Dr. Pravin Patkar is an Indian academician, social scientist, writer and human rights activist. He co-founded Prerana, an NGO globally recognized for its initiatives in child protection & anti-human trafficking. In 1999, he founded Asia’s 1st Anti-Human Trafficking Resource Centre supported by the US Government. He has served as an expert on several national and international agencies working in the anti-human trafficking sector. He has been in the teaching profession for over 40 years in both formal and non-formal education sectors.He has written books, published articles and created PSAs against organized violence against women & children.
Pravin Patkar was born in Mumbai. He completed his PhD in ‘Social Provisioning in Prostitution’ from Mumbai University. He is married to social activist Priti Patkar.
Pravin Patkar has been in the teaching profession for the past 40 years. He was part of the teaching faculty at TISS Mumbai for 20 years teaching social work and guiding research. He took voluntary retirement in 1995 as Associate Professor. He is currently adjunct Professor teaching at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham in Ettimadai, Coimbatore.
He started a migrating education system and managed for 25 years a residential school for children of tribals in bonded labor.
He fought against tribal bondage and environmental destruction in the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats through a platform named Pariwartan-84. He closed down the illegal activity and rehabilitated 70000 families of seasonally migrant tribals.Under Prerana, he initiated comprehensive 24x7 field action against Second Generation Trafficking in Sex Trade of children born in red light districts.He coordinated Relief work in 1977 Andhra Pradesh Cyclone, Bhopal Gas Tragedy 1985, Morbi Flood Gujarat, The Worli Riots 1986, Jambhulpada Flood 1988He fought for the Drought Affected Paddy Cultivators of the backwater zones of Coastal Maharashtra. He solved the problem and initiated a Kharland Development programme with help of European Union.He has made the maximum number of Public Interest Litigation on trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation in India and obtained most landmark rulings and directives.He made the first case of sealing of brothels in India.He is the co-founder & chairman of PreranaHe is the Founder & Managing Trustee of Pariwartan-84.He was elected as Vice-Chairperson on the global Governing Board of ECPAT International.He was the Director of Anti-Trafficking Center supported by Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, State Department USA and UNIFEM South Asian Regional Office.He was the 1st Project Director of 'Children Affected by AIDS' sponsored by USAID & FHI 360He is on the advisory board of Aarambh India, an initiative against Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation in India Planning Commission (India)- Development Impact of Irrigation Schemes under the Employment Guarantee Scheme irrigation systems. Study in Cost Benefit analysis.International Labour Organization- Labour Market Analysis & Monitoring.International Rice Research Institute, Manila – Technological Infusion and Employment of Women in Rice Cultivation. A Study in agro-economics.Board of Research Studies, TISS- Tribal Bondage, Migration, and Environmental Destruction.Planning Department Government of Maharashtra– Study of Bonded Labor System in the State of Maharashtra.(1976–77)UNESCAP and Association of Schools of Social Work in India (ASSWI) Working with the Poor: Social Intervention in disadvantaged groups (1978–79)Grouppe Development France, South Asia Office- Case Study on Indo-Bangladesh Cross Border Trafficking of Children (2008-9)UNICEF Maharashtra- Six District Study of Situation of Trafficking of Children and children of Victims of trafficking. (1999–2000)UNICEF New Delhi- Nine Case studies of organizations working against child trafficking in the state of Maharashtra. (2002-3)National Commission for Women India- Legal study of Anti Trafficking Legislation in India (2000 –2001–2002).Commonwealth Foundation, U.K.- Water Conservation & Management, Case Study on Sustainable Development (1988)Terre des Hommes, Germany- (India programme)- project evaluation.World Bank- Agricultural Wages Dis-aggregation of Regional Level Data. A quantitative analysis (1985–86) In Search of New Legislation Against Commercial Sexual Exploitation & TraffickingTrafficking & Commercial Sexual Exploitation: International Conventions, Laws, & PolicyFrequently Asked Questions on Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking.ARMOUR: A Resource Directory for Police, Judges and State Agencies & Voluntary agencies engaged in Anti Trafficking workReport of Research on Incidence of Trafficking of Children for Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Situation of Children of Victims of CSE&THome Investigation Report – An Effective Guide in Post Rescue Operation of Minor Girls.Report on Sex Tourism on West Coast of IndiaPost Rescue OperationManual on Positive Intervention in Trafficking & Commercial Sexual Exploitation of ChildrenChildren Affected by AIDS: Lessons Learnt Fieldwork (1990) winner of 3 prestigious awardsSati (1996) winner of 3 prestigious awardsKunachya Khandyavar (2010)
