Anahita Surya, Visiting Faculty at the National Law School of India University is bringing together Nikhil Dey, Rakshita Swamy, and Inayath Ali for a lecture on, “Legislating, Protecting, and Institutionalising People’s Law,” as per the details below:

Day & date: Thursday, April 23, 2026
Time: 2 – 4 PM
Venue: NAB-102, NLSIU

The speakers will speak about their experiences of building and sustaining people’s movements to legislate and subsequently protect people-centric laws such as MGNREGA, RTI and, more recently, laws related to gig workers. Drawing on grassroots social accountability movements, they will also discuss people-driven mechanisms for accountability and democratic engagement.

About the Speakers

Nikhil Dey is an Indian social activist and a Founding Member of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS). He has been at the forefront of several landmark campaigns, including the movements for the Right to Information (RTI) and the Right to Work (MGNREGA). Committed to transparency, accountability, and grassroots democracy, he continues to strengthen people’s participation in governance. In 2023, the U.S. State Department recognized him as an International Anti-Corruption Champion.

Rakshita Swamy is the Founder and Director of SAFAR. She, along with her colleagues and campaigns, works with Governments and Civil Society Organisations towards creating and institutionalising social accountability mechanisms. Her work is at the intersection of law, advocacy and research to help people claim their rights, improve the functioning of public institutions and strengthen norms of democratic participatory governance. She has worked with the Ministry of Rural Development with a mandate to support State Governments in implementing social audits under the MGNREGA and drawing institutional synergies on social audit with the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. She is associated with the Right to Information and Right to Work campaigns and is a member of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS). She has a Master’s in Social Policy and Development from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a Bachelor’s in Economics from Lady Shri Ram College, University of Delhi. She also regularly teaches as a visiting faculty at NLSIU.

Inayath Ali is the President of the Karnataka App-based Drivers Union and the Indian Federation of App-based Transport Workers. He is a prominent voice for gig workers’ rights and is also a member of the Gig Workers Welfare Board in Karnataka.