In 2005, two ordinary men in Udaipur — Rajiv Khandelwal and Krishnavatar Sharma — launched an extraordinary mission. With just a small idea and deep conviction, they founded Aajeevika Bureau, an organisation that today has transformed the lives of more than 12 lakh migrant workers across India.
Over the last two decades, their initiative has helped India’s invisible workforce recover ₹120 crore in unpaid wages, gain legal protection, and — most importantly — reclaim their dignity.
From Injustice to Empowerment
It began with stories like that of Ramesh Kumar, a temple worker in Bhuj who went months without pay. When he reached out to Aajeevika’s legal aid cell in Udaipur, he didn’t expect much. But after months of mediation, every worker received their full payment.
It wasn’t just about money — it was proof that even those on the margins could demand justice and win.
Giving Voice to India’s Invisible Workforce
India has over 40 crore domestic migrants, many of whom build homes, roads, and cities — yet remain unseen, underpaid, and unprotected.
Aajeevika Bureau stepped in to change that.
From providing legal aid and skill training to forming women’s collectives and childcare centres near worksites, their mission has been simple yet revolutionary — to make migrants visible in policy, welfare, and society.
Women Who Lead Change
Meet Pushpa Bai, once a shy homemaker, now a fearless leader in the Ujala Samooh — Aajeevika’s women’s collective.
She ensures ration rights, fair wages, and participation in gram sabhas for other women.
Across Rajasthan, more than 15,000 women like her have stepped into leadership, demanding equality, safety, and recognition.
Building Futures Through Skills
At Aajeevika’s STEP Academy, youth learn trades like masonry, wiring, mobile repair, and solar technology.
One such trainee, Rekha Kumari, became a skilled mason earning ₹450 a day. “Earlier, people laughed. Now, they praise me,” she says proudly.
A Lifeline for Workers
●Through 29 centres across 9 states, Aajeevika has:
●Supported 12 lakh workers and families
●Recovered Rs120 crore in wages
●Linked 1.7 lakh workers to social security
●Provided childcare and healthcare for working mothers
They also operate Amrit Clinics — rural health hubs bringing medical aid to tribal and migrant families.
The Road Ahead
Now, Aajeevika Bureau is expanding into green skills, climate-resilient livelihoods, and safe housing for workers.
Their upcoming Shelter Square Foundation hostel in Surat offers migrants a safe, affordable home — a rare comfort in an uncertain world.
But their biggest success isn’t counted in numbers. It’s in the confidence of workers who no longer accept silence.
As Rajiv Khandelwal says,
“When people begin to question unfairness themselves — that’s when dignity has taken root.”
And thanks to Aajeevika Bureau, that dignity is spreading — one worker, one woman, one story at a time.
