International Labour Organisation

In 2007, an activist with the NGO Bachpan Bachao Andolan, Govinda Prasad Khanal, rescued him from these mines. That was the turning point for him.

June 12 is World Day Against Child Labour. A large percentage of India’s children continue to be employed as child labour in various forms, and it is up to everyday citizens to break this vicious practice.

From getting ID cards and uniforms to health insurance and scholarships for their kids, Suman has given a new respect to the ragpickers. Watch her speak at the ILO conference in Geneva about her challenges and how she revolutionized the way waste pickers are treated in the country.