Kuldeep Baudh
Founder, Prayas Jan Utthan Samiti
When a Dalit family in Bundelkhand faces caste violence, they turn to Advocate Kuldeep Baudh. He pursues every case and helps families access justice.
Kuldeep Baudh
's story
When Kuldeep passed Class 5, he received a certificate bearing the name Kuldeep Singh. A teacher from a privileged caste saw it and said, "How can this say 'Singh'? Kuldeep is a Chamar, his certificate should say Kumar." The teacher tore the certificate in front of him. Kuldeep ran home heartbroken and furious and vowed never to set foot in school again. His father could not change his mind, so he took him to his uncle, a Dalit activist associated with Manyavar Kanshi Ram. His uncle challenged Kuldeep and told him that all he had lost was a name on a certificate. Dr Ambedkar had faced far greater barriers, yet went on to become one of India's foremost scholars and the principal architect of the Constitution. Surely, he said, Kuldeep could continue his education. This was the first time Kuldeep understood that he was a Dalit, what this identity meant, and the discrimination that came with it. It was also his first introduction to Dr Ambedkar, whose life and ideas have guided him ever since. Years later, Kuldeep scored among the highest marks in his district in the Class 10 Board examinations. When his achievement appeared in local newspapers, members of dominant castes in his village attacked him and his family, unwilling to accept that the son of a Dalit family had earned such recognition. The discrimination and the attacks didn't stop. But neither did Kuldeep. He kept studying, became a lawyer, and today practices at the Allahabad High Court. But above all, he has dedicated his life to fighting caste discrimination across the Bundelkhand region. The injustice he experienced as a child became the work of his life. He is determined that no one else should have to endure it.
The work that
Kuldeep Baudh
puts in
Kuldeep supports the local Dalit community in three ways: legal aid, access to government programmes, and legal capacity building. All three areas of work are delivered via a Dalit Dignity and Justice Centre (DDJC) established in Jalaun. He works directly with communities across 60 Panchayats in Jalaun and supports another 40 indirectly through local partners. Through the Bundelkhand Dalit Adhikar Manch, his wider network reaches more than 500 Panchayats across the Bundelkhand region, including the districts of Jalaun, Lalitpur, Jhansi, Mahua, Banda, Chitrakoot, and Hamirpur. A core thrust of Kuldeep’s work is providing legal aid. His team supports survivors of caste violence, sexual abuse and domestic violence from the very first moment that an incident is reported. Volunteers document the incidents, accompany families to the police and administration offices, connect them with lawyers, and follow cases filed under laws such as the POCSO Act, the Domestic Violence Act and the SC/ST Act. Currently, Kuldeep is personally representing 75 cases in court and acting as an advisor for another 140 cases. Many families also approach Kuldeep’s team for problems that make them vulnerable to discrimination in the first place. Kuldeep helps children return to school and access scholarships, while families receive support with labour rights and government entitlements. Over the past year alone, the team supported 1,154 Dalit families in accessing these services. Recognising that lasting justice for all Dalit families in Bundelkhand cannot depend on one lawyer, Kuldeep also trains paralegals and young community leaders. Trained volunteers become trusted local resource persons points of contact who can respond early, explain the available legal route, and help families navigate complex cases.
Impact of the work
Through his legal work, Kuldeep and his team have secured justice in more than 20 cases of caste and gender-based violence, resulting in court-ordered compensation of over ₹30 lakh for survivors and their families.
Beyond the courtroom, the team has helped 1,154 Dalit individuals and families access government schemes and entitlements. Around 75% of these cases have already been successfully resolved, while the remaining cases continue to be actively pursued.
An enduring impact of Kuldeep’s work is the network of 125 trained paralegal volunteers he has built across the region so far. These volunteers help identify families in need, explain their legal rights, connect them to government support, and ensure that people are not left to navigate the justice system alone.
What your funds will unlock
Kuldeep's vision is to ensure that every Dalit family in Bundelkhand can access justice. With your support, he seeks to expand his network of community paralegals and respond to more than 500 additional families over the coming year.
Funds raised via Veeraa will support three community mobilisers, legal and leadership training, exposure visits for 100 volunteers, and 15 fact-finding missions. Together, these investments will strengthen a community-led network that can carry this work across Jalaun and the wider Bundelkhand region.
A contribution of ₹4,000 per month helps train five paralegal volunteers for a full year. The volunteers then become permanent resource persons for their community who help families understand their rights, navigate legal processes, and pursue justice for the years to come.
Will you support Kuldeep as he helps Dalit families pursue justice and prepares a new generation of community paralegals to stand beside them?
Review of capabilities
Voices from the movement
Testimonials from the workers that work alongside our leaders
Usha Devi
Tahseel Coordinator, Jalaun
"कुलदीप जी की सबसे बड़ी खूबी यह है कि वे अपनी टीम के सभी लोगों को बराबरी और सम्मान की नजर से देखते हैं। वे किसी के साथ भेदभाव नहीं करते और सभी की बात को महत्व देते हैं, इसी कारण उनकी टीम में विश्वास और अपनापन बना रहता है।"
Translation: Kuldeep's greatest quality is that he sees everyone in his team with equality and respect. He does not discriminate against anyone and values everyone's voice, which is why trust and belonging stay alive in his team.
Advocate Nikhat Parveen
Program and Legal Coordinator
"कुलदीप बौद्ध जी बहुत सपोर्ट करते हैं और हमलोगों को हमारी ताकत का एहसास कराते हैं कि 'आप लोग सब कुछ कर सकते हैं'।"
Translation: Kuldeep Baudh supports us a lot and makes us realise our own strength: 'You can do anything'.
Vouched for by —
Independent references who have experienced a leader's work first hand.
"His biggest strength is commitment and community connect, along with his perseverance. He could go and get a job, or do something else, but he chooses to stay here and fight the fight. Within the Dalit community there are very few young people this committed who have the perseverance to pursue their vision of equality, justice and inclusion; people like Kuldeep are a ray of hope that can be multiplied into light."
"He is not aiming for just individual growth alone. His larger vision is to work for his community and encourage young men and women to pursue their education. For example, he has encouraged young Dalit men and women to take up law, and most of them are now practising in courts. He has a big influence in the community, especially among the youth.”