Priti Patkar

Priti Patkar is an Indian social worker and human rights activist. She is the co-founder and director of the organisation Prerana that has done pioneering work in the red-light districts of Mumbai, India to protect children vulnerable to commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking.

Priti Patkar
Priti Patkar
Born
Mumbai
Other namesPriti tai, Preeti Patkar
Alma materTata Institute of Social Sciences, Nirmala Niketan College of Social Work
Known forher work with women and children in red light districts of Mumbai. She conceptualised and founded world's first night care center for children of women working in red light districts.

Personal life

Priti Patkar was born in Mumbai. Her father was a government servant and her mother ran a daycare program.[1] She is a Gold Medalist from The Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai where she completed a Masters in Social Work.[2] She is married to social activist Pravin Patkar.[3]

Activism

Priti Patkar has been working for the protection and rescue of children and women victims of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation for over 30 years.[4] She founded Prerana in 1986, after a research visit for her Masters in Social Work to the Kamathipura Red Light Area – where she witnessed three generations of women soliciting customers on the same street.[5]

She is accredited with several path-breaking social interventions for the protection and dignity of children and women victims of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation.[6]

Patkar has to her credit the largest number of legal interventions and writ petitions in India to protect the rights and dignity of child and female victims of child sexual exploitation and trafficking.[7]

Selected awards
  • Hirakani Puraskar, 2013 (Doordarshan – Sahyadri)[8]
  • An award from the Government of Maharashtra where she was felicitated by the Chief Minister – Shri Prithviraj Chawan in March 2013.[9]
  • Human Rights Award at the 2014 Vital Voices Global Leadership Awards [10]
  • Nari Shakti Puraskar, 2015. This award is given by the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development to institutions and individuals who have made exceptional contributions towards the empowerment of women specifically belonging to vulnerable and marginalized sectors of society.[11]
  • Sofy India Women Award 2016 [12]

Research

Patkar has 7 books and several research reports to her name – published or released by The National Commission for Women, UNICEF, UNDP, USAID/FHI. Others have been sponsored by Groupe Development (France), Concern India Foundation, USAID, and more.[13] Through Prerana, she has also been systematically mapping the decline of the Kamathipura Red Light Area since 2010.[14]

References
  1. "Priti Patkar Profile". Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  2. "Unsung heroes". Archived from the original on 13 May 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  3. "Priti & Pravin Patkar". Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  4. "Saving children". www.theweekendleader.com. Archived from the original on 15 February 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  5. Mumbai, Arunima Rajan in (26 November 2014). "How Prerana's Priti Patkar has changed the lives of sex workers' children". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 20 February 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  6. "Woman of substance". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  7. "Woman of Might". Archived from the original on 3 May 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  8. "Grace Pinto, MD of Ryan Group conferred Sunsilk Doordarshan – Sahyadri Hirkani Award". Archived from the original on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  9. "Priti Patkar Awards". Archived from the original on 3 May 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  10. "Vital Voices Honored at Kennedy Center | The Georgetown Dish". www.thegeorgetowndish.com. Archived from the original on 19 February 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  11. "President Pranab Mukherjee presented 2015 Nari Shakti awards". Jagranjosh.com. 9 March 2016. Archived from the original on 19 February 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  12. "Zee honours achievers with Sofy Indian Women Awards | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". dna. 19 January 2016. Archived from the original on 19 February 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  13. "Priti Patkar Books". Archived from the original on 3 May 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  14. "Kamathipura: bought and sold – Livemint". www.livemint.com. Archived from the original on 19 February 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
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