Mumbai: A 17-year-old youth activist from Rajasthan, Payal Jangid was today honored with the prestigious Changemaker Award by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation at the Goalkeepers Global Goals Awards held in New York. This award has been conferred upon her in recognition of her work done towards the abolition of child marriage in her village, Hinsla and other neighbouring villages.
She received the honour in New York at the Goalkeepers Global Goals Awards 2019 ceremony where subsequently the Indian Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi was also conferred with the ‘Global Goalkeeper’ award.
Payal, who is one of many torchbearers of Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi’s legacy and who lives in a Child-Friendly Village (Bal Mitra Gram) situated in the desert state of Rajasthan, expressed her happiness over this global recognition, she said:
“I extend my deepest gratitude to my mentors, Shri Kailash Satyarthi and Shrimati Sumedha Kailash for giving me an opportunity to work towards the promotion of child rights. It is because of them that I have been able to raise my voice against the social evil of child marriage and stopped my own marriage,” said Payal. “This recognition will further encourage me to continue my fight to end all forms of exploitation of children.”
Payal, as the President of her village’s Children’s Parliament (Bal Panchayat), has undertaken a slew of field activities in the past to empower women and children of her own village and villages nearby. Her parents decided to marry her when she was only 11-years old, she raised her voice against the same, as a result, her parents relented and the marriage was prevented.
Thus began her campaign against child marriages in her village and the adjoining areas. She planned rallies, organised protests, and engaged with various women’s groups and youth forums of her village and surrounding villages. Today, as a child rights advocate, she has been encouraging children to unite and raise their voices against injustices done to them. She has made a significant contribution to her village administration leading to the betterment of the lives of the children of her village.
“Young people like Payal are using their powerful voices to change the world,” praised Satyarthi. “Thanks to people like Payal, change and hope are knocking on our doors. The world needs to be prepared for this new generation of activists. Their activism, dedication and bravery are already moving leaders to make changes and I know there is more to come.”
It deserves mention that earlier in 2013, on the basis of Payal’s extensive work towards protection of the rights of children, she was chosen to be a member of the jury for the World’s Children’s Prize. In 2017, she also received the “Young Achiever Award” by the global sports and fitness brand Reebok.
The “Changemaker” Award encourages and honours the achievements of young activists, campaigners and innovators across the world for inspiring social change as per the Sustainable Development Goals. The award aims at achieving three extraordinary objectives over the next 15 years: end poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and fix climate change.
Payal is the personification of the award and she will continue to fight for the rights of children.
