Payal Jangid, an Indian children’s rights activist, has made significant strides in advocating against child marriage and child labour, while promoting the right to education, particularly for girls. Born in the small village of Hinsla in Rajasthan's Alwar district, her personal journey of activism began at an early age. At 11, Jangid courageously prevented her own child marriage, setting a precedent for her community. With the support of Sumedha Kailash and her children's trust, she also helped stop her sister’s child marriage. Her efforts have since evolved into a lifelong mission to protect children’s rights and inspire social change.
Jangid’s activism was shaped by the establishment of Hinsla as a Bal Mitra Gram (child-friendly village), a concept initiated by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Kailash Satyarthi and his foundation. This initiative, launched in 2001, focuses on fostering environments where children are empowered to address and resolve issues affecting their communities. In Hinsla, Jangid rose to become the leader of the Bal Panchayat (children’s parliament), representing not just her own village, but several others nearby. Under her leadership, the Bal Panchayat tackled critical issues such as child labour, child marriage, and the lack of sanitation facilities, particularly the absence of toilets in schools, which was a major obstacle preventing girls from attending.
Jangid's advocacy played a pivotal role in transforming her village into a child-marriage-free community, a remarkable achievement in a region where such practices were deeply entrenched. Her efforts have received global recognition. In 2013, she was selected as a jury member for the World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child, and in 2019, she became the youngest recipient of the Goalkeepers Changemaker Award, an honour presented by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Her meeting with former U.S. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama in 2015, alongside Kailash Satyarthi, highlighted her growing international profile. In 2017, she was also recognised by Reebok with its Young Achiever Award.
Her advocacy is also a reflection of the broader global movement towards reducing inequality and ensuring children's rights. Organisations like the Global Society and Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation are working in parallel to achieve these goals, with Jangid serving as a symbol of what youth activism can accomplish when given a platform and support. These organisations, along with others such as Save the Children and Plan International, have been instrumental in pushing forward initiatives that tackle issues like child marriage and labour on a global scale.
As a young activist, Payal Jangid continues to inspire, not only through her individual achievements but by encouraging a generation of young people to take action in their communities. Through her work, she represents the potential of grassroots activism in driving societal change and advancing global goals.
Active organisations representing the values of Payal Jangid
The Centre for Integrated Development (CID) is another organisation contributing significantly to social justice, particularly in vulnerable and marginalised communities. Founded in 1989 in the northern part of Madhya Pradesh, CID was born out of a collective effort to address the social and economic distress faced by deprived sections of society. Initially focused on environmental challenges in urban and rural areas of Gwalior under the slogan “Green Gwalior Clean Gwalior,” the organisation soon expanded its work into education, providing learning opportunities for children from socially backward and marginalised communities.
By 1992, the CID began addressing legal and social aspects to ensure an egalitarian society where all individuals have equal rights and the ability to manage their resources. Their efforts at the grassroots level align closely with the mission of activists like Payal Jangid, as they both work toward empowering disadvantaged communities and promoting equality, in line with global development goals. The organisation's long-term commitment to addressing the root causes of societal issues has made it a vital player in ensuring sustainable development in India.
More information: https://www.cidindia.org/
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