Youth Icons Fight Against Child Labour Gets Felicitation at National Capital

To raise awareness against child labour, the World Day Against Child Labour was launched by the International Labour Organisation in 2002. Every year June 12 is observed as World Day Against Child Labour.

 

In order to recognize the efforts of Child Rights Heroes, 2 days prior to the World Day Against Child Labour a consultation program was organised by Bachpan Bachao and Kailash Satyarthi Children's Foundation (KSCF) at New Delhi. In this National Consultation on Eradication of Child Rights by 2025, various child rights activists participated out of which 9 Youth leaders were felicitated by Sanjay Chander DG, RPF, for their iconic works to save and rescue children from forced labourers.

Nine Youth Fighters Against Child Labour

So let's know about these saviours of childhood and what efforts have been done by them in order to protect Bachpan.

Efforts of Youth To Save Bachpan

Youths who are raising their voice against exploitation of childhood by forced labourers are determined to end child labourers through collective efforts in the Country. Out of these 9 youths, who come from diverse backgrounds, most of them have witnessed the adversity of living a life of Labour as a child. But today they want to change the picture and are playing a significant role as a catalyst for the restoration and rescue of children in their respective districts and villages.

Establishment of residential schools for child labourers and effective child welfare schemes are in top of their demand. With the mutual support of Government of India they are trying to make all 749 districts of the country monitored under National Child Labour Project Scheme through technological Development.
Let's have a look at their backgrounds.

What Makes Them Youth Icon?

As a representative of social changes, these youths are working on multiple levels. Suraj Lodhi, a 18 years old boy from Vidisha district, Madhya Pradesh, working efficiently for the access of education to children in his village and his campaign against alcohol, has been conferred with the prestigious Diana Award in 2021.

Youth Leaders from Rajasthan

Moving forward Amar Lal, Tara Banjara and Rajesh Jatav who hails from Rajasthan have represented India in the International Labour Organization's 5th Global Conference on the elimination of child labour in Durban. Amar Lal, now a 25 years old child rights lawyer, has spent most of his childhood as a labourer working with his father at a stone quarry who was rescued by Kailash Satyarthi in 2001. Tara banjara who is now a prominent voice of Banjara Community hails from Alwar district. Tara who used to be a child labour in road construction company is now pursuing her Bachelor and wants to be an IPS officer.

Rajesh Jatav at the age of 8 years was rescued from brick kiln and today pursuing Bachelor of Science from DU. Another 2 girls Lalita Duhariya, 17 and Payal Jangid, 19 have received Reebok's Fit to Fight award. Lalita is also a member of Bal Mitra Gram, an initiative of Satyarthi foundation which advocates the safety and education of children. She has also been recognised with the Ashoka Young Changemaker Award. Payal has also been the recipient of Global Goalkeeper award given by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Youth Leaders From Jharkhand

Working himself as a child labourer in Mica mines, Neeraj Murmu, 22, has rescued more than 20 children from mica mines. He was conferred with Diana award in 2020 for his efforts to raise awareness about child labour and connecting more several impoverished families to Government-sponsored schemes. Neeraj says, "Empowering children by providing them with education can fight the menace of child labour."

Another Diana awardee from Jharkhand is Champa, 16 who once was rescued from Mica mines at the age of 12 years. It's her rigorous efforts that has made her district free from Child labour. Our 9th youth Icon is Radha kumari, 17 from koderma district. As a result of her constant efforts against child marriages and girl's education she has been designated as District's Brand Ambassador by District Administration. She says, "To stop child marriages completely, we need to change the prevailing notions and perceptions of our society, especially towards girl children."

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