Bengaluru: “Writers, thinkers and rationalists have been returning awards in protest against rising intolerance in the country. But I will not return my Nobel award since it was not given to me by the Indian government. Another country recognised my services and conferred me with this award and hence I cannot return,” said prestigious Nobel award winner Kailash Sathyarthi.
He was speaking at a media interaction held at Bengaluru press club about the issue of abduction and trafficking of children when he said, “Numbers and figures have shown show the plight of innocent children who are being abducted in the country. This is dangerous. They need to be rescued from being trafficked and abducted. Few children are even forced into flesh trade.”
While talking about children in Karnataka, he said that there are 4.5lakh children who are working as child laborers. “It is unacceptable when these children are snatched off of their basic right of education. If a country does not become a place for knowledge, then it will not become an economically developed one. Karnataka stands at the first place when it comes to Information and technology, hence it must also take a stand on protecting and education children in the state”, he said and added that his initiative Bacchpan Bachao Andolan has undertaken several programmes for protecting the rights of the children.
“Our aim is not only to rescue children but also to prevent violence on children. It is impossible to enforce compulsory education act without bringing them out of the evil of child labour”, he opined.
Religious leaders should come forward to protect their rights and prevent violence against children. Whatever be their religion or caste. The Child Labour (prohibition and regulation) rules, 1988 is not effective and at least in the coming assembly session, central government should come forward to give a nod to the same, so that it can put an end to child labour. There should be few changes in the act. The act has been amended recently that children can work after returning from school. “This needs to change”, he said.
