Shantha Sinha is a leading child rights activist and the founder-secretary of the MV Foundation. Previously, she headed the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights as its first chairperson for two consecutive terms from 2007-2013. Shanta has also served as a Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Hyderabad. She is a recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2003 for community leadership and the Padma Shri in 1998 by the Government of India.