(Siasat News) Yudhvir Memorial Award Function was held in Hyderabad on the occasion of his 21st death anniversary on behalf of Yudhvir Foundation.
Yudhvir Award was given to Prof. Shantha Sinha, Chairperson, National Commission for the Protection of Children, New Delhi. The award consists of Rs. 50,000/- and a citation.
Addressing the gathering, after getting the award, Prof. Shantha Sinha on the topic “Loss of childhood and Democracy”, she said that whatever merriment in life we have, it is due to the sacrifice of the children.
For the sake of our luxury, lakhs of children sacrifice that childhood. She told that today is an important day. Today is the day to commemorate eradication of child labour and tomorrow is a World Labour Day. The pivot of her activities is also eradication of child labour and incidentally it is the birthday of late Yudhvirji. She said that after seeing the pathetic condition of the children of India, it seems as if they belong to some other planet whereas our luxurious life is dependent on their labour. We eat rice, take vegetables etc., all these are the fruits of the labour of our children. There is a hidden child labour in all these things.
She said that in cotton seed factories, hundreds of children work with chemicals risking their lives. We also see that in the construction work and in the work relating to laying the roads, the children of working women crying under the shades and shelters. Their childhood is being sacrificed for providing luxuries to us. Behind very brick of high rise sky crapers is hidden the story of the exploitation of child labour. The lives of these children are very closely linked up to the lives of all of us but we never lament on the loss of their childhood. We don’t even feel sorry for their deprivations. All these scenes show us the complete deprivations of their childhood.
In Anganwadis, the food meant to be distributed in January reaches them in April. 46% of the children in our country suffer from malnutrition. She told that our leaders have taken every precaution while framing Indian constitution to protect children but even after six decades, our children are deprived of their fundamental rights. She pointed out that in article 25 of the constitution of India, it was envisaged that within 10 years of Independence, all the children in the country will be provided free and compulsory education but it took 60 years to legislate this provision. In the same way, in Article 39, the childhood and health of the children were guaranteed but even today, the children are deprived of all these rights. She pointed out that the largest number of schools (nearly 13 lakh) is in India. Thirteen crore children are provided mid-day meals. Inoculation is done on a mass scale. There are 14 lakh Aanganwadi centres in our country. We have provided hostel facilities and scholarships to children. Inspite of all these facilities, a large section of our children is deprived of basic amenities. In our country, subsidy is given on cooking gas, petrol, electricity and many other things which are enjoyed by the middle class section of the society whereas the por are deprived of it.
Expressing her views on the poem written by Nareder Roy in Deccani Urdu depicting her yeomen service in the field of children’s education, she said that Urdu is a very sweet and melodious language. It is a common man’s language Chairman of Yudhvir Foundation Mr. Narender Luther highlighted various facets of Late Mr. Yudhvir’s life. Ms Venuma Vir introduced Prof. Shantha Sinha.
Present on this occasion were Mr. Zahid Ali Khan, Editor Siasat, Dr. Bajrang Lal Gupta and Mr. Vinay Vir, son of Mr. Yudhvir and others.
On this occasion, in connection with Deepavali celebrations, gifts were distributed to the staff of Hindi Milap for the competitors who participated in various competitions.
–Siasat News–