Child Peace Prize winner wants to work for child labour uplift

Jaipur, Nov 29 (UNI) Om Prakash, a 15-year-old child activist from Rajasthan, recently conferred with the International Children's Peace Prize, today said his responsibility has increased manifold after getting the award and he aspired to be a social activist working for the uplift of child workers.

Om Prakash, a Xth standard student, talking to reporters, said he had earlier wanted to join the civil services but has changed his mind after receiving the award for his contribution to the 'Baal Panchayat' movement, which enables school children to present their grievances to the authorities.

The boy from Dwarapur village in Alwar district, belonging to a bonded labourer's family, had started working at the age of five to pay off the debt his father inherited. His grandfather had borrowed some money from a money lender and worked throughout his life to repay it. The debt then passed on to his father Hariram Gujjar, and finally to him. What he got in return for his hard labour was two meals a day and no wages.

Later, his father put him to work at a tea stall for Rs 500 as wages. After three months of abuse, he returned to the farm.

He was rescued by the Bachpan Bachao Andolan(BBA) activists and brought to Bal Ashram, a transit rehabilitation centre in 1999. He was back at the Ashram after successfully completing a six-month rehabilitation course as his parents were too poor to take care of him.

UNI PJJ NK VV1931