Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi on Wednesday said apart from the government, women , the corporate sector and the civil society will have to play important role and work hand in hand for ensuring justice for neglected and abused children across the country as well as globally.

“Not only the Government , it is also a collective moral responsibility for all the citizens including women, corporates to come forward for the under privileged children’s cause . The whole idea is that each one of us should play an important role in safeguarding the interest of children and it means that we have to be more responsible and ensure that no child labour or trafficked child is involved in the supply chain and production activities anywhere” said Mr Kailash Satyarthi, who is a well known children’s rights and education advocate while speaking at an interactive session titled “ The Ripple Effect” with members of the FICCI ladies Organisation (FLO) here today.

“Most children from the underprivileged class are engaged in child labour and they are cheap, economically weak and illiterate . Many are either driven to slavery and prostitution. This is a serious issue and not negotiable. India should prioritise its spending on children’s welfare to reap the benefits of the country’s demographic dividends. If we protect one generation of children and the subsequent generations will be protected.” Said Mr Satyarthi, who had won the Nobel Peace Prize award in 2014 along with Pakistan’s Malala Yousafzai for working for protection and who also started who started Bachpan Bachao Andolan, a movement for children’s rights.

“We have started initiative 100 million for 100 million where thousands of people have come forward to end child labour and ensure education. We will soon be launching another program across India for safe child titled “Surkashit bchpan, surakshit Bharat” he said.

“ The session aptly titled, “The Ripple Effect” With Kailash Satyarthi has been organised with the objective to deliberate and showcase positive examples of people who managed to beat the odds in India’s villages, towns and cities and worked for the underprivileged children and labour . The inspirational stories that will be shared during the session has not only inspired the society in general but also highlight the ethical ways and means to protect child rights and work towards sustainable development. “ said Ms Vasvi Bharat Ram, President, FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO).

“The primary objective of FLO is women empowerment. However, our responsibility towards the society doesn’t end there. With nearly half million children in the country, we need to ensure that the gaps are bridged and we contribute towards the survival, growth, development and sustenance of India’s greatest asset: its children”, she said.

“Mr. Satyarthi’s efforts to end child slavery, trafficking, forced labour and violence received international support when in September 2015, he succeeded in getting child protection and welfare-related clauses included in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. “ she added.

“Flo also pledges not to hire or involve child labour in any production or supply chain ” she said.

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