
• Sr Marisha, St Joseph’s, Puranpur
• Sr Sudeepti, St Joseph’s, Puranpur
• Sr. Pragya, Fathua, Patna
• Sr.Kiran CJ, St.Joseph’s Convent, Provincial House Digha Ghat. Patna
• Sreesankar, AIPSN, Kerala
• Sudeshna Sengupta
• Sudha N, St Joseph’s, Puranpur Independent, Bengaluru
• Sudha Reddy, CCL NLSIU, Bangalore
• Sudha Shankar, New Delhi
• Sudha Thomas,
• Sudipta Banerjee, Director, Sikshan Foundation
• Suhas Kolhekar, NAPM
• Sujata, Member, Odisha
• Sujoy Bhattacharya, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand
• Suman Devathia, All India Dalit Mahila Manch
• Suman Sahai, Gene Campaign
• Sumitra Chopra AIDWA
• Sunetra Deshpande
• Sunita Bandewar, Health Ethics and Law Institute, Mumbai &Vidhayak Trust, Pune

• Sunita, UP
• Surabhi Agarwal, Spokesperson, SP(I)
• Suresh
• Survita Khatri, Department of History, Deshbandhu College ,Delhi University, Delhi
• Susan Abraham, Foundation for Rural Recovery and Development, New Delhi
• Sushila Chouhan, Sampark Sansthan
• Susie Tharu, Retd teacher, Hyderabad
• Suvarna Kuthale
• Svati Joshi
• Swapan Ganguly, Asanghtait Kshetra Shramik Sangrami Manch
• Swarnali, Delhi
• Swayam
• Swati Narayan
• Sweta Dash
• Syed Firoz, Business, Delhi
• Syed Tahseen Ahmad, State President, SP(I), Delhi
• Tahir Noronha, Goa
• Tapojoy, Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM)
• Teresa Kotturan, Sisters of Charity Federation          United States
• Ujaan Chandra
• Ulka Mahajan
• Umakant, Independent scholar and Human rights activist, Delhi
• Urvashi G., Nirantar Centre for Gender and Education, New Delhi
• Vandana Mahajan
• Vandana Prasad, Doctor, Noida
• Vanita Keswani, Mumbai
• Vanita Leah Falcao, Researcher, King’s College London
• Varsha Mehta, Independent, New Delhi

• Varsha P.
• Vasudha, Sawaiker Research Scholar, Goa University.
• Vidyun Sabhaney, New Delhi
• Vijay Goal, RIHR
• Vijay Lakshmi Joshi, PUCL
• Vijaylakshmi, PUCL
• Vikas Sahyog Kendra
• Vinay Baindur, Researcher
• Vinay Jha, Concerned Citizen, Jharkhand
• Vinay Mahajan, Loknaad, Ahmedabad
• Vipul Kumar, Odisha
• Vipul Pinjra
• Virendra Singh Malik, Jan Swasthya Abhiyan Haryana, Rohtak
• Virginia Saldanha, Mumbai
• Vishwambhar Tripathi
• Vishwanath Singh, State General Secretary
• Vriti, Bengaluru