Indian girl gets UN award

Published July 14, 2013
Razia Sultana.
Razia Sultana.

NEW DELHI: Razia Sultana, a teenager from a village in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut district, was awarded the United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education’s Youth Courage Award on Friday. The award is in recognition of her efforts to help liberate 48 children from child labour bondage and motivate them to go to school.

On Friday, the world learnt about Razia’s struggle and courage as she recounted her tale to youth delegates from across the world in New York.

The day was observed by the UN as Malala Day to highlight and emulate child activist Malala Yousufzai’s fight for education.

Razia, named after India’s first woman ruler, has been fighting an uphill battle at her Nanglakhumba village in Meerut. School education for this class XII student would have remained a distant dream since she had begun working to help her family when she was only five.

Most households in Nanglakhumba village, where inhabitants are predominantly Muslim, eke out a living by stitching footballs.

“Education was considered an unnecessary distraction that hurt the family’s income,” said Sher Khan, an activist from Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA), an NGO.

In 2005, BBA activists initiated a programme to make the village child-friendly. “We would visit villages and explain the importance of education and rights of a child,” said Rakesh Senger of the BBA.

But they met with huge protests. Parents refused to allow the children to give up football stitching and go to school instead. It was more difficult to convince parents about girls education.

Razia’s father, who is now proud of his daughter, had also refused to send her to school on the same plea.

It took Razia two years to break the shackles of child labour. Later a panchayat (village council) was formed in the village and Razia was elected its head. She went on to become a leader of the National Children’s Parliament.

By arrangement with Times of India

Opinion

Editorial

‘Source of terror’
Updated 29 Mar, 2024

‘Source of terror’

It is clear that going after militant groups inside Afghanistan unilaterally presents its own set of difficulties.
Chipping in
29 Mar, 2024

Chipping in

FEDERAL infrastructure development schemes are located in the provinces. Most such projects — for instance,...
Toxic emitters
29 Mar, 2024

Toxic emitters

IT is concerning to note that dozens of industries have been violating environmental laws in and around Islamabad....
Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...