Aruna Chopra

A pioneering Indian social activist who revolutionized child rights advocacy through grassroots community mobilization.

Aruna Chopra (1948-2013) was an Indian social worker and founder of the Children First organization, a landmark initiative that reshaped India's approach to child welfare. Starting in the 1970s, she exposed systemic failures in child protection systems through her investigations into child trafficking networks, leading to landmark legal reforms like the 1986 Juvenile Justice Act. Her 1984 report Child Labour in India influenced global anti-child labour policies, and her 1990s campaigns against child marriages pioneered community-based solutions. Chopra's innovative 'Child Rights Clubs' empowered over 500,000 children across 15 states by 2000, using participatory methods that remain models for UNICEF programs. Her 2003 book Children First detailed her strategies, while her 2005 documentary Voices of the Forgotten (available on IMDb) brought international attention to bonded child labor. Chopra's work inspired India's 2000 Child Rights Governance Act, and her legacy continues through the Aruna Chopra Institute's training programs for 10,000+ social workers annually. She was honored with the 1998 Ramon Magsaysay Award for her 'relentless advocacy for children's dignity', and her methodologies are now part of the WHO's child protection frameworks. Chopra's 2010 TEDx talk Building Child-Friendly Communities remains a foundational resource for modern child rights advocates.