Vilas Bhongade

Work area : Bhandara, Chandrapur and Nagpur districts, Maharashtra

Vilas has been involved in bettering the lives of unorganized labor over the past three decades. Under the banner of Kashtkari Jan Andolan, he has played a key role in the Vidharba region of Maharashtra working towards natural resource rights and livelihoods at the grassroots level. He became a SRUTI Fellow in 2003

Since 1990, he has been actively engaged in initiatives aimed at improving rehabilitation for communities affected by large infrastructure projects, with a focus on ensuring dignified living conditions and long-term wellbeing. In 1996, Gosikhurd Prakalpgrast Sangharsh Samiti was initiated to support affected families through constructive engagement, awareness-building, and community-led solutions. Under his leadership, the organisation introduced innovative and peaceful democratic platforms that brought attention to overlooked dimensions of displacement, including access to common resources essential for livelihoods such as cattle rearing and grazing.

Vilas has worked consistently with informal and unorganised workers, including domestic workers, to strengthen access to social security, welfare mechanisms, and institutional recognition. In 2008, these efforts culminated in the enactment of the Domestic Workers Act in Maharashtra. This was followed by the formation of the Domestic Workers’ Welfare Board in 2011, which enabled structured support systems, including financial assistance for women domestic workers between the ages of 55 and 60. In 2013, the sangathan played a key role in facilitating comprehensive rehabilitation measures covering compensation, livelihood support, and housing for nearly one lakh people affected by the Gosikhurd Dam.

An accomplished writer and thinker, he has authored several books and articles on laws, constitutional provisions, and social processes, and regularly contributes to Marathi newspapers and magazines. He mentors SRUTI’s programmes, facilitates SSC shivirs across the state, and travels extensively to support organisation-building, document social initiatives, and engage with communities to understand their living conditions, languages, histories, and cultural practices. Known for his warmth and approachability, he inspires young people to participate in collective efforts aimed at inclusive growth and the long-term development of communities.