Indian social activist Varsha Deshpandehas been named the recipient of the2025 United Nations Population Award,in recognition of her decades-long work advancinggender equality, women’s rights, and the enforcement of laws againstsex-selective practicesin India. The award is among the most prestigious global honours in the field of population and development,conferred annually by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA).
Deshpande, who founded the NGOLek Ladki Abhiyan, has spent over two decades working at the grassroots to combatgender-based discrimination,particularly in Maharashtra.Her work focuses on eliminating female foeticide, ensuring accountability throughlegal enforcement, and creatingawarenessaround thePre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act. Through her efforts, she has led numerous sting operations and legal interventions that havebrought violators to justice,reinforcingstate capacityto implement gender-protective laws.
In a statement, the UNFPA praised Deshpande’s“tireless dedication to advancing women’s rights”and her role in empowering local communities through legal literacy and civic engagement. The agency noted that her approach integratesgrassroots activismwithsystemic advocacy, offering a model for rights-based development inpatriarchal social contexts. Her initiatives have helped build anetwork of legal monitors, often made up of women from rural backgrounds, trained to track violations and push forjudicial action.
Deshpande’s recognition comes at a time whenIndia continues to grapplewith challenges surrounding gender ratios, access to reproductive rights, andentrenched social norms. While the country has made significant strides in female literacy and maternal health, issues such asson preference,early marriage, and gaps inlegal enforcementpersist. By foregrounding these concerns at both policy and community levels, Deshpande’s work has helped ensure thatgender justiceis more than a legal aspiration – it is adaily pursuit. The award ceremony is scheduled to be held later this year at theUnited Nations Headquarters in New York, where Deshpande will be formally honoured alongside international recipients working in aligned areas. Her recognition notonly highlights India’s contributionsto gender advocacy but also affirms the growing importance ofcommunity-led solutionsin the global movement towardpopulation justice and equality.
