Parliament can wait but not the children
Two laws relating to child rights are pending in parliament. And it's the responsibility of both the government and other political parties to pass these pending legislations on priority.
Parliament can wait for its next term. You (Modi govt) can wait for 5 years, at least for next 3.5 years. But our children can't wait for even 3.5 hours. We should not make them wait even for one hour. Children who have been forced into prostitution, beggary and child labour can't wait even for a minute and we should not let them wait because we have to save their childhood now. Therefore, it's the responsibility of all the political formations to get the pending laws passed in the parliament.
With folded hands, I request all MPs to save India's childhood. Irrespective of whether you are a nationalist or a socialist, you should know that if the childhood of the nation is not saved then nothing can be saved. The childhood of the nation is being wasted every minute. You can wait, but the childhood of the nation can't wait.
The proposed amendment to child labour act ensures that every child up to 14 years of age will be emancipated from child labour. It will also legally free children between 15-18 years of age if they have been subjected to child labour that can be dangerous to their health. There are better provisions for child rehabilitation. There are more stringent provisions against the employers.
The other pending legislation is amendment to Juvenile Justice Act. It will also save children up to 18 years of age from exploitation, violence and crime.
I would appeal to all political parties, if my voice is reaching them: please pass these two pending legislations in this year's winter session of Parliament. These children may not be your voters as on today but someday they will vote one party or the other. And they will be more aware voters.
If we want to honestly implement our Constitution to which you all have pledged allegiance, then let's start this with children.
Politicians think about next 5 years but those who want to change the society think about next 50 years. You should try to become agents of social change as you are already a politician. If you succeed in changing the society, then history will remember you.
Expectations from PM Modi
There is no doubt that today we have a strong leadership under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I have spoken to him a number of times in the past. He gave the powerful slogan of ‘Beti bachao, beti padhao' and he always tries to connect with children.
His affection for children should also be reflected in the budget and the legislations. This Prime Minister can do it because he has the requisite energy, strength and the dream for future. And I hope that he will get it done for the children on priority.
When former PM Chandrashekhar criticized Kailash Satyarthi
I read it in newspapers that Chandrashekhar had raised objections to our efforts and it related to the carpet industry in his area. He had pointed out that our stand on child labor will destroy the carpet industry and that the children were in fact learning the handicraft.
We had powerful scientific arguments against child labour even then and these arguments have become more powerful now.
Forcing small children to work in domestic industries will not be beneficial to anybody. It will neither benefit the economy nor the children. It will not benefit even the parents.
All children should be in schools and instead of employing children; jobs should be given to their parents and their skills should be improvised.
To force children into child labor is inhuman and it should be made illegal as well.
Why religious leaders don't speak out against child abuse?
Religious leaders, across the world, have maximum reach among the masses. Religious leaders have their place in the hearts of the people who trust them a lot and that is why even political leaders use these religious leaders.
I firmly believe that religious leaders of every faith should speak something for the children. They should use their respective platforms – public stages, TV channels, temples, mosques, churches etc – to speak about child rights. If any member of their community sexually exploits or enslaves a child then the religious leaders should have the courage to throw that person out of the community. The perpetrator should be told that this is totally against the religion he or she follows. The fact is that every religion has good words for the children. But the religious leaders don't say this. They should speak out if they believe that god resides in the children.
I have never heard any Yogacharya who comes on TV or any religious leader openly saying that exploiting children is against religion. If they could tell those who assemble to hear him that anybody who exploits children should leave the meeting then it will have some impact. May be a few people would leave but even if they don't leave , they might realize that it's wrong to exploit children as it has been said by the religious leader.
Why don't these religious leaders tell their disciples that their sons or daughters can be sexually exploited in their own homes? And that their children could be sexually exploited by their relatives who tend to touch them inappropriately. When a daughter tells this to her mother, she prefers to brush it under the carpet because relationships come in the way. Religious leaders should speak out on these matters. They should ask their disciples to ask their sons and daughters and see if there is any change in their behavior.
This is happening even to boys in schools and neighborhood, sometimes even by relatives. I would salute these religious leaders if their powerful voice becomes more pious.
