Passport hassles thwart UN awardee's plan

Heena Kausar

From being a child labourer to becoming the first Indian to get a

special United Nations award, 15- year-old Razia Sultan has come a

long way. But an untimely letter stopped her from sharing the stage

with child activist Malala Yousafzai on Friday night. Sultan was

supposed to attend the award ceremony held in New York on the occasion

of Malala Day, where she was to be felicitated with the UNs' Special

Envoy for Global Education's Youth Courage Award for her contribution

to youth education.



"I could not believe that a small town girl like me could get such a

prestigious recognition for my humble work. I really wanted to attend

the award ceremony but I could not get my passport on time as I was

informed about the award only on July 8. And four days were too less a

time to fix my travel plans," said Sultan, a student of Class XII in a

local school.



Sultan, a former child labourer from a small village called Nangla

Khumba near Meerut, received a letter from Gordon Brown, the UN's

Special Envoy for Global Education, informing about her the award.

Brown also mentioned Sultan on Friday during the award function.

Sultan, who stitched hide to make footballs from the tender age of

four, has rescued hundreds of child labourers from nearby villages and

enrolled them in schools.



She was rescued by an NGO when she was nine-years-old. Working with

the Bachpan Bachao Andolan, an NGO, she eventually became the sarpanch

of the baal panchayat in her village where her father works in the

brick industry. "I admire Kiran Bedi and wish to become like her. I

want to tell children that they should not disrespect elders, but must

rebel if they are made to part ways with education," she said.



Working in a society which is generally hostile to girls and

discouraged them from acquiring an education, Sultan not only attended

school but helped many other girls to get into schools. "Education is

a must for all children. But in our country child labour is rampant. I

wanted to change this and so, worked towards getting these kids in

school," said Sultan who lives with her parents and three siblings.

However, the young social activist feels that the country is unsafe

for women and that there is a lot more to be done for the safety of

women. "Our country is not safe for women. No amount of policing can

ensure safety till society does not change its outlook towards women,"

she said.



EMPOWERING WITH EDUCATION

Malala Yousufzai, a Pakistani girl who garnered global attention after

she was shot in head by the Taliban in 2012 for working on girls'

education, has been nominated for Nobel Peace Prize. United Nations

Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon commemorated July 12, Malala's birthday,

as Malala Day to represent the goal of education for all children. On

Friday, she addressed the UN Youth Assembly at the UN headquarter in

New York advocating education for children across the world. United

Nations' Special Envoy for Global Education's Youth Courage Award is

being given to young activists who are working in the field of

education.