In a first, Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation (KSCF) in association with civil society members, local administration celebrated Constitution Day with more than four crore children across 20 states and 478 districts. In this historic program, more than 5 crore children recited the Preamble of the Constitution and also took an oath to fulfill their rights and duties. On the occasion of Constitution Day, so many children were reached for the first time by any Non – governmental organization in the country.
Around 5,05,54,417 children from private and government schools, Anganwadi and Child Care Institutions, Legal Services Authority including KSCF Flagship programme Bal Mitra Gram, Bal Mitra Mandal and many other institutions participated. It was largely attended by children from remote, most backward areas to tribal, underprivileged and marginalized children.
Constitution Day celebrations were organized in 2,17,953 schools, 6,47,570 Anganwadi centers, 7,206 child care institutions across the country in the programs organized in collaboration with the state governments. In 8,72,729 programs organized in different parts of the country, children recited the Preamble of the Constitution in simple and vernacular language. The children were also made aware of the rights, duties and their salient features as mentioned in the Indian Constitution. On this occasion the children also took an oath to perform the duties and rights mentioned in the constitution.
At the same time when Hon’ble President of India addressed the Parliament on Constitution Day in the Capital,at the same time, the 12-year-old Asma of the Slum Basti Sanjay Camp, located just a few kilometers away from the Parliament ( Chanakyapuri), recited the Preamble of the Constitution to the children. In the program organized by Bal Mitra Mandal run by Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation, Asman also administered them the oath of their duty and rights.
Constitution Day is celebrated every year on 26 November in India. In the year 1949, the Constitution of India was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26 November, which came into effect from 26 January 1950.
Commenting on the historic participation of children in the celebrations, Shri Sharad Chandra Sinha, Chief Executive Officer, Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation said, “We are happy to note that with our support, poor and marginalized children from diverse backgrounds read the Preamble to our Constitution on Constitution Day. The Constitution was read out to children who could not read themselves. Children were also explained about the rights and duties of every citizen as enshrined in the Constitution. We did this across the country to instill values of justice, equality, liberty and fraternity among our children and to make them aware of their rights and duties. We firmly believe that the only way to create a just, equal and united India is by imbuing the lofty values enshrined in our Constitution.”
This program organized by Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation was held in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Haryana, Chandigarh, Gujarat, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir and Delhi .This program was celebrated to instill in the children the values of justice, equality, liberty and fraternity enshrined in the Constitution and to make them aware of their rights and duties. The new generation was made aware that the unity, integrity and dignity of the country has to be protected at all costs.