Bachpan Bachao Andolan Conferred with Prestigious Vatsal Bharat Award

The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development conferred the Vatsal Bharat Award to Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA), founded by Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi, for its constant efforts towards protection of child rights and ensuring child welfare. The citation given on the occasion said that the Government of India appreciates the contribution of Bachpan Bachao Andolan towards protection of child rights and in ensuring welfare of children in India. BBA is a frontline anti-trafficking and anti-slavery grassroots movement in India, founded by Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi in 1980. The liberating and humanising philosophy of the movement continues to remain central to its activism against all forms of violation of child rights. Over the past 4 decades, over 1.25 lakh children have been rescued by its direct intervention.

Expressing delight over the award, Dhananjay Tingal, Executive Director, BBA said, “This is a recognition of our efforts being made over the decades for the protection and welfare of children in the country. It is only as a result of BBA’s struggles that the issue of child protection has been prioritized among various stakeholder and stringent laws against child labour, child marriage and child trafficking have come into existence.” He further added, “BBA will take forward these efforts started by our founder Kailash Satyarthi with commitment and we are determined to build an India that is safe for children as well as free from social evils like child labour and child marriage.”