A. Devaneyan is the Founder and Director of Thozhamai (meaning "Solidarity"), a civil society organization established in 2006 alongside social activist and theatre artist Suresh Dharma in Chennai. Initially conceived as a human rights resource center, Thozhamai has evolved into a leading community development organization championing the rights of marginalized groups, including children, women, Dalits, Tribals, and urban poor.

CAREER SUMMARY

• Experience: Over 20 years in the social sector, encompassing grassroots activism, managerial leadership, and policy advocacy.
• Passion: Committed to child protection, human rights, and community empowerment.
• Leadership: Spearheads rights-based initiatives for children, youth, and marginalized communities in Tamil Nadu.
• Advocacy: Actively engages with policymakers, government institutions, and media to influence change.
• Media: Published over 400 videos and articles on human rights issues.
• Recognition: Recipient of multiple awards for contributions to child rights and human rights.

KEY POSITIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Co-Convener, Tamil Nadu Child Rights Watch
• Zonal Convener, Tamil Nadu Campaign Against Child Labour (CACL)
• State Convener, Shout for Freedom Coalition (ending bonded labor and trafficking)
• Member, Social Worker Selection Panel for the Juvenile Justice Board, Government of Tamil Nadu
• External Member, Anti-Ragging Committee, Loyola Institute of Business Administration
• Core Committee Member: Policies on child rights, child protection, and zero child marriage for the Tamil Nadu government

MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS

Policy Advocacy:

1. Finalized the Tamil Nadu State Policy for Children 2021, including its Plan of Action.

2. Drafted the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for:

• Eliminating child marriage in Tamil Nadu.
• Enhancing Village-Level Child Protection Committees (VLCPCs).

3. Advocated:

• Integration of first 1,000 days of child care into state policies.
• Formation of Child Rights Clubs in colleges and Ward-Level Child Protection Committees in urban areas.
• Child rights education in Tamil Nadu B.Ed. curricula, impacting 50,000 students annually.

Human Rights & Business:

• Developed policy guidelines for the safety and dignity of women workers in Tamil Nadu’s textile industry.
• Conducted social audits of garment/textile sectors and trained internal committees under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act.
• Partnered with Tamil Nadu State Commission for Women to design "Protection Boxes" under the POCSO Act.

Community Engagement:

• Provided relief to over 2,000 families during the Chennai floods and COVID-19.
• Facilitated vaccination for 12,000+ individuals during the pandemic.
• Coordinated rescue operations for migrant laborers during COVID-19 in multiple industries.

Media Advocacy:

• Trained 1,500+ journalists and media professionals on ethical reporting standards for children.
• Conducted state-level workshops with editors to amplify child-related issues in media.

Global Engagements:

• Represented Tamil Nadu at international forums, presenting on child rights and social justice in Germany, Nepal, South Africa, Thailand, and the Netherlands.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

• Best Protector of the Rights of Children and Women (2023)
• Guardian of Children Award (2018)
• Social Contribution Award, Mano Trust (2019)
• Champion of Child Rights, FOGSI (2024)
• Justice Shivaraj V. Patel Award for Human Rights Defense (2018)

RESEARCH & PUBLICATIONS

Research:

• Child Protection Needs Assessment in Chennai
• Status of Children in Forcefully Evicted Communities
• Women’s Entrepreneurship among Scheduled Castes

Publications:

Curriculum on Child Rights for Primary Schools (Tamil)

Manuals on:

• Corporal Punishment Abolition
• Combating Child and Women Trafficking
• Domestic Violence Act Guidelines
• Human Rights and Child Protection

EDUCATION

Advanced Diploma Development, Law, and Social Justice, International Institute of Social Studies, The Hague

Master’s Degrees

• M.Sc. Physics, Loyola College, Chennai
• Masters of Human Rights, Pondicherry University

Bachelor’s Degrees:

• B.Ed., Annamalai University
• B.Sc. Physics, Gobi Arts College