Amod Kanth
 | This article contains wording that promotes the subject in a subjective manner without imparting real information. (March 2025) |
Amod K. Kanth | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Known for | IPS officer, Rajiv Gandhi assassination investigation, transistor bomb blast cases, anti-Khalistani terrorism, Charles Sobhraj case, Jessica Lal murder case, Lalit Maken murder case, General A S Vaidya murder case, BMW hit-&-run case, 1984 Delhi anti-Sikh riots, Harshad Mehta case, Jain Hawalah case, Prayas, DCPCR, Domestic Workers Sector Skill Council[citation needed] |
Amod K. Kanth is a former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, social activist, and child rights advocate. He is the founder of the NGO Prayas. Kanth joined the IPS in 1974 and served in various capacities, primarily in Delhi, where he handled many cases and investigations. His law enforcement career spanned more than three decades. During this time, he rose to the rank of Director General of Police (DGP) of Goa followed by being the DGP of Arunachal Pradesh, and also served with the CBI, as Chief Vigilance Officer of the Delhi Jal Board, Founder of DCPCR (Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights) and Founder of DWSSC (Domestic Workers Sector Skill Council). His work includes a national-level study on Child Abuse in India with the Delhi Government and Action Aid.
Education
[edit]He holds a BA in history from M.S. College, Motihari, an MA in history from Patna University and an LLB from Delhi University.[1]
1974 to 1988 – Police career
[edit]Kanth has held multiple posts, including those of the DGP of Goa and Arunachal Pradesh. He has received the President's Police Medal and Gallantry Award for his role in protecting civilians during the Delhi riots. He was involved in investigations including those into the assassinations of Rajiv Gandhi and Lalit Maken. He has also undertaken several investigations into narcotics and child abuse.[1]
1988 to 2019 – Prayas and other causes
[edit]In 1988, Kanth formed Prayas, an organisation focused on the welfare, education, and protection of children, youths, women, and weaker sections of society through individual, corporate, NGO, and governmental development activities.
Prayas JAC Society, was established to support the welfare and rehabilitation of "Children in Need of Care and Protection" and Juveniles/Children in conflict with the law. The organization has grown to include pro-poor and child development activities, and the socio-economic support programs for marginalized communities in various regions. Currently, Prayas includes approximately 315 centers/units, including 38 homes/shelters for children, the homeless, adults, and women across 13 States/UTs, serving an estimated 50,000 marginalized children, youth, and women. Prayas provides support for women through Self-Help Groups, income-generation initiatives, and entrepreneurship training. Prayas employs 753 professionals and several hundred volunteers from India & and abroad. As the Team Leader of the National Study on Child Abuse (the Indian chapter of the UN study on the Global Violence against Children) sponsored by the Govt. of India, UNICEF and the Save the Children UK, he was involved in research initiatives that informed discussions on national policy and program development.
From 2007 to 2011, he was the chairman of the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR), and in this role, he voiced his concerns and support for the Right to Education Act.[2][3][4]
He has contributed to various policy discussions of the Indian Government in these fields and has also participated in youth-related initiatives of the UN, UNICEF, and US government, as well as in many children and youth-related initiatives in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh.[1]
Author
[edit]Kanth has published two books based on his police diaries: Khaki in Dust Storm, Book-1 and Khaki on Broken Wings, Book-2. The first volume recounts investigations conducted during a period involving major political violence and security challenges, including the assassinations of Indira and Rajiv Gandhi, and the Delhi riots. The second volume continues the series, detailing Kanth’s accounts of high-profile criminal investigations. Kanth examines the Criminal Justice System.
Opposing the overturning of Section 377 and LGBT rights
[edit]Under his leadership, DCPCR appealed against the scrapping of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code[5] In his arguments, attorney Amit Anand Tiwari, advocate for DCPCR, said, “We studied various materials from medical journals and found studies that show that children of LGBT parents were more prone to social stigmatisation. In decriminalising homosexuality, the High Court did not devise any protection as far adoption laws were concerned – whether gay and lesbian couples can adopt children, whether they have right to adopt. These issues were not addressed by the High Court order”. Kanth said, “Under the United Nation Convention on Rights of Children and under Indian laws, every child has a right to a family. And family is clearly defined as mother and father. Therefore, the High Court order was a direct denial of the child’s right to a family and right to parenthood”. The Commission’s final submissions made to the Supreme Court did not mention the issue of protection of child rights.[5]
2008 to present – Politics
[edit]Kanth contested the Sangam Vihar Constituency of Delhi on a Congress ticket in November 2008.[6]
Awards and recognition
[edit] |
- Received recognitions for proactive policing and outstanding services: President’s Police Medals and Gallantry Award for saving thousands of victims of riots in Delhi.
- Felicitated with Outstanding Social Worker on Child Welfare awarded by Government of NCT Delhi.
- The U.S. State Department's Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP), 2005, cited Prayas as a model institution for childcare protection, rehabilitation, and social reintegration at-risk, particularly the trafficking survivors in India.
- Conferred the Kumarappa-Reckless Award for his contribution to legal reforms for children by the National Association of Criminology.
- Kanth has been honored by Sandeep Marwah with the life membership of International Film and Television Club of Asian Academy of Film & Television at Noida Film City.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "A PROFILE OF AMOD K. KANTH" (PDF). Prayas. 2010. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
- ^ Sobhana K (2008). "Kanth to head new child rights panel for Delhi". The Indian Express. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
- ^ Staff reporter (2008). "i shall be an agent of change: Former cop Alok Nath". India Today. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
- ^ Staff Reporter (2008). "Amod Kanth spells out his plans in new role". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
- ^ a b "Why Delhi child rights commission opposed de-criminalisation of gay sex". Firstpost. 14 December 2013.
- ^ Staff Reported (2008). "MLAs at your doorstep". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 19 November 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2012.