Activist Trupti Mehta becomes first Indian to be honoured with Walter Scheel Award for her pioneering work

Trupti Mehta, a social and environmental activist from India, has been honoured with the Walter Scheel Award for her unwavering dedication to the rights of India's indigenous populations. 

She is the first Indian national to have received this award. The award recognises the courage of this 67-year-old lawyer, who has defied the odds to secure the rights to traditional lands for thousands of families in Gujarat through her organisation, ARCH Vahini. 

Mehta is a visionary who transcends categorisation. She is not merely an environmental activist or a champion of social justice. Her strength resides in her deep understanding that these issues are intricately linked. 

The Walter Scheel Award was presented to Mehta on May 28 in Bonn, Germany. The award, given for the seventh time this year, honours individuals who have made significant contributions to development cooperation. It is conferred by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, the Walter Scheel Foundation, and the Walter Scheel Friends Association.

Since the 1980s, Mehta has been the voice for thousands who had been fighting a losing cause. Through her relentless fight, she has ensured the livelihood of thousands of people. As development accelerates, there is a need for more physical infrastructure, and it is during this process that the faint voices of those being displaced by the construction of dams, for instance, get drowned in the waters along with their lands. However, Mehta has stood firm amidst all these challenges and also promoted the Forest Rights Act. 

In addition to her fight for social justice, Mehta also advocates for environmental protection and improved healthcare for tribal communities. She believes that a healthy environment is essential for a just and thriving society. The Walter Scheel Award is a testament to her pioneering approach to social and environmental change.

With the changing times, Mehta has adopted technology like GPS data and historical satellite images to validate land claims. This has resulted in a 90% approval rate for land ownership applications. ARCH’s policy of recognising both spouses as landowners has notably empowered women, enhancing their economic participation and status within their communities.

Mehta’s life serves as a powerful reminder that where there is a will, there is always a way. The only thing one needs is an unwavering commitment to the cause that one is fighting for. It is about taking one small step at a time, it is about not faltering when obstacles arise. It is about determination.

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