Eight-years-old climate change activist from Manipur, Licypriya Kangujam, has turned down the offer to be a part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s #SheInspiresUs initiative under which the PM will hand over his social media handles to selected women with inspiring life-stories on International Women’s Day on March 8.
The government, on Thursday, had taken to the social media to share Kangujam’s inspiring story. @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 @mygovindia handle had tweeted.
@LicypriyaK is an 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 . pic.twitter.com/bJLEDIwfpH— MyGovIndia (@mygovindia) March 5, 2020
In response, the child activist wrote:“Dear Narendra Modi ji, Please don’t celebrate me if you are not going to listen to 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 turn down this honour. Jai Hind!”
ALSO READ: Don’t believe rumours, says PM Modi as cases…
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
The move is believed to be a result to Kangujam’s frustration over her efforts to raise matters related to climate change falling on deaf ears in the government.
Kangujam further wrote: “Stop all propaganda to bully me. I’m not against anyone. I just wants (sic) system change, not climate change. I don’t expect anything from anyone except I want our leaders to listen my voice. I believe my rejection will helps (sic) to listen my voice.”
Dear brothers/ sisters/ Sir/ Madam,
Stop all propaganda to bully me. I’m not against anyone. I just wants system change, not climate change.
I don’t expect anything from anyone except I want our leaders to listen my voice.
I believe my rejection will helps to listen my voice.
— Licypriya Kangujam (@LicypriyaK) March 7, 2020
The child activist, who had staged a protest outside Parliament last year, also tweeted telling politicians and political parties that she did not need “appreciation for this”. “Instead ask your MPs to rise my voice at the ongoing Parliament session. Never attempt to use me for your political gains and propagandas. don’t appreciate it. I’m not in your favour,” she tweeted.
And also,
Dear politicians & political parties,I don’t need appreciation for this. Instead ask your MPs to rise my voice at the ongoing Parliament session. Never attempt to use me for your political gains and propagandas. don’t appreciate it. I’m not in your favour.
— Licypriya Kangujam (@LicypriyaK) March 7, 2020
Kangujam is seeking inclusion of climate change as a compulsory subject in school curriculum and has also been demanding that students should plant a minimum 10 tree to be able to clear their final exams. She has been pressing for a law to regulate carbon emissions as well.