Padma Shri awardee social activist Avdhash Kaushal passes away at 87

DEHRADUN: Academic and activist Avdhash Kaushal, who consulted the Government of India on numerous policy review works, died at a private hospital in Dehradun early on Tuesday. Kaushal was put on the ventilator last Sunday after his vital organs stopped working due to multiple health complications. He was 87 years old.
Expressing grief, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami tweeted, “Got the sad news of the demise of Padma Shri awardee Avdhash Kaushal.He actively fought for social causes. May his soul rest in peace.” Kaushal was instrumental in stopping limestone quarrying at Kyarkkuli in Mussoorie in the 1980s. In fact, the limestone quarrying case fought by Dehradun-based Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra (RLEK), founded by Kaushal, was the first case relating to environmental protection to be heard by the Supreme Court in 1983.
He also fought for the rights of Van Gujjars and is known for his works to improve the lives of tribal hill communities in the Jaunsar-Bawar region, a predominantly tribal belt of Dehradun. Kaushal worked to ensure that they have basic human rights as the people in the region were grappling with systemic inequities and injustices. He advocated the inclusion of nomadic tribes under the Scheduled Tribe category.
Kaushal would also be remembered for his impeccable contribution to the enactment of India’s Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act of 1976, Environment Conservation Act of 1986, and the Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Act of 1988. In 1986, the Government of India conferred the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian award, upon him.
For several years, Kaushal taught public administration at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy as an associate professor. He was also nominated as a member of the International Committee to probe into war crimes and disappearances in Sri Lanka.