Lawyer and former child labourer

Amar Lal, aged 23, comes from the Banjara community, a nomadic tribe in India. He worked as a child labourer in a stone quarry at the age of 6, breaking stones and incurring injuries in the process quite often. At 8 years old, he was rescued by Nobel Peace Laureate, Kailash Satyarthi and was rehabilitated at the Bal Ashram, the long-term children’s rehabilitation centre, where he received informal education and went on to complete school and study law. 

During his time at the Bal Ashram, he always had an urge to fight for children’s rights and tried to have a direct impact on children and the elderly in the communities he visited as part of the Child Friendly Villages programme initiated by Mr. Satyarthi’s organization. He also raised awareness regarding child labour and the importance of education. 

As a youth leader, Amar Lal has participated in a number of national and international events and campaigns concerning children’s rights, and today takes pride in fighting for the human rights of child labourers in his capacity as a freshly enrolled lawyer.

Amar Lal is a shining example of how hard work, passion and perseverance can enable you to overcome all odds, just as he has overcome his struggles as a child labourer and is now an active youth advocate raising his voice to help other children like him.