It is with great sadness we inform you of the passing of Global March’s former National Coordinator for India, social worker and environmentalist, Dr. J Paul Basker on 20 August 2020 in Tamil Nadu, India.

Dr. Baskar was a staunch advocate against the exploitation of children and adults and worked for the rights of exploited labourers and marginalised women of the downtrodden segments of the society. During his life, he served as the South India Coordinator of the South Asian Coalition on Child Servitude (Bachpan Bachao Andolan)  as well as the member of the South Asia Task Force on Bonded Child Labour promoted by The Child Workers in Asia (CWA). He was also the National Coordinator of India for the Global March Against Child Labour.

Along with representing numerous child rights organisations, NGOs and environmental organisations, in 1984 he went on to establish the Peace Trust in Dindigul in Tamil Nadu state of India that works for the protection of the environment,  eradication of child labour, empowerment of women and addresses issues of the migrant labourer, across six districts of Tamil Nadu.

On behalf of Global March Against Child Labour we express our deepest condolences to the sorrowing family and join in their prayers for the deceased. We shall always remember Dr. Baskar as a champion of the rights of all workers and as a torchbearer for realising children’s rights in India and beyond.