Anuradha Bhosale (Indian Social Activist) Biography

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Birth name	Anuradha Bhosale
Other Name	Known as 'Bandit Queen of India's Social Movement'
Famous For	Being the founder and director of Avani, a non-government organization working for children and women's rights in Kolhapur

Eye Color	Black
Hair Color	Black

Education	Graduate of Tata School of Social Sciences

Religion	Not specified

Marital Status	Divorced
Marriage Date	Year 1996

Husband

Name not known

Children

Name

Parents

Father	Name
Mother	Name

Siblings

Information not available

Notable Work

Started career by working with the Water Supply Department of Jalgaon, Maharashtra
Worked for the Social Work Department of Bajaj Auto Company in Pune, managing sanitation and environmental projects
Joined Verala Development Society (VDS)
Joined as sole employee of Avani, conducted surveys of migrant children in Kolhapur, introduced microfinance, and established self-help groups for women
Co-founded Avani organization; began working with waste pickers focusing on economic empowerment and leadership
Received the 'Unch Maza Zoka Pursakar' award on Zee Marathi TV
Helped create Avani Children's Home (daycare) for migrant children
Through Women and Child Rights Campaign, facilitated 3,741 women in receiving government entitlements

Organizations Founded

Achievements

Rescued over 541 child laborers
Provided healthcare and education to over 5,700 nomadic migrant children and school dropouts
Organized construction of schools inside brickyard labor camps
Established a residential home for migrant children
Educated, trained, and empowered thousands of widowed, divorced, and deprived women in rural India to fight for their rights
Facilitated 52,000 women in receiving government pension checks totaling $714,000 monthly
Advocated for and had the local municipal corporation implement policy for shelter homes in Kolhapur
Advocating for a welfare board for the protection of waste pickers to the central government
Provided healthcare and education to over 5,604 nomadic migrant children and school dropouts
Established 36 schools with approximately 50 migrant children each inside brickyard labor camps
Established Avani Children's Home residential facility for migrant children
Facilitated 52,000 women in receiving approximately $714,000 in monthly government pension checks
Advocated for and implemented local municipal corporation policy for shelter homes in Kolhapur
Advocating for welfare board for protection of waste pickers to central government
Nominated for Global Exchange's People's Choice Award for human rights

Instagram	https://www.instagram.com/anuradha_bhosale
Facebook	https://www.facebook.com/anuradha.bhosale.188

1. She was born into a humble family and began working as a child laborer at just six years old.
2. Her education was supported by teachers, a church priest, and college educators.
3. She played a significant role in advocating for the Right to Education Act and was involved in the rescue of child laborers, establishing women's self-help groups, and empowering marginalized women.
4. After drafting the Right to Education Bill, she went on to establish the Avani Children's Home.
5. Her ultimate goal is to rid the Indian state of Maharashtra of child slavery.
6. She was a former child laborer herself at the age of six.
7. She was a child laborer herself starting at age six until a man offered her a job and schooling opportunity.
8. From 1997 to 2002, she operated Avani without an office or dedicated staff.
9. Avani Children's Home was initially run from a hut made of mud and cow dung, lacking electricity or running water.
10. The word Avani is an abbreviation representing three concepts in Marathi: Ann (food), Vastra (clothes), and Niwara (shelter).
11. She has worked for over 30 years in social activism addressing child labor, trafficking, female infanticide, and women's rights.