President Pranab Mukherjee today marked his 81st birthday at the Rashtrapati Bhavan by launching a campaign to end child labour, child slavery and violence against children.
Mukherjee launched the '100 Million for 100 Million Campaign' organised by Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi's Satyarthi Children's Foundation in which about 5,000 children participated.
The President said he was delighted to launch the campaign led by Satyarthi from Rashtrapati Bhavan, "an institution which symbolises our Republic's commitment to democracy, pluralism and secularism".
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He said despite the progress the world has made in science and technology, economic development and in other fields of human endeavour, there are still over a 100 million children who are "out of school". They are being denied their childhood and are facing exploitation in various ways.
"The world must realise without further delay that there can be no progress unless our children are safe, secure and unless they are provided the freedom and opportunity to become agents of change for the larger good of humanity. To ensure for them a bright, carefree and secure future, devoid of poverty, violence and want is our bounden duty," Mukherjee said.
The President said this global effort to mobilise 100 million youth for shaping a better future of 100 million children who are less privileged is the beginning of a change which was long overdue.
"It is only appropriate that this campaign begins from India, which has one of the largest populations of youth in the world," he said.
Mukherjee expressed hope that the campaign, as it runs for five years, will have a path-breaking impact on the lives of children across the globe.
He urged all children and young people from India and abroad to join this campaign and be the torchbearers for a vibrant, compassionate and happy world where every child is free from want, fear and exploitation.
The ambitious campaign aims to mobilise 100 million youth and children for 100 million underprivileged children across the world to end child labour, child slavery, violence against children and promote the right of every child to be safe, free and educated over the next five years.
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It will channelise the energy of 100 million youth for fighting for the rights of the nearly 100 million children who are left out and denied basic rights like education and proper healthcare.
Satyarthi, 62, had shared the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize with Pakistani girls' rights activist Malala Yousafzai, 19.
Mukherjee also inaugurated a museum of vintage tapestries and carpets of Rashtrapati Bhavan in the Marble Hall of the premises.
The museum displays Zardozi canopies and spreads belonging to the early 1900s. It includes a section of the red embroidered canopy prepared for the 1911 Delhi Durbar of King George VI.
The lower basement of the museum displays a collection of Buddhist art, paintings, carvings and assorted gifts presented to different Presidents.
The President also inaugurated a hall -- Navachara-II -- for permanent exhibition of grassroots innovations and innovative ideas set up with the assistance of National Innovation Foundation.
A science and innovation museum -- Navachara -- was inaugurated by the President on August 4, 2015.
Navachara-II will be open to visitors on every Friday, Saturday and Sunday as part of the Rashtrapati Bhavan tour.
Earlier in the day, the President inaugurated twin tower apartments for staff of Rashtrapati Bhavan.
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On the occasion, Satyarthi said, "Starting today, let us build the legacy we want to leave behind. I see a world where every child is free, safe and educated ... Where justice guides the rule of law, where governments and inter-governmental agencies create holistic policies for the well-being of children."
"I see a world where science and technology play a pivotal role in creating systems that deter crime, where via economic arguments we make children the beneficiaries of growth and not slaves of it. I see a world where young people drive change," he said.
The '100 million for 100 million' campaign launch also culminated the two-day 'Laureates and Leaders for Children Summit 2016' that brought together around 25 Nobel laureates and leaders, youths and over 150 eminent personalities.
"Change is knocking on our doors, riding on the enthusiasm and idealism of the youth. We must see them and they must see themselves as part of the solutions," Satyarthi added.
