Current Context : Advocate Varsha Deshpande from Maharashtra received the UN Population Award (Individual category) in New York, recognizing her decades-long work championing gender equality and fighting sex-selective practices.

 ABOUT VARSHA DESHPANDE:

• Secretary of Dalit Mahila Vikas Mandal, founded in 1990, focused on Dalit women’s rights and empowerment.
• Over 35 years dedicated to fighting gender-based violence, child marriage, and supporting women’s vocational training.
• Instrumental in promoting joint property ownership and advocating implementation of the PCPNDT Act to curb sex-selective abortions.

ABOUT THE UN POPULATION AWARD:

• Established in 1981 and first awarded in 1983.
• Honors individuals or institutions for outstanding contributions to population and reproductive health.
• Includes a gold medal, diploma, and cash prize.

SIGNIFICANCE: Deshpande became the third Indian recipient, after Indira Gandhi (1983) and JRD Tata (1992).