Satyarthi demands passage of bill to curb human trafficking

By Our Special Correspondent

Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi, who has expressed concern over the rampant trafficking of children and women, has demanded that the parliament pass the pending bill for the last four years to effectively curb the trafficking of women and children.

Speaking to the media at SRM-AP University on Monday, he said that they worship Goddesses Durga, Saraswati and Lakshmi, but misbehave with girls. He expressed his concern that Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is being celebrated on the occasion of 75 years of independence of the country, but selling children like cattle is a stain on the country.

He said Indian laws clearly prohibit child labor below the age of 14, but still millions of children languish without education.

India, one of the youngest countries in the world, allocates only 4 percent of its budget for education and health for the youth, who constitute 44 percent of the population. It is sad that every hour five girls are abused and nine girls go missing in the country,” he said.

When asked about the implementation of right to education, Satyarthi said that political will, budget allocation and necessary infrastructure are needed to implement the wonderful law.

Referring to school dropouts during the pandemic, 60 percent of dropouts said they did not have proper facilities for online learning, while 40 percent did not have facilities like internet and smart phones. He expressed deep concern over the child marriages happening all over the world; African children face the worst conditions.