BBA is the pioneering child-friendly organisation of India working to end child labour, child trafficking, and provide free education for all children since 1980
Minister of Labour Shri Harish Rawat
inaugurating the Children's Parliament
31 July 2009, NEW DELHI: In an unique assembly of child advocates from across the country, the firebrand youngsters demanded the unconditional elimination of all forms of child labour, and free and good quality education for all children.
Kinshu Kumar, 13 year old child delegate from Rajasthan challenged the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr. Harish Rawat to pledge for time bound action, who inaugurated the 3 days Children’s Parliament in New Delhi.
Razia Sultan, a former child labourer who used to stitch footballs, questioned the Judge of the Supreme Court of India, Justice Dr. M.K.Sarma, “Why are the perpetrators who snatch our childhood and future, go scot-free, while many juvenile delinquents for unproven petty crime have to suffer a lot?” The children expressed their anguish over the performance of law enforcement authorities and the departments of education and child welfare. They were not even satisfied with the conventional bureaucratic attitude and practice of the institutions created for the protection of child rights and child welfare committees.
These agencies must act immediately after receiving complaints or information from any source instead of indulging into lengthy investigations, issuing fancy statements and organizing expensive conferences said Dhara Singh, a former stone quarry child labourer.
143 similar child delegates participated in 5th Rashtriya Bal Mahapanchayat (National Children’s Parliament) hosted by the Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA), and organised and conducted by child leaders themselves. All the delegates were the elected leaders of the children’s assemblies (Bal Panchayats) formed in the child friendly villages by BBA.
According to Amarlal, 13 year old former bonded slave and the newly elected President of the National Children’s Parliament, “This is an unique opportunity for the child advocates from different states to share experiences, discuss the problems faced in overcoming the barriers of apathy and corruption of the officials, as well as the social and cultural bias from the community.”
“We feel strengthen to fight more for our rights”, reiterated12-years-old Sazia, a former football stitcher from Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.
Mr. U.Saratchandran, Member Secretary, National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), Mr. Prabhat Jha, Member of Parliament (M.P.), Mr. Ravi Prakash Verma, ex M.P., Mr. Srikrishan Tyagi, MLA among other notable civil society representatives and officials were also present on during this 3-day event.
Among the child delegates, more than 50 child delegates have been successful in pressurising the Gram Panchayasts and local authorities to construct toilets for girls in their school premises, and other 49 have the credit for providing drinking water facilities like hand-pumps in their schools. 45 children have shown unprecedented leadership in withdrawing children from exploitative child labour and enrolling them in school. 13 new government schools were opened with the persuasion of the leaders of the Bal Panchayats. Another 3 children narrated how they helped in stopping child marriages from taking place in their villages.
While describing the concept of child friendly villages, the founder of BBA Mr. Kailash Satyarthi said, “Phrases like child participation, child rights remain either on paper or in the discussions. Through the Bal Mitra Grams or child friendly villages we are practicing these values at the grassroots level. A child friendly village is a village where children are withdrawn from the child labour and enrolled in schools. These children form their own children’s assemblies (Bal Panchayats) through the process of democratic election and this children’s assembly works with the village assembly (gram panchayat) for the development of the village.”
Since the initiation of the Bal Mitra Gram concept in 2001, BBA has transformed more than 200 child labour ridden villages into model Bal Mitra Grams (Child Friendly Villages) in 5 states of the country. This innovative strategy has been taken across the Indian borders into Nepal and is getting the reputation of a good practice model for child labour elimination, child and community participation for overall development of the villages.
