Founder, Independent Thought

Dr. Vikram Srivastava is an Advocate and the Founder of Independent Thought, an organization working on child rights, gender justice, and the protection of vulnerable communities. He currently serves as the Regional Technical Advisor to the South Asia Initiative to End Violence Against Children and has represented the SAIEVAC Regional Secretariat across multiple national, regional, and international forums in South Asia. His work focuses on strengthening institutional and policy responses to child protection, violence prevention, and the eradication of child marriage.

He is also the National Convener of the Campaign Against Child Marriage (CACM), a network that advances efforts to address child marriage through advocacy, legal reform, and community engagement. Over the years, Dr. Srivastava has contributed extensively to policy dialogue and legal reform processes related to child rights in India. He has represented perspectives on the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) framework before the Law Commission of India, presented recommendations before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021, and served as a member of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act Rules Drafting Committee.

Through regional engagement, legal advocacy, and grassroots collaborations, Dr. Srivastava continues to advance efforts toward child protection, gender justice, and creating safer environments for children and vulnerable communities across South Asia.

Rise Up Together Cohort: India 2020