Noble Peace Prize Laureate, Mr. Kailash Satyarthi expresses his gratitude for NHRC's support in his crusade against bonded and child labour (13.11.2014)
Press Release
New Delhi, 13th November, 2014
It was an occasion for the Noble Peace Prize Laureate, Mr. Kailash Satyarthi to go down the memory lane today at an interaction organized with him by the National Human Rights Commission at the India International Centre, New Delhi.
Recalling his earlier days of extreme struggle while dealing with the bonded and child labour problem in the country, Mr. 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 NHRC by saying that at least twice, his life was saved due to it's interventions when he was under attack from those who opposed his struggle against the 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 the 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 Ranganath Misra who immediately called the officers. He recalled how the then NHRC Member, Justice V.S. Malimath, took up Ashraf's case and made it his personal agenda 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. Mr. Kailash Satyarthi also said that till 1990, even the international community did not pay any heed as to how to ensure right to education as a human right of children. He said that in the country also, there was no law on child labour till 1986.
Earlier, the NHRC Chairperson, Mr. Justice K.G. Balakrishnan congratulated Mr. 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 there is still a big challenge to completely abolish bonded and child labour in the country. Referring to Mr. Satyarthi's association with the NHRC as a Member of its Core Group of NGOs, Justice Balakrishnan said that the Commission is proud of Mr. Satyarthi for getting the Nobel Peace Prize.
Several dignitaries, including the present and former NHRC Members, senior officers and those who worked with Mr. Satyarthi, were present on the occasion.
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New Delhi, 13th November, 2014
It was an occasion for the Noble Peace Prize Laureate, Mr. Kailash Satyarthi to go down the memory lane today at an interaction organized with him by the National Human Rights Commission at the India International Centre, New Delhi.
Recalling his earlier days of extreme struggle while dealing with the bonded and child labour problem in the country, Mr. 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 NHRC by saying that at least twice, his life was saved due to it's interventions when he was under attack from those who opposed his struggle against the 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 the 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 Ranganath Misra who immediately called the officers. He recalled how the then NHRC Member, Justice V.S. Malimath, took up Ashraf's case and made it his personal agenda 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. Mr. Kailash Satyarthi also said that till 1990, even the international community did not pay any heed as to how to ensure right to education as a human right of children. He said that in the country also, there was no law on child labour till 1986.
Earlier, the NHRC Chairperson, Mr. Justice K.G. Balakrishnan congratulated Mr. 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 there is still a big challenge to completely abolish bonded and child labour in the country. Referring to Mr. Satyarthi's association with the NHRC as a Member of its Core Group of NGOs, Justice Balakrishnan said that the Commission is proud of Mr. Satyarthi for getting the Nobel Peace Prize.
Several dignitaries, including the present and former NHRC Members, senior officers and those who worked with Mr. Satyarthi, were present on the occasion.
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