Video Volunteers

Video Volunteers focuses on shedding light on the issue of forced evictions that are on the rise in various parts of India. While development projects are often presented as ways to improve lives, the reality for nearby communities can be starkly different, resulting in the destruction of communities, job loss, and increased poverty. Globally, around 15 million people are forcibly displaced annually to make way for various projects, including dams, mines, and urban developments. These forced evictions lead to a range of human rights violations and ongoing challenges for affected communities, from inadequate housing to limited access to essential services. Video Volunteers advocates for a more balanced approach, emphasizing that it is possible to protect people's rights while still achieving economic growth, thereby avoiding such detrimental consequences.

Video Volunteers addresses the pervasive issue of gender discrimination deeply rooted in India's patriarchal society. Discrimination against women and gender minorities remains a significant problem, impacting both public and private life. The preference for sons within families perpetuates male dominance in political and economic spheres, while women and gender minorities face discrimination and violence based on their sex. Video Volunteers launched the Khel Badal campaign in 2016 to challenge patriarchy. Community Correspondents share stories of everyday sexism and normalized gender stereotypes, contributing to the high incidence of rape, domestic violence, and harassment. To combat this, 63 correspondents lead Discussion Clubs, using Video Volunteers' gender-focused videos to challenge patriarchal norms and promote gender equality among the youth in their communities.

Video Volunteers is dedicated to combatting the severe issue of human trafficking in India, a problem worsened by its status as the second largest organised crime in the country. In 2020 alone, there were 1,714 registered cases of trafficking, with independent estimates suggesting that as many as 8 million people are trapped in this harrowing ordeal. The organisation's campaign, initiated in 2010, focuses on increasing awareness, fostering community-based solutions, reporting cases, and ultimately eradicating human trafficking. Its efforts extend beyond reporting, as it collaborates with local organisations and victim's families to pursue justice and compensation, particularly in remote areas of India. Village-level screenings and community meetings in high-trafficking regions like Jharkhand and West Bengal have yielded positive outcomes, leading to the rescue of 40 individuals from trafficking by mid-2022.

Since 2010, Video Volunteers has actively documented untouchability in India, highlighting persistent caste discrimination and violence. Its correspondents report on issues like 'manual scavenging' and atrocities against Dalits. This documentation underpins a Public Interest Litigation in the Supreme Court, urging the Government to enforce the constitutional ban on untouchability. Video Volunteers' work is unique, exposing hidden aspects of untouchability best captured by insiders from affected communities.

Video Volunteers, through its RTE Pass ya Fail campaign, delves into the challenges of India's Right to Education Act (RTE). This ambitious policy aims to provide free, compulsory, and quality education to children between 6 and 14 years old. However, despite its lofty goals, 47 million adolescents in India remain stuck in primary education, the highest number globally. Video Volunteers' videos offer an inside look at disadvantaged schools, where issues like inadequate teachers, lack of clean water, unsanitary toilets, and caste discrimination in the mid-day meal provision are prevalent. More than 100 schools in 8 states have been audited through this campaign. These video reports have influenced positive actions from Government agencies, with over 160 issues resolved out of 297 videos produced, showcasing the power of community engagement and advocacy.