Om Prakash Gurjar, from a child laborer to a child activist

The grass is always greener on the side where one waters it. The struggle one does today develops one’s strength that they need tomorrow. From a journey of a child laborer to a child rights activist, Om Prakash Gurjar has faced it all.

In India, lakhs of children in the rural areas are not entitled to the basic education, instead are married off at a tender age or even forced to work. However, a 23 year old lad from Rajasthan, Om Prakash Gurjar is on a mission against the atrocities of child slavery. At the age of five, Om was taken away from his parents and was forced into child slavery. Having worked for 3 years under grueling circumstances, Om had to go through numerous hardships and suffered an agonizing life. Om was forced to work in the fields as a child laborer.

Om was rescued by the volunteers of Bachpan Bachao Andolan. A victim of child servitude, Om Prakash Gurjar started advocating for the rights of children. Child marriages and slavery were quite common in Rajasthan, therefore he started raising his voice against the cruel malpractice of child labor and human trafficking. With the help of Bachpan Bachao Andolan, Om established Bal Mitra Gram or Child Friendly Village in his own village. With the formation of Child Friendly Village, he started initiating several campaigns aimed at creating awareness amongst the villagers. The beginning of Child Parliament ushered significant changes in Om’s village. Slowly and steadily the numbers of child marriages cases were reduced drastically and now none of the children are married at a tender age.

The villagers were educated about the detrimental effects and malpractices of child servitude and slavery. Om, with the help of other educated villagers, taught the people about the necessity of education.

Om Prakash Gurjar was acknowledged for his immense work for the protection of child rights in various campaigns across India. He was also awarded the International Children’s Peace Prize on November 19, 2006. The international award fraternity also gave a cash prize of $100,000 to be used on a child project. Om had been reunited with his family but his parents could not afford his education, and as a result, he had to live in a Bal Ashram.

After completing his high school, Om started an IT shop. Soon realizing the need of higher education, he left his job and got admission into a college in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Om Prakash Gurjar has educated his village folks regarding the need of education in today’s world. His efforts towards the abolition of child slavery and child marriage in his village are highly commendable. Om has a firm belief that only with the right to education, the children of our country could pave their paths in the right direction.

When it was his age to play, Om was burdened with work as a child slave. Bearing several odds, he conquered them all and is now a living example inspiring all the Indian children in the villages to study and work hard for their future. His dauntless spirit and grit to cross hurdles shall surely motivate kids around India to fight for their rights. Even in the present scenario, Om Prakash Gurjar ensures that every child in his village has an access to elementary education.

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