The govt chose young environment activist Licypriya Kangujam, as one of those inspiring women.
New Delhi| Bothered over her demands going unheard, Manipuri climate change activist Licypriya Kangujam has turned down Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s honour of joining the #SheInspiresUs campaign ahead of International Women’s Day on Sunday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had declared that he might leave social media earlier this week and following huge online buzz he later broke the suspense behind his mysterious tweet.
He announced that he planned to hand over his social media accounts to women, “whose work and life inspire us”, celebrating the International Women’s Day on March 8.
On Friday, the government took to Twitter to share the story of the eight-year-old as one of the inspirations. “@mygovindia @LicypriyaK is a child environmental activist from Manipur. In 2019, she was awarded a Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Children Award, a World Children Peace Prize, and an India Peace Prize. Isn’t she inspiring? Do you know someone like her? Tell us, using #SheInspiresUs,” the government posted on the micro-blogging site.
Dear @narendramodi Ji,
Please don’t celebrate me if you are not going to listen my voice.Thank you for selecting me amongst the inspiring women of the country under your initiative #SheInspiresUs. After thinking many times, I decided to turns down this honour.
Jai Hind! pic.twitter.com/pjgi0TUdWa
— Licypriya Kangujam (@LicypriyaK) March 6, 2020
“It (the campaign) may be a good initiative to them, but considering the crimes against women and children, I don’t think it can solve anything. This will be like applying a fairness cream on our face which no longer stays once you clean yourself,” she added. “Instead, I want him (Modi) to listen to my voice and our leaders to take climate change seriously.”
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Thanks everyone who joined today’s #ClimateStrike in Mumbai today. It was remarkable. Our voice deserves to heard by the World by fighting all odds. WE ARE UNSTOPPABLE. ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE. CHANGE IS POSSIBLE. Jai Hind!#ClimateEmergency #ClimateActionNow pic.twitter.com/sls7gMip9v
— Licypriya Kangujam (@LicypriyaK) March 6, 2020
The activist hoped that her refusal will help her gain the attention of the government towards her concerns. “When I first got the news, I couldn’t believe it. After confirming the same, I felt proud but was also very sad. I asked myself if I should accept such a recognition rather than continuously pushing my demands forward to the governments,” Kangujam said.
“I believe my rejection will force the government to pay heed to my demands. I have neither been called nor invited to discuss my concerns. Our leaders and politicians never consider climate change to be a serious issue and that is perhaps is the saddest part,” she added.
The child activist has been pressing for a law to regulate carbon emissions and other greenhouse gases. She is also seeking the inclusion of climate change as a compulsory subject in the school curriculum.
(Inputs From Indianexpress)
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