New age leader tackling one of the most stubborn social problems to have plagued Indian society in the past and present

Ramesh Lakhulal Chaurasia, the President of the Akhil Bharatiya Adarsh Chaurasia Mahasabha, dons many hats. He has been vocal about the rights and safety of the most vulnerable sections of the society. He spoke to us recently about the issues that tug at his heart. Child protection, education, and health are the issues he feels strongly about as children are our future carrying humankind forward. He believes that child labour and exploitation has been a social menace that needs to receive a lot of attention. Laws have been strengthened and social institutions too have come forward to tackle this problem. Things are better but we have not reached a point where one can show any laxity. Ramesh Lakhulal Chaurasia and the Akhil Bharatiya Adarsh Chaurasia Mahasabha are doing their bit in fighting this demon heads on. The team works tirelessly in multiple segments related to child development to ensure that all children are provided the right guidance, information and protection for their well-being.

"The Indian constitution guarantees rights for children. They have as much right to live with dignity as any other age group. If you think about it, child labour is a direct attack on their rights. It is the children from the marginalised sections who suffer the most because they are also the most vulnerable." said Mr. Ramesh Chaurasia, "And it takes away the joy and passion out of their lives. As an organisation with a pan India presence, we are trying to educate children from the Chaurasia community about their rights. They need to be told that the Indian constitution safeguards their rights like the right to education, right to live with dignity, right to be protected from any dangerous occupation till the age of 18, while also giving them rights that adults have. Legal framework exists but due to lack of knowledge and lack of available help and resources, children from vulnerable sections often suffer. We want to ensure that not only do the children know their rights but adults know the legal repercussions of any exploitation."