Thirteen-year-old Champa Kumari, who won the prestigious Diana Award for her work against child marriages in mica-mining areas of Jharkhand was felicitated and honoured by Jharkhand Governor Mrs DropdiMurmuat Raj Bhawanin Ranchi.
The Diana Award is given by the UK government in the memory of Princessof Wales who died in a car crash in 1997. Champa was rescued from child labour through the intervention of Child-Friendly Villages started by Nobel Peace Laureate Mr KailashStayrathi.
“The Jharkhand Governor blessed me and assured all support. I also feel honoured for this international recognition. Diana Award will go a long way in strengthening the fight against exploitation of children. The award will prove to be a milestone in fight for the rights of the children under the guidance of Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi. It also an ode to my parents, who were threatened by self-declared goons of the society due to my campaigns against child marriages and child labour in villages,” Kumari, a former mica-miner The 13-year-old added that “The global award is also reminiscent of international recognitionfor the efforts taken by all the members of our Bal Mitra Gram (child friendly village).”
The fight was not easy for Champa Kumari and her associates, as opposition to child marriage was akin to challenging the diktats of self-declared caretakers of the society, whose writ ran large on social and political constituencies of villages and districts. In her efforts to unsettle the evil social tradition, Champa, now a student of Class IX, was amply supported by activists from Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation (KSCF).
Commenting on the international accolade for her, KSCF Executive Director, Nagasayee Malathy P says, “Champa has proven her leadership skills as president of Jharkhand State Baal Panchayat. The social change-maker has not only ensured her village to be a child-labour free zone but has also been simultaneously leading many successful campaigns against the menace of child marriage in surrounding villages and districts with an active support of our BMG.”
As a member of BMG or child-friendly initiative of the foundation, she has also been leading charge against various other social evils like child labour, trafficking and denial of education to the children. KSCF’s 540 BMGs spread across six states have been relentlessly empowering the children through education, awareness and engagement.
Diana award, an honour given in memory of Princess of Wales Diana, who died in a car crash more than two decades ago, is annually given to children and youths between the age group of 9 and 25 years, who have exhibited leadership skills and emerged as social change makers in their respective societies across the globe. BMG leader Champa is among 25 children from across Indiawho have been selected for the honour by the UK-based award panel this year. Champa’s father still continues to work in the dangerous mica mines of Giridih to take care of her and six other siblings. She became a member of Baal Panchayat (Children’s Parliament) in 2016, and in the following year its executive head. In 2018, she was elected as national vice-president of the National MahaBalPanchayat during a conclave in Viratnagar.
Champahas been witness to many children killed in dangerous mica mines of Giridih and,therefore, she decided to step up campaign against the menace of child labour in the region. Under the stewardship of activists from KSCF, she realized that child marriage, child labour and denial of education are interlinked phenomenon. If all the children of the society are admitted to schools, the two evils of child marriage and labour would automatically be finished. In the back-drop of these social activities, Champa emerged as a social change maker, earning the respect of the children and parents alike, who used to force their children in the mica mines to feed their families.
Champa has also shared dais with Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das in his efforts for making child labour free mica supply chain. She has also presented a manifesto for rights of the children before the British High Commission and Indian parliamentarians ahead of the last LokSabha polls.
