Dr. Yogesh Dube is renowned for his social, educational and cultural work in India. He is also an established and acknowledged national personality dedicated to the protection and promotion of rights and equal opportunities for the PwDs (Divyangs) in the country. He has extensively worked on literacy and education among the children, youth as well as general public and has a strong passion to see India a literate country. His dedication and hard work has led him to getting recognition, honours, rewards and awards at various platforms in the country. Many esteemed dignitaries have penned admirable testimonials about him. His focus has always been the all-round development of children and youth. He has been addressing the rights and entitlements of children in the country, with special attention to children with disabilities and children in difficult situations and circumstances. Dr. Dube is also a prominent advisor for various civil societies’ organizations and has been involved with various Government Agencies and other organisations since the last 2 decades He has extensively travelled nationwide as well as internationally along with delegations of experts, social scientists and philanthropists on the issues of child rights. He has travelled extensively both nationwide as well as internationally along with delegations of experts, social scientists and philanthropists on the issues of child rights.

Dr.Yogesh Dube is the Chairman of “Bhartiya Vikas Sansthan” – a pioneer organisation working for cultural, social and Child Relief. He is the Director of Child Relief Centre – affiliated to Bhartiya Vikas Sansthan that has been persistently working for education of the poor and socially disadvantaged children.

ENCOURAGEMENT OF YOUTH

Dr. Dube works towards developing leadership skills among underprivileged youth and addresses issues such as leadership development, community work, problem solving, sports, culture, recreation and life skills. He encourages school dropout youth without marketable skills to undertake self-employment through need based vocational skill / ‘Livelihood Training and Empowerment thereby bringing the youth into the economic mainstream. The youth from underprivileged families face not just economic poverty but also social poverty which is the absence of social support systems and the socio-cultural atmosphere that positively impacts youth with knowledge to improve themselves.

CONCERN FOR DIVYANGS

For the benefit of the PWDs (Divyangjans) Dr. Yogesh Dube has organised a number of camps health camps during which aids and appliances were distributed to them as per their need. Skill Development camps/workshops and job placement camps along with associate partners were also held to provide the Divyangs with an opportunity to upgrade / learn new skills thereby enhancing their knowhow and making them employable. Dr. Yogesh Dube has also been actively involved in taking care of differently abled children. He is a strong believer that children who suffer from any form of disability are especially abled and should be given special attention to ensure their all round protection.

CURBING CHILD LABOR IN THE COUNTRY

Child labour is a serious problem of the Indian Community and Dr. Dube believes that children should play and learn, and any kind of labour by them would not let them explore and develop their mind and body. He has spent significant years on child labour issues in the country. He has worked on issues connected with child labour through organizations, arranging various seminars, preventive remedies and campaigns against child labour. He has actively participated in rescue and rehabilitation of hundreds of children across the county. He has been part of many movements aiming at elimination of child labour at the State and National level. He has also served as Chairperson of the Core Committee on Child Rights in Uttar Pradesh. He has also created awareness on the legal aspects of child labour including the key points of the judgment “M.C. Mehta vs. State Of Tamil Nadu And Others (1996)”. He has extensively worked with children in Carpet, Bidi, Mining, Quarries, Brick Kilns, Glass, BT Cotton, Fire Cracker industries, and other unorganised sectors to rescue and rehabilitate the children from child labour.

ADDRESSING ISSUES OF CHILDREN IN DISTRESS

Dr. Yogesh Dube has worked on various sections of Child Psychology including child development, normal and abnormal behaviour of the children, strategies and behaviour modification techniques for undesirable behaviour. He has a fine understanding of the factors leading to maladaptive behaviour among the children and adolescents. He has participated extensively in seminars and workshops focusing on psycho-social intervention with disturbed children including the children in need of care and protection as a result of absence of any parental figure. He has comprehensive knowledge on various aspects connected to children with special needs. He has very good understating of the needs of the children in various juveniles homes and observation homes, as he had made several visits to such homes for protection of children’s rights.

ADDRESSING CHILD HEALTH ISSUES

On the subject of child health, Dr. Yogesh Dube has organized various medical camps, seminars with child specialists and medical practitioners. He addressed the issue of awareness on mother and child health, nutrition, immunization and early development. He has organised various programmes and seminars for the benefits of poor children who reside in poverty stricken rural and urban slum areas in the country. He constantly strives for balanced nutrition values in the children and timely immunization for pregnant mothers for healthy babies. He has successfully advocated for the quality anganwadi centres and nutritional rehabilitation centres (NRCs) for the malnourished children with state and national machineries. He has also taken initiatives for the renovation, modernization & establishment of health care systems in various parts of the country including the 100 bedded hospital in Gorakhpur for patients suffering from Japanese encephalitis/AES, and set up many primary health care centers.etc. He also organised various public hearings focusing on health issues of the children.

COUNSELING AND WELFARE INITIATIVES WITH PARENTS AND CHILDREN

Dr. Yogesh Dube has worked on the issues of street children, children residing on railway platforms, orphans, and eradication of bad habits like smoking of bidis, cigarettes, chewing pan and gutkha by the children of adolescent age. He has successfully counseled children and adolescents on the importance of healthy life styles and has also visited the homes of needy children. He has successfully encouraged many such children to improve their life, living standard by staying in shelters and orphanages. He has also worked on rehabilitation programmes for such children through the inclusive approach.

PERSONAL PROFILE

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Mumbai University, Mumbai, Maharashtra
• Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) from V.B.S. Purvanchal University, Uttar Pradesh

KEY PUBLICATIONS

Following is the list of key publications of Dr. Yogesh Dube:

• Child Labour Act and You.
• Child Labour in Bhadohi U.P.
• Child Relief in slums of Mumbai,
• Abolish Child Labour,
• Child Labour in Carpet Industry of North India
• Child Labour in Brassware and Metal Industry in Firozabad
• Child Labour in Textile Industry of Tamil Nadu
• Assisted in a research study on the Problem of Substance Abuse among Children
• Research Journal on Child Status,
• FAQs: Child Labour and Children in Distress
• Ramcharit Manas Me Charitra Srishti (Hindi)
• Mahayodha Karna (Hindi),
• The Colonial Rule.
• The Great Revolution: Alipore Bomb Conspiracy
• Viveki Rai: Sahitya Mein Samvedna Ka Swarup
• Bhartiya Paryatan Avam Badhti Sambhavnaye (Gyan Prakashan)
• ‘PARINDA’– Girmitiya Mazdurooki Adamya Sahas Gatha.
• and Many Short stories and Poems

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

MEMBER, NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR PROTECTION OF CHILD RIGHTS (NCPCR), NEW DELHI:

For a period of 3 years, starting from November 2010, he had been associated as a Member of NCPCR. Though his thematic area was “Child Labour & Children in Distress” but during his tenure with the Commission, various interventions were carried out in multi-sectors impacting the children’s survival, development, protection, and participation. Concentrated efforts to reach remote and marginalized children in village communities ensued with great satisfaction. During his span at NCPCR, he has intensively worked in various states including Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Delhi & NCR region, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Dr. Yogesh Dube’s core achievements can be summarized as followings:

“WORLD DAY AGAINST CHILD LABOUR” CAMPAIGNS:

In collaboration with ILO and UNICEF, Dr. Yogesh Dube organized ceremonies to observe the “World Day Against Child Labour” for 3 consecutive years at the national level to highlight the practices and challenges in different forms of child labor in the country.

CHILD LABOUR RESCUED IN HAZARDOUS INDUSTRIES:

Hazardous work, which is one of the worst forms of child labor and harms children’s physical, mental or moral health, was successfully intervened, campaigned, and advocated by Dr. Yogesh Dube in several hazardous child labor industries like Carpet, Bidi, Mining, Quarries, Brick Kilns, Glass, BT Cotton, Fire Crackers, etc. His rigorous attempts have effectively geared the District and State administrations to initiate State Action Plans in numerous States throughout the country. He has successfully addressed two largely invisible forms of child labor i.e. domestic child labor and migrant child labor in various States through direct intervention, campaigns, child welfare committees, and mass media.

ADVOCACY FOR POLICY-LEVEL CHANGES:

Dr Yogesh Dube made substantial efforts in advocating the policy level changes in laws relating to Child Labour, Juvenile Justice, Integrated Child Protection Scheme, and Domestic Child Labour Welfare Plans. He has also advocated for Child Baal Samities, mid-day meals, child education, and rehabilitation of children in need of care and protection at the State and National level. He took up various issues on child rights with various political parties.

MAPPING OF CHILD LABOUR:

Dr Yogesh Dube had persuaded the State governments and District administrations in focused States to carry out proper mapping of the child labor in their respective geographical boundaries in a time-bound manner. The prime purpose of such mappings was to bring attention to the extent of child labor and the action and efforts needed to eliminate it. Apart from the child labor issues he has also focused on that the migrant working children are also victims of child trafficking and to protect the rights of such children he has actively voiced issues of the regulatory framework for the migrant workers and anti-trafficking action plans by the administrations.

STATE AND DISTRICT LEVEL TASK FORCE ON ELIMINATION OF CHILD LABOUR:

Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Meghalaya, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh are among the States, where State and District level Task Forces have been formed with the prime objective of elimination of child labor, on the directions and resource assistance by Dr. Yogesh Dube.

RAIDS & RESCUES:

With his successful attempts, many trends were unfolded when it comes to bonded child labors including the supply of children as bonded laborers to Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and Gujarat from poverty-stricken states like Bihar, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh. The intrastate phenomena were also unearthed like a supply of children to brick kilns in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Dr. Yogesh Dube had played key roles in rescuing a large number of children through direct intervention and children were successfully repatriated and rehabilitated.

CORE COMMITTEE ON CHILD RIGHTS:

The Core Committee on Child Rights was formed to curb child labor in six child labor endemic districts (Aligarh, Firozabad, Moradabad, Sant Ravi Das Nagar (Bhadohi), Sonebhadra, and Varanasi) of Uttar Pradesh. Dr. Yogesh Dube has successfully served the committee in the capacity of Chairperson for a substantial time period and achieved various milestones on Child rights issues.

COMMITTEE ON ELIMINATION OF CHILD LABOUR IN MINING & QUARRIES:

Dr Yogesh Dube has also served as Chairperson, Committee on Elimination of Child Labour in Mining & Quarries. The Committee had regular meetings during his tenure at NCPCR, for the protection of children’s rights and rehabilitation of child laborers. He has worked extensively with the child labor issues in Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya.

ADDRESSED THE ISSUES OF CHILD TRAFFICKING:

It was the intensive efforts of Dr. Yogesh Dube that interstate child trafficking, intrastate child trafficking, and international child trafficking were highlighted at various levels, especially at the Indo-Nepal Border. A comprehensive frame of recommendations was developed and shared with concerned Ministries and State bodies to combat the trafficking of children for labor and other exploitative forms to ensure the protection of children’s rights. He has also advocated through meetings and deliberations for an effective framework for the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTUs) in the country.

SAFEGUARDED VULNERABILITY OF CHILDREN IN NATURAL DISASTERS:

Being a known fact that children become further vulnerable to exploitation during disasters, Dr Yogesh Dube took timely initiatives to ensure safeguarding the vulnerability of children during the recent catastrophe in Uttarakhand. It was Dr. Yogesh concentrated efforts that initiated processes for a series of schemes and programs for disaster-affected families in Uttarakhand. He has also undertaken the issues of effective implementation of the RTE Act, 2009 in civil unrest areas with senior officials at the state and national level. Dr. Yogesh has also initiated steps to safeguard the rights of the children affected due to violence and displacement in Muzzaffarnagar district & Shamli district, Uttar Pradesh.

SUPERVISED VARIOUS RESEARCH STUDIES AT THE NCPCR:

Dr Yogesh Dube conducted different research studies during his tenure at the NCPCR. Among others the most prominent are the following:

A study on Child Labour in Mines and Quarries in Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Rajasthan

A study on Child Labour in Bidi Industry in India

He has also been part of various training cum capacity building programs conducted by various prominent organizations including the National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD). Dr. Yogesh Dube has also had interaction meetings and deliberations with UNICEF in its programs, consultations, and campaigns to broaden the prospect of child rights.

REDRESSED GRIEVANCES ON CHILD RIGHTS VIOLATION:

Dr. Yogesh Dube has successfully handled numerous complaints on child right violation belonging to various States. Besides direct complaints, a number of Suo-Moto cognizance were also undertaken by him to address the violation of child rights by administrative authorities, police, schools, hospitals, policy/scheme implementers among others.

REGULAR INTERACTION WITH THE JUDICIARY:

Dr. Yogesh Dube had frequent interactions with the Indian Judiciary System, State Legal Authorities, Bar Councils for the effective promotion of child rights in the country. He had regular meetings and deliberation with different district and state Judiciaries on child rights, Juvenile Justice Act, etc.

WORKED ON ISSUES OF JUVENILES LANGUISHING IN PRISONS OF DIFFERENT STATES:

The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 directs “that in no case a juvenile in conflict with the law shall be placed in a police lockup or be lodged in a Jail.” During his visits to Tihar in Delhi, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Jaipur, Moradabad, Dhanbad, Agra, and many other districts, inspections were carried out by Dr. Yogesh Dube, to District/ Central Jails to find out if there were any juveniles kept in Jails due to wrong recording of age during the investigation. Among the under-trials as well as convicted inmates in these jails numerous inmates claimed that they were below the age of 18 years on the date of the offense for which they have been accused. However, only a few of those inmates told that they had documents to prove their claim, but the majority of them did not have any proof of age. It was found as a gross violation of the Juvenile Justice Act and Child Rights. Though the spot recommendations were provided by Dr. Yogesh to Jail officials it was also decided to take up the matter with NHRC so that direct investigation in all the Jails located in all the States be carried out to ensure that no juvenile languish in Jails and also ensure the safety of women and health, nutrition, education and welfare of their children who are permissible in Jails. It was his intervention, that NHRC took a Suo-Moto Cognizance of the matter and issued detailed notice to all the Chief Secretaries and Administrator of the States and Union Territories to report compliance pertaining to different provisions of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Rules, 2007 and Rule 12 of the Rules 2007. Dr. Yogesh had also visited Tihar Jail to review the status of juveniles in Jail.

ADDRESSED CHILDREN’S HEALTH ISSUES:

While at NCPCR, Dr Yogesh Dube achieved various milestones in the sector of children’s health with a special focus on immunization, malnutrition, disability, Japanese encephalitis/acute encephalitis syndrome, child labourers working in highly polluted environments, water & sanitation aspects impacting the health of the children in rural and urban sectors in many States of the country.

ADDRESSED THE ISSUES OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES:

It has been well established that children suffering from different kinds of disabilities are often overlooked for their needs and concerns, Dr. Yogesh Dube has frequently advocated with State Authorities, for children with disabilities including rehabilitative measures being taken, the barrier-free environment created at various levels, integration of these differently-abled children into mainstream, provision of aids and appliances, provisions of vocational training, awareness being generated on child rights in the disability sector, statewide surveys of the disabled children to set up new institutions and to develop education rehabilitation for them, various services for autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and multiple disabilities, provisions of home-based education, and to a large extent the provisions of the special educator in schools. During his meetings with state and/or district authorities, spot recommendations were issued to all the concerned departments to comply with the needs and rights of the disabled children. He has also stressed on effective implementation of provisions under the RTE, Act for children with special needs.

INTERACTION WITH OTHER NATIONAL & STATE COMMISSIONS:

Dr Yogesh also maintained a regular interaction with other National and State Commissions including The National Human Rights Commission, The National Commission for Women and other statutory Commissions.

Besides the above, he also initiated various national level deliberations & movements including safeguarding child rights movement, homes and institutions for children in need of care and protection, streamlining the CHILDLINE functioning, catering to the energy needs through solar energy in extremely difficult terrain, proper repatriation of children at railways and enhancing Inter-ministerial cooperation towards better child rights in the country. He has been part of majority of the key Public Hearing organized by the NCPCR and other state level Commissions. His concentrated efforts actually lead to the effective implementation of the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) in many states. During his tenure with the Commission, he had made numerous visits to different states to review the child right scenario in the country.

POSITIONS HELD 

• Chairman, Bhartiya Vikas Sansthan – an organization devoted to community development, registered in 1995.
• Founder – Divyang Career Portal – Largest Job Portal for the Divyangjans (PwDs)
• Member of the Governing Council of the Rehabilitation Council of India (Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, GoI) (Apex statutory body of government of india to regulate and monitor services given to persons with disabilities) and Member of the Executive Committee of the Rehabilitation Council of Council.
• Member Board, Executive Council National Institute for Locomotor Disabilities (An autonomous body under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, GoI)
• Member, Advisory Council of Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) and Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation (KSCF) led by Nobel Laureate Shri Kailash Satyarthi.
• Vice Chairman, Disable Welfare Trust of India.
• Director, Child Relief Centre – affiliated to and a Principal Body of Bhartiya Vikas Sansthan promoting child rights.
• Patron of “MedScapeIndia – Aryan Medical & Educational Trust” a non-profit charitable trust dedicatedly working towards community welfare/HIV & AIDS/communicable diseases/disability since 2006. In its social development agenda, it focuses on changing & shaping the destiny of the girl child, works in underdeveloped areas of the country, supports girl child in various orphanages by sponsoring their education & health, enhance awareness in society about the importance of girl child.
• President, Uttar Bharatiya Mahasangh, registered since 1994 – a leading body working towards social, education and cultural uplift of North India migrants settled in various parts of the country.
• Director, Sahitya Ganga, registered since 2016 – a high-tech portal and a periodical magazine that promotes Arts, Culture and Literature of our country.
• Convener, Temple of Understanding (Mumbai Chapter)- educates youth and adults cross culturally and inter-religiously for global citizenship and peaceful coexistence; advocate for acceptance and respect for religious pluralism by the worlds governing bodies; and actively promote justice and tolerance.
• Vice President-Indian National Rural Labour Federation(New Delhi).
• Trustee, G. D. College of Arts, Commerce and Science.
• Trustee, G. D. College of B.Ed.
• Chief Advisor / Member of Dr. Kalam Smriti International, Trivandrum.
• Member-Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan.
• Member Vidarbha Sahitya Sabha.
• Member Mumbai Marathi Granth Museum.
• Member, Hindi Advisory Committee, Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources (MNES), (GoI).
• Member, Board, Aryan Hospital.
• Member, Board, Aryan Medical Centre.
• Member, Expert Committee on Child Right Violation.
• Member, Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan.
• Member, Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Natya Parishad.
• Member, Advisory Board, Fairfield Institute of Management and Technology Group of Institutions.
• Member, Hindi Sahitya Sabha.
• Member, University Development Committee, Shoolini University.
• Associated with – Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change) (GoI).
• Member, Telephone Advisory Committee, Ministry of Communication – (GoI).
• Member, Railway Committee, Ministry of Railway – (GoI).
• Advisor, A.K.P. NEWS.
• Member, Editorial board ‘PRAHARI’.
• Member, Internal Quality Assurance Cell (I.Q.A.C) – National Assessment & Accreditation Council (JRU).
• Member, Faculty Registered Guide & Supervisor for PhD Programme, Department Research Committee Shri Jagdishprasad Jhabarmal Tibrewala University established under the UGC Act.
• Honorary National President, Being Patient Foundation (Foundation supports Burns & Trauma victims).
• World Peace Ambassador for the “Wockhardt Foundation” on behalf of “The World Peacekeepers Movement” (TWPM).
• Honorary President, VISION Institute For Special Children (Offers Pre-vocational & Vocational Training at Centres in Borivali, Ghatkopar Mira Road, in Mumbai Maharashtra).
• Director, Wockhardt Foundation.
• Member, Advisory Board National Association for the Blind.
• Goodwill Ambassador, Ladli, Foundation Delhi Police.
• Member, National Advisory Board of Ladli Foundation Trust.
• Chief Patron & Promoter, Wheelchair Cricket Association Maharashtra.
• Member, Mahfooz Surakshit Bachpan (Confederation of Child Rights Organisations.
• Member Advisory Board, AIMS Media.
• Member, Hindi Advisory Committee, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers.
• Chief Patron, Global India Business Forum (GIBF).
• Board Member, School of Business, R V University, Bengaluru (A top University that has 8 decades in Nation Building through Education & Research).
• National Patron, Kanya Daan Abhiyan, RDJ Trust ,Thane.
• Member, Hindi Advisory Committee, Ministry of Corporate Affairs (GoI)
• Special Monitor, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)(GoI)
• Ex-National Vice President & State Commissioner – Hindustan Scouts and Guides (Recognised & Promoted by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, GoI).
• Ex-Chairman, Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Yojana Samiti, Maharashtra Government
• Ex-Chairperson, Core Committee on Mining and Quarry at National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, (GoI).
• Ex-Member, Panel, Censor Board, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, (GoI).
• Ex-Member, Textile Committee, Ministry of Textile, (GoI).
• Ex-Member, Hindi Advisory Committee, Ministry of Home Affairs, (GoI).
• Ex-Member, Handloom Board.
• Ex-Member, State Level Consultation Committee on Food Corporation of India.
• Ex-Member, Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Ministry of External Affairs, (GoI).
• Ex-Member- National Commission for Protection of Child Rights(NCPCR) (GoI).
• Ex-Member, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals India.
• Ex-Member, Animal Welfare Board of India.
• Ex-Member, Hindi Advisory Committee, Ministry of Coals.
• Ex-Member A.Y.J National Institute of Speech & Hearing Disabilities, (GoI).