Nobel Laureate Dr. Kailash Satyarthi Visits KIIT & KISS Today
I Realized Radical Transformation in Odisha Through 10000 Deprived Girl Students at KISS: Dr. Satyarthi
Eminent Children’s Rights Activist and Nobel Peace Laureate, Dr. Kailash Satyarthi visited KIIT & KISS today and praised the exemplary works of the Founder Dr. Achyuta Samanta in empowering thousands of deprived children particularly girls through provision of education at KISS.
He remarked, “I feel extremely glad after visiting KISS. Dr. Samanta had invited me three years back. It’s a pleasure to see smiling faces of the children here at KISS. Temple, Mosque, Church resides in the smile of these innocent children. Visiting KISS is like a pilgrimage. These happy faces that I see today had once faced deprivation, isolation and alienation. They did not enjoy the right to live the life of dignity. 17000 empowered girls is the picture of a Rising India. Education is the key to development, not only for Indigenous population but for all children. It is the panacea to all social and economic ills.”
Later he graced a State Level Seminar on Civil Society, Social Movement, Social Change and Development Discourse in Odisha held at KIIT Convention Centre which was organized by the Centre for Child and Women Development(CCWD) in association with PRAYAS as Chief Guest. In his address, Dr. Satyarthi said, “in order to carry forward the social movement in Odisha, all sorts of forums like NGOs, Media and Civil Societies etc have to work together along with Government wings to sort out the existing problems. On the wake of my ongoing Bharata Yatra, I would like to share with you that my mission namely Bachpan Surakshya Andolan is dedicated to sustain movement to protect children from abuse and exploitation.”
He further said that in our society a girl child is being compelled to live in trauma and fear every now and then. It is concerning to note that sexual exploitation is rising in tandem with growth in education and development. According to National Crimes Records Bureau, in every hour in India, we witness occurrence of sexual abuse with as many as 4 girls. Though we worship Goddess Laxmi, Saraswati and Parvati according to our mythological beliefs and customs, but we can’t protect our own girl child. If we can’t fetch smiles on our children’s faces, we can’t build a secured India. I realized radical transformation here in Odisha, through 10000 deprived girl students in KISS who are being empowered through education.
“In order to ensure safety of our girl child, we have to raise our voice for security of children. During my Bharata Yatra mission, I have met lakhs of children. It is not meant to create awareness among the masses about prevention of exploitation of children. Rather it aims to root out the social stigma suffered by the victims and do something concrete to make them live with dignity in the society,” added Dr. Satyarthi.
Dr. Satyarthi remarked, “recently I met the President of India and humbly placed two demands before His Excellency. The first is to form a National Children’s Tribunal in order to address the exploitation issues though provision of legal and constitutional services to the children. The second is to establish exclusive courts in all districts of the nation to prevent child trafficking and related problems.”
Dr. Bhagawan Prakash, Chief Advisor, Election Commission of India, who presided over the seminar said, “Milke Soche, Milke Chale, Manzil tak Pahanche”. He placed the outcomes of three actions if done together, i.e. Coming Together Leads to Process, Thinking Together Leads to Progress and Walking Together Leads to Success.
Gracing the Seminar, Shri Jagadannda, Eminent Social Activist and Founder, CYSD laid focus on the backdrop and relevance of Civil Societies in India. He said that at the time of Independence violence broke out in many places following Partition of India. The social turmoil had thrown a great challenge before the then leaders of the nation to ensure social justice and social security to one and all. In this context the Civil Society emerged to fight for the peoples safety, security and rights.
While Madam Sumedha Kailash, Social Activists like Mrs. Rojalini Patasani, Sri Madhusudan Das and Sri Sadashiv Swain shared the dais, among the audience, Prof. Hrushikesha Mohanty, VC, KIIT-DU; Prof. Ramababu Kodali, Pro-VC, KIIT-DU and Dr. Sucheta Priyabadini, Director Students Services, KIIT-DU were present on the occasion along with the students of different school and colleges.