Priyanka Yadav is dismantling systemic neglect in South Haryana, championing the rights of sanitation workers, abused children, and disenfranchised women. Armed with legal expertise and relentless resolve, she confronts institutions that fail the vulnerable. In a region where silence prevails, she is the voice demanding justice.
By The Political Observer Staff
Rewari, Haryana — The morning sun barely crests the horizon when Priyanka Yadav steps into her small office, a modest but bustling space filled with case files, legal notices, and stacks of handwritten petitions. The phone rings constantly. A woman on the other end pleads for legal help against domestic abuse. Minutes later, a sanitation worker arrives, seeking assistance for unpaid wages. Yadav listens, takes notes, and assures them, “We’ll fight this.”
For the past decade, Priyanka Yadav has been the face of grassroots activism in South Haryana. As the founder and secretary of Ek Kadam Manavta Ki Aur, a non-profit dedicated to legal and social justice, she has tirelessly championed the rights of the region’s most vulnerable—women, children, and sanitation workers. In a state where social hierarchies and systemic neglect often silence the marginalized, Yadav’s voice cuts through the inertia of bureaucracy and indifference.
A Lawyer by Training, an Activist by Conviction
Born and raised in Rewari, Yadav holds a Master’s degree in Hindi Literature from Indira Gandhi University, Meerpur. But it was her work in legal advocacy that shaped her into a formidable force.
“The problem isn’t that people don’t have rights,” she says, adjusting her neatly pinned dupatta. “The problem is that they don’t know they do. And even when they do, they lack the means to fight for them.”
Her days are spent navigating village panchayats, courtrooms, and slum communities, educating people about the POCSO Act, the Juvenile Justice Act, and their fundamental rights. She has worked extensively with the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) to provide free legal aid, ensuring that justice is not a privilege reserved for the wealthy.
Fighting for the Invisible Workers
One of Yadav’s most relentless battles has been for sanitation workers, a section of society often overlooked despite their indispensable role. In Gurugram, she has actively lobbied for fair wages, healthcare, and safety gear for those who work in hazardous conditions.
On Women’s Day, she stood alongside Municipal Commissioner Ashok Kumar Garg, demanding dignity and protection for female sanitation workers. “They sweep our streets, clean our cities, and yet they remain invisible. If we cannot ensure their basic dignity, we fail as a society,” she asserts.
Her work with sanitation workers extends beyond advocacy—her NGO facilitates health check-ups, legal assistance, and ensures access to government welfare schemes.
Legal Reforms in the Heart of Haryana
Yadav’s influence is not limited to labor rights. She has worked tirelessly to push for gender justice, launching initiatives against domestic violence, dowry abuse, and female foeticide. She played a key role in setting up women’s toilets in public areas across Rewari, addressing a long-ignored issue of sanitation and safety.
“Something as simple as a public toilet can change a woman’s life. It’s about dignity,” she says.
In schools and colleges, she has led legal awareness programs, ensuring that young girls understand their rights. As a member of the Internal Complaints Committee in institutions like LP College and RAWMAVI, Rajgarh, she has taken up cases of sexual harassment and workplace discrimination.
A Relentless Force Against Systemic Apathy
Her activism has not been without resistance. Local politicians have tried to dissuade her, bureaucrats have dismissed her, and in some cases, her own safety has been threatened.
“But resistance only tells me that I’m on the right path,” she says with a wry smile. “Change is uncomfortable. It makes people nervous. But that’s how you know it’s working.”
Her efforts have not gone unnoticed. She has been honored by the Chief Minister of Haryana for her work with underprivileged children and sanitation workers. She received the Yadav Gaurav Award from Cabinet Minister Rao Narbir Singh and was recognized by the Municipal Corporation of Rewari for her contributions to the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
Yet, accolades mean little to her compared to the work itself. “Awards don’t change lives,” she says. “Justice does.”
The Road Ahead
Despite her achievements, Yadav believes her work has only begun. She envisions a Haryana where legal literacy is as common as literacy itself, where a domestic worker or a farmer knows their rights as well as any lawyer. She aims to push for greater policy reforms, particularly in labor laws and gender justice.
Her latest endeavor is an initiative to provide legal education in government schools, ensuring that children grow up knowing how to fight injustice.
“Every case, every victory, even the small ones—they add up,” she says. “If I can change one life, that’s one less person who will suffer in silence. And if I can change a hundred, maybe that’s the beginning of something bigger.”
In a world quick to turn away from inconvenient truths, Priyanka Yadav stands firm, refusing to let apathy win. She is not just an activist, not just a lawyer. She is a movement unto herself.
