The Nobel Peace Prize 2014 felicitation to founder of Bachpan Bachao Andolan (Save the Childhood Movement), Kailash Satyarthi has brought smiles accompanied with truckloads of confidence for the members of the campaign in Jharkhand.
For the local activists who have been associated with the campaign like Bachpan Bachao Abhiyan’s State convenor Sanjay Mishra it was a great exposure to work with Satyarthi. The Andolan’s State members feel that the long fight for child labour issues has finally got global recognition.
Citizens’ Foundation’s secretary Ganesh Reddy who jointly organised camps with the Andolan for child labour elimination across the State around seven years back it was great source of inspiration to work with Satyarthi and his team.
“After working with Bachpan Bachao Andolan, I thought of taking more initiatives for child rights,” said Reddy who is also a former advisor of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).
Renowned social activist Satyarthi had launched the campaign against bonded labour under his NGO’s banner from Jharkhand’s Palamau district in 1986. The set-up of Child labour Commission was also a brainchild of Bachpan Bachao Andolan. Interestingly, the PIl for formation of Jharkhand State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (JSCPCR) was filed by Bachpan Bachao Andolan in 2011. Thereafter, the JSCPCR was formed in 2012 wherein Mishra, Ranjana Kumari, Sunita Katyayan were chosen as members with Roop laxmi Munda as the chairperson.
The formation of Right to Education (RTE) Act in 2009 was because of the constant efforts of Satyarthi’s group. The raid carried out for rescue of several children from Koderma’s Mica Mines was done by the Andolan. Most of these children are pursuing their studies in prominent educational institutions of the nation like Delhi University, mentioned Mishra.Satyarthi had last visited the state for a public hearing in Koderma regarding the rescue of such children on August 26, 2013.
“Child labour cases including trafficking and domestic violence are on rise in the state. It is a fortune that our organization has received the global honour. We have been fighting to save the children from getting into such crimes since 1995,” said a member of the campaign.“It is a good sign that the vulnerable children have got a new life because of the programmes held across the state,” pointed out the member.
According to sources, organizing campaigns to save the children below the age of 18 from indulging in child labour activities was not a joke in the initial phases at Jharkhand. “With the limelight on our organization many critical cases of child labour related to Jharkhand can now be tackled easily,” Mishra said.
Presently, Satyarthi is the chairperson of Global March against Child labour. At the age of 26 he quit the job of electronic engineer and had begun working for the welfare of children.