Director, Centre for Social Research (CSR),

Few individuals possess the courage to devote their entire life’s work to a single cause, yet Dr. Ranjana Kumari has persevered in her quest for gender equality in India for more than three decades. A dedicated social activist, she is also an admired academic and the author of twelve full-length volumes. Currently serving as Director of Centre for Social Research and President of Women Power Connect, Dr. Kumari has dedicated her life to empowering women across the South Asia region with some of her most passionate causes being the participation of women in democracy and governance, the termination of dowry practices and dowry-related violence, and the abolition of female foeticide.

Dr. Kumari has been a member of the Task Force on Industrial Relations for The International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Geneva. She is currently the Coordinator of the South Asia Network Against Trafficking (SANAT) in Persons and is also a member of the, the Central Advisory Board (statutory body) on “Pre Conception and Pre Natal Diagnostic Tests Act, 2001”, and the Central Advisory Committee for Prevention of Trafficking in Women and Children. She has recently been made a member of the National Mission for Empowerment of Women by the Prime Minister of India.