Every last child counts – Call to industry to partner child rights – Helle Thorning–Schmidt, Global CEO, Save the Children
No child on the street – Education to be the key driver – Rakesh Bharti Mittal Vice-President, CII
Smart city should demonstrate a safe city for children – Mr Harpal Singh, Chairman, Save the Children India
The Confederation of Indian Industry signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Save the Children India to promote and address the need of the most excluded and marginalized children in India.
The MoU was signed at the backdrop of a CII interaction with Ms Helle Thorning–Schmidt, Global CEO, Save the Children. Ms Helle was the first woman Prime Minister of Denmark from 2011 to 2015. This has been one of Helle’s first visits to a country in her new role (Since 1st April 2016) demonstrating the significance of India’s place in the international movement.
Through this agreement, CII will look at engaging the corporate sector in shaping an agenda towards positively impacting the lives of children, particularly those from the poor socio-economic background.
The interaction, held between a group of senior industry leaders, led by Mr Rakesh Bharti Mittal, Vice-President, CII and the Save the Children team, focused on how the Industry can partner and contribute towards the betterment of children. While the industry members shared their experiences and range of initiatives that can be undertaken for children, Mr Mittal suggested that, ‘the partners identify two national issues which can be jointly driven by Save the Children and CII through its development arm, CII Foundation.’ Mr Mittal felt education can be key driver is this direction especially if it targets children living on the street through the program .
Ms Helle Thorning–Schmidt informed members about the launch of Save the Child’s biggest global campaign, Every Last Child to turn the needle forward to help the most excluded and marginalized children realize their rights to survive, learn and thrive, and how the industry can be a significant partner to this.
Mr Harpal Singh, Chairman, Save the Children India, felt that children as a community is an invisible group in India, lacking voice. Industry therefore needs to work with the Government in ensuring that they are included in the development program and plans of the country like the Smart Cities and Aadhaar program.
Some of the priority areas identified were prevention of child abuse, advocating with government to include children as a stakeholder in its programs, supporting child shelters and working on supply chain issues and business principles on child rights.
The interaction saw representation from companies like Cargill, Eicher, Feedback Infra, J J Confectionary, Jindal Steel, Tata, Unimo Exports and Vodafone.