PIPAL: People’s Initiative for Participatory Action for food Labelling

 🌍 “Every public opinion is not policy. For that, we need champions.” — Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi As special guest at the I Next–Jan Mitra Nyas doctors’ honour ceremony in Varanasi, Dr. Raghuvanshi spotlighted the urgent links between tobacco, NCDs, and taxation . From that July evening to PVCHR’s 2 Sept 2025 letters to the GST Council, Finance Minister, and LOP, this journey shows how grassroots voices + expert inputs can shape national policy. 🔗 Read the full article here: https://medium.com/@shruti_25784/every-public-opinion-is-not-policy-for-that-we-need-champions-dr-lenin-raghuvanshi-f878307c9445 #TobaccoControl #NCDs #PublicHealth #GST #HealthJustice #PVCHR #AdvocacyInAction #PolicyChange #India

Case No: 4227/90/0/2021 Diary No: 15413/IN/2021 Complainants: Shruti Nagvanshi & Shirin Shabana Khan (Varanasi, UP) Victims: Youth, Women, and Children across India Background On 14 September 2021 , human rights defenders Shruti Nagvanshi and Shirin Shabana Khan filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) highlighting a critical but often overlooked public health issue: the alarming rise of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in India, largely driven by packaged food high in salt, sugar, and fat . The complainants urged NHRC to intervene for the implementation of a Nutrient Profile Model (NPM) and Front-of-Pack Labeling (FOPL) regulations to empower consumers with transparent information and push the food industry towards healthier practices. Why It Matters NCDs like obesity, diabetes, and hypertension are now the leading cause of death and disability in India. Children and young people are increasingly exposed to unhealthy processed foods,...

  🌸   The Right to Breastfeed: One Mother, One Brick, One Act of Courage   🌸 This  World Breastfeeding Week , meet the brave  Musahar women of Varanasi’s brick kilns  who are reclaiming their  right to breastfeed  — building a healthier future for their children against all odds. 🔥 Amidst scorching heat, gruelling labour, and systemic discrimination, these mothers are asserting that  breastfeeding is not just nourishment — it’s dignity, agency, and power. 🤱  “Brick-making can wait, but my baby cannot,”  said Kajal (name changed), as she stood up to her supervisor and chose her newborn’s well-being over productivity — a quiet revolution in the heart of oppression. 🤝 Thanks to the work of  CRY – Child Rights and You  and  JanMitra Nyas (JMN) , more mothers are now accessing institutional deliveries, timely vaccinations, and nutritional support — even while migrating. 🔗  Read the full story : https://www.themi...

🌍 From Kashi to Global Recognition! ✨ Shruti Nagvanshi’s incredible journey from the narrow lanes of Kashi to the global stage of Radio City Business Titans Awards 2025 in Phuket is a story of resilience, purpose, and impact. 💫 🔹 Honored for Excellence in Promoting Human Dignity and Social Leadership 🔹 Award presented by Sophie Choudry 🔹 A victory for inclusive growth and justice 📖 Read the full story: https://medium.com/@lenin_75290/from-kashi-to-global-recognition-shruti-nagvanshis-journey-of-purpose-driven-leadership-f5802e658393 👉 From Kashi to Global Recognition: Shruti Nagvanshi’s Journey of Purpose-Driven Leadership 💡 “Leadership is not about building empires. It’s about empowering people to rise above their circumstances.” #ShrutiNagvanshi #LeadershipWithPurpose #BusinessTitans2025 #GlobalRecognition #SocialImpact #JanMitraNyas #PVCHR #WomenInLeadership #fromkashitotheworld

  Strengthening Public Health Advocacy: A Plea for Front-of-Pack Warning Labels Delivered to Hon'ble Shri Harivansh Ji 📅 Posted on: July 30, 2025 ✍️ By Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi In our ongoing mission to safeguard the health and rights of India’s most vulnerable populations, the People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), in collaboration with PIPAL – People’s Initiative for Participatory Action for Food Labelling, submitted a formal appeal to Shri Harivansh Ji , Hon’ble Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, urging parliamentary action for mandatory Front-of-Pack Warning Labels (FOPL) on ultra-processed foods (UPFs). This letter, dated 17 July 2025 , was delivered through multiple channels to ensure due attention: ✅ Sent by post and email for official documentation ✅ Personally handed over to Shri Harivansh Ji by Shri Vyomesh Shukla during the program of Nagarik Pracharini Sabha on 18 July 2025 in Varanasi The Heart of the Request We urged Shri Harivansh Ji to suppo...

  🇮🇳 Front-of-Pack Warning Labels (FOPL): Building a Fit and Healthy India – From Vision to Action ✍️ By Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi Human Rights Defender, Convenor – PVCHR | Founder – PIPAL “The health of the people is the foundation of India’s development.” – Inspired by PM Shri Narendra Modi ji’s vision for a Swasth Bharat On 10 July 2025 , during a thoughtful dialogue at KA-Art Gallery, BHU Varanasi , on “The Present Status of Scheduled Castes and Tribes and Kashi's Śramaṇa Tradition,” I submitted a memorandum to Hon’ble MP Shri Tanuj Punia ji , strongly advocating for mandatory Front-of-Pack Warning Labels (FOPL) on harmful ultra-processed foods (UPFs). This campaign is not just about regulation—it’s a public health revolution aligned with the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji for a “Fit India Movement” and “Healthy India for All.” 🛑 The Growing Epidemic Despite the strides made in sanitation, healthcare, and nutrition under various government schemes, ...