Smt. Barkha Singh, Chairperson of Delhi Women’s Commission and MLA

Smt. Jaya Shroff, Senior Journalist

Dr. L. D. Mishra, Special Rapporteur of the National Human Rights Commission and former Labour Secretary of Union Government

Shri. Ravi Prakash Verma, Member of Parliament

Shri. Ramdev Prasad, Bihar Child Labour Commission Chairperson

Shri. Dileep Baid, Businessman and Handicraft Promoter

Dr. P. M. Nair (IPS), Director General of CRPF

27 January 2009, New Delhi: Honouring shaheed Dhoomdas, the first martyr of the Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA or Save the Childhood Movement) BBA awarded the Dhoomdas Honour to seven individuals for their notable contributions to end child slavery, bondage and trafficking in their respective fields this Tuesday in an award ceremony in New Delhi.  Justice Dr. M. K. Sarma of the Supreme Court of India was the Chief Guest and presented the Dhoomdas Honour.  Those honoured were Dr. L. D. Mishra, Special Rapporteur of the National Human Rights Commission and former Labour Secretary of Union Government, Member of Parliament from Lakhimpur Kheri Shri. Ravi Prakash Verma, Chairperson of Delhi Women’s Commission and MLA from Delhi Smt. Barkha Singh, Director General of CRPF Dr. P. M. Nair (IPS), Bihar Child Labour Commission Chairperson Shri. Ramdev Prasad, businessman and handicraft promoter from Jaipur Shri. Dileep Baid and Senior Journalist Smt. Jaya Shroff.

Introducing the Dhoomdas Honour, Shri. Kailash Satyarthi, founder of BBA and Chairperson Global March Against Child Labour said, “Dhoomdas, my beloved friend was snatched away from us trying to save children from servitude, bondage and trafficking. This award is to appreciate the efforts done by our distinguished friends and colleagues from various other fields to make this country a better place for children and securing their childhood.”

Shri. Akbar Ali, judge and member Secretary National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) relayed the message of the Honourable Chief Justice of India Justice Dr. K. G. Balakrishnan to the gathering. Speaking on behalf of the Honourable Chief Justice of India K. G. Balakrishnan and Justice Arijit Pasayat, he said,  “I want to reiterate the promise that the Honourable Chief Justice made to the children on 14 November 2008, that whoever writes or complains to the CJI on any child labour issue even on a postcard, such a letter would be considered as a writ petition and the matter taken up.”   He said that child labour elimination was a prime agenda and the judiciary would give its full weight behind this.  He further reiterated NALSA’s commitment to work with BBA to rescue, rehabilitate and repatriate child victims of labour and trafficking, and provide free legal aid.

Justice Dr. M. K. Sarma, of the Supreme Court and the Chief Guest of the ceremony in his address said, “The nation requires a movement to end child labour and BBA is that movement” and lauded the contributions of the Dhoomdas Honourees.  He recalled that during his tenure as the Chief Justice of Delhi High Court on a writ petition by BBA on child labour rescue and rehabilitation he had ordered the Delhi Government that the responsibility for rescue and rehabilitation of child labourers was their and can not be shed on to the NGOs.  In the same case, he has directed that Delhi Child Rights Commission be instituted for the protection and promotion of the rights of the children.  Outlining the means to end child labour, he said that action must also be taken to root out illiteracy and poverty.  He emphasised that education should be made compulsory saying, “The Constitution included the amendment to include article 21 A making education free and compulsory but the main task is to implement this. Judiciary is helping civil society including BBA in taking this movement forward.”