Child leaders&#39; presence at global stage a living testimony what all children can achieve

Child leaders' presence at global stage a living testimony what all children can achieve

Child leaders from India address world leaders at United Nations. A India4Children note:

***

Kajal Kumari from remote village in Koderma district of Jharkhand and Kinsu Kumar from Virat Nagar, Rajasthan appeal to world leaders “to invest more in education to create better opportunities for children and help in eliminating child exploitation and child labour” at the United Nations in New York.
Both the child leaders spoke at United Nations “Transforming Education Summit”. The Summit is a key initiative of UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres. On the sidelines of the Summit they also highlighted the importance of education at the 4th “Laureates and Leaders for Children” Summit.
“Laureates and Leaders for Children” is a brain-child of Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi as a first of its kind platform bringing together Nobel Laureates and Global Leaders to build a sense of urgency, collective responsibility and a strong moral voice to galvanize political will for making this world peaceful where all children are healthy, safe and educated.
Nobel Peace Laureate Leymah Gbowee, Former Swedish Prime Minister Stephen Lofven and Human Rights activist Kerry Kennedy were the prominent global dignitaries present at the Summit.
As a 6-year old child Kinsu Kumar worked as a child labourer in a motor garage in Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh. He was forced to drop out of school as his family could not afford his education and had to contribute to his family’s income by working as a child labourer. His life changed after his father came in contact with Bachpan Bachao Andolan founded by Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi during the organisation’s Education March in 2001. After being rescued by Bachpan Bachao Andolan, he received his education at the Bal Ashram Trust in Virat Nagar where he works as a program officer. Bal Ashram Trust founded by Kailash Satyarthi in 1998, is an innovative and grassroots organisation that addresses deep-rooted and complex societal problems to ensure child protection and create a child-friendly world. Bal Ashram is one of a kind long-term rehabilitation centre for children rescued from child labour, trafficking, abuse, and exploitation.
Kajal Kumari worked as a child labourer at Jharkhand’s mica mines as a 7-year old child to support her family. After she was withdrawn from mica mines by Bal Mitra Gram, she actively participated in it and was later elected as the President of the Children's Council (the Bal Panchayat). As the President, she helped in withdrawing children from mica mines, enrolled them in school, prevented child marriages and enabled her village community to obtain access to benefit from governments' welfare programs.
In the context of educating children and eliminating child exploitation, the recent appeal by Kailash Satyarthi for a nationwide campaign against child marriage will give a huge boost to our collective resolve to fight against the social evil. Much like Kajal, as a child leader has successfully stopped 3 child marriages in her remote village, while Kinsu Kumar has worked extensively in Rajasthan against this social evil.
The presence of child leaders like Kajal and Kinsu at the global stage is a living testimony to the fact that with access to education and opportunities, our children can achieve their highest potential and reach the world stage.

Comments

Wave of disappearances sparks human rights fears for activists in Delhi

By Harsh Thakor* A philosophy student from Zakir Hussain College, Delhi University, and an activist associated with Nazariya magazine, Rudra, has been reported missing since the morning of July 19, 2025. This disappearance adds to a growing concern among human rights advocates regarding the escalating number of detentions and disappearances of activists in Delhi.

How community leaders overcome obstacles to protect forests and pastures in remote villages

By Bharat Dogra Dheera Ram Kapaya grew up in such poverty that, unable to attend school himself, he would carry another boy’s heavy school bag for five kilometers just to get a scoop of daliya (porridge). When he was finally able to attend school, he had to leave after class five to join other adolescent workers. However, as soon as opportunities arose, he involved himself in community efforts—promoting forest protection, adult literacy, and other constructive initiatives. His hidden talent for writing emerged during this time, and he became known for the songs and street play scripts he created to promote forest conservation, discourage child marriages, and support other social reforms.

‘Act of war on agriculture’: Aruna Rodrigues slams GM crop expansion and regulatory apathy

By Rosamma Thomas* Expressing appreciation to the Union Agriculture Minister for inviting suggestions from farmers and concerned citizens on the sharp decline in cotton crop productivity, Aruna Rodrigues—lead petitioner in the Supreme Court case ongoing since 2005 that seeks a moratorium on genetically modified (GM) crops—wrote to Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on July 14, 2025, stating that conflicts of interest have infiltrated India’s regulatory system like a spreading cancer, including within the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR).

The GMO illusion: Three decades of hype, harm, and false hope

By Sridhar Radhakrishnan Three decades of hype, billions of dollars spent, and still no miracle crop. It's time to abandon the GMO biotech fairy tale and return to the soil, the seed, and the farmer. “Trust us,” they said. “GMOs will feed the world.” Picture a world where there is plenty of food, no hunger, fields grow without chemical pesticides, children are saved from malnutrition, and people live healthily.

Sandra Gonzalez Sanabria: An inspiring life from Colombia’s Amazonian valley

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* In the village of Héctor Ramírez, known as Agua Bonita, in La Montañita, Caquetá, Colombia, a vision of peace and renewal is unfolding. In the pre-2016 period, this would have been nearly impossible for outsiders to visit, as it was the epicenter of violent resistance against state oppression. However, after the Peace Accord was signed between the Colombian government and former revolutionaries—marking the end of a 70-year insurgency that claimed over 400,000 lives until 2025, including civilians, rebel fighters, and security personnel—things began to change. Visiting Agua Bonita during the Global Land Forum in Bogotá revealed a village of hope and resilience. Former FARC revolutionaries have settled here and transformed the village into a center of peace and aspiration.

Overriding India's constitutional sovereignty? Citizens urge PM to reject WHO IHR amendments

By A Representative A group of concerned Indian citizens, including medical professionals and activists, has sent an urgent appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to reject proposed amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) before the ratification deadline of July 19, 2025.

Indigenous Karen activist calls for global solidarity amid continued struggles in Burma

By A Representative At the International Festival for People’s Rights and Struggles (IFPRS), Naw Paw Pree, an Indigenous Karen activist from the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG), shared her experiences of oppression, resilience, and hope. Organized with the support of the International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL), the event brought together Indigenous and marginalized communities from across the globe, offering a rare safe space for shared learning, solidarity, and expression.

Activists allege abduction and torture by Delhi Police Special Cell in missing person probe

By A Representative A press statement released today by the Campaign Against State Repression (CASR) alleges that several student and social activists have been abducted, illegally detained, and subjected to torture by the Delhi Police Special Cell. The CASR claims these actions are linked to an investigation into the disappearance of Vallika Varshri, an editorial team member of 'Nazariya' magazine.

India’s zero-emission, eco-friendly energy strategies have a long way to go, despite impressive progress

By N.S. Venkataraman* The recent report released by OPEC’s World Oil Outlook 2025 has predicted that by the year 2050, crude oil would replace coal as India’s key energy source. Clearly, OPEC expects that India’s dependence on fossil fuels for energy will continue to remain high in one form or another.

Search This Blog