NHRC organises an interaction with Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi
It was an occasion for the Noble Peace Prize Laureate, Shri Kailash Satyarthi to go down the memory lane at an interaction organized by the National Human Rights Commission at the India International Centre, New Delhi on the 13th November, 2014.
Recalling his earlier days of extreme struggle while dealing with the bonded and child labour problem in the country, Shri Satyarthi said that the NHRC very strongly supported his efforts at a time when he was not receiving help from any other quarter. He expressed his gratitude towards the Commission and said that at least on two occasions its interventions saved his life from those who were opposed to his struggle against bonded and child labour.
He specially narrated the story of a child, named Ashraf, who became victim of the atrocities of his employers, who were Government servants and how at that time, he had difficulty in persuading hospitals to provide him treatment and police to take criminal action against his tormentors.
His struggle eventually led him on a Sunday to the residence of the then NHRC Chairperson, Justice Shri Ranganath Misra who immediately called the officers of the Commission. He recalled how the then NHRC Member, Justice Shri V.S. Malimath took up Ashraf's case to ensure that no child was engaged as a domestic help. Eventually, a major success came through when the Central Government amended the rules banning its employees from engaging children as domestic helps.
He expressed his happiness that the concerted efforts have brought a paradigm shift in the mindsets of people from showing charity to working for the rights of children.
Earlier, the NHRC Chairperson, Justice Shri K.G. Balakrishnan congratulated Shri Satyarthi for his achievements and described how he left a coveted career of an engineer to work for the rights of children. He said that the complete abolition of bonded and child labour in the country was still a big challenge. Referring to Shri Satyarthi's association with the NHRC as a Member of its Core Group of NGOs, Justice Balakrishnan said that the Commission is proud of him for getting the Nobel Peace Prize 2014.
Several dignitaries, including the present and former NHRC Members, senior officers and those who worked with Shri Satyarthi, were present on the occasion.
Recalling his earlier days of extreme struggle while dealing with the bonded and child labour problem in the country, Shri Satyarthi said that the NHRC very strongly supported his efforts at a time when he was not receiving help from any other quarter. He expressed his gratitude towards the Commission and said that at least on two occasions its interventions saved his life from those who were opposed to his struggle against bonded and child labour.
He specially narrated the story of a child, named Ashraf, who became victim of the atrocities of his employers, who were Government servants and how at that time, he had difficulty in persuading hospitals to provide him treatment and police to take criminal action against his tormentors.
His struggle eventually led him on a Sunday to the residence of the then NHRC Chairperson, Justice Shri Ranganath Misra who immediately called the officers of the Commission. He recalled how the then NHRC Member, Justice Shri V.S. Malimath took up Ashraf's case to ensure that no child was engaged as a domestic help. Eventually, a major success came through when the Central Government amended the rules banning its employees from engaging children as domestic helps.
He expressed his happiness that the concerted efforts have brought a paradigm shift in the mindsets of people from showing charity to working for the rights of children.
Earlier, the NHRC Chairperson, Justice Shri K.G. Balakrishnan congratulated Shri Satyarthi for his achievements and described how he left a coveted career of an engineer to work for the rights of children. He said that the complete abolition of bonded and child labour in the country was still a big challenge. Referring to Shri Satyarthi's association with the NHRC as a Member of its Core Group of NGOs, Justice Balakrishnan said that the Commission is proud of him for getting the Nobel Peace Prize 2014.
Several dignitaries, including the present and former NHRC Members, senior officers and those who worked with Shri Satyarthi, were present on the occasion.