Globally, there are almost 73 million children who are either victims of organised sexual exploitation, beggary, organ transplant rackets or have been forced into child labour in manufacturing units engaged by many brands.
Highlighting this global issue is the YouTube original documentary The Price of Free by Oscar winning producer Davis Guggenheim and director Derek Doneen. The documentary narrates the many stories of Nobel Peace Laureate, Kailash Satyarthi and also of his three colleagues, who laid down their lives trying to free children from bondage.
The 90-minute documentary propagates creating a world where every child is free, safe, healthy and educated. Mostly set in Delhi, the documentary exposes the method adopted by traffickers to bring children, from villages and sub-urban towns, to work in dingy, dark and asphyxiating workshops in the narrow lanes of metro cities. The film carries a strong message for consumers, corporates and lawmakers to choose and act wisely so that they don’t add to the misery of children.
The documentary is a tribute to Satyarthi, who has been attacked multiple times, often closely escaping death, during his efforts towards rescuing the most marginalised children of our country. It also gives out a strong message that still a lot of ground needs to be covered in protecting the rights of all children that include their right to freedom, health, safety and education — all causes, for which Satyarthi has been fighting for over the last four decades.
The film suggests a model to bring the children in the framework of socio-economic development so that they can contribute to the growth of their nation.It pitches for united and coherent efforts of all the citizens, politicians, teachers, faith leaders, workers and business, at a global level, to ensure that rights of children are not violated.
Encouraging introspection and debate, the film in a nutshell, advocates the global movement to end all forms of violence against children. Price of Free premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival and won the Sundance Grand Jury Prize. The film which debuted on YouTube in November 2018, has been instrumental in raising awareness among consumers, even in the countries in the west where various cities and towns have witnessed strong protest over including children in the product supply chain.
The film not only promises hope but also provides solutions for the challenges faced by the poor, naive and oppressed who walk into the trap laid by traffickers. By showcasing the struggles of an Indian fighting against child slavery, the documentary calls for deeper moral responsibility of not only the countrymen but for citizens of the world.
Children as domestic servant are the most common and normalised phenomenon in the society. It may be due to lack of awareness, empathy and sensitivity. This film attempts to inform, educate and spread awareness about the nuances of child slavery and trafficking so that individualsplay theirrespective roles in nipping the menace at its bud.
Policy makers and lawmakers can draft and legislate upon robust laws to safeguard the interests of children. The country needs a convergent and participatory model, which pushes for positive action from all the citizens and stakeholders — students, teachers, general public, governments, legislatures, police, and judiciary.
To commemorate the five years of Nobel Peace Prize, The Price of Free is being screened today (December 10) at over 100 locations across country and at more than 10 districts of Jharkhand, including Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Dhanbad, Bokaro and others.
(The author is general secretary of Federation of Films Societies of India)