New Delhi/Ranchi, June 7: Manan Ansari, hailing from the nondescript village of Dhaurkola in Koderma, will soon address an elite gathering in Geneva.

The 14-year-old, who topped his Class VIII exam this year, will speak on child rights at the International Labour Organisation conference on June 12 — celebrated as World Day Against Child Labour. Ansari has been invited by the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour to attend the special plenary session of the conference.

“Manan will speak of his experience as a child worker on a platform in front of world leaders,” said Bachpan Bachao Andolan founder Kailash Satyarthi.

Manan, who was rescued in 2007 from mica mines in Koderma by the organisation, lived in Kishori Niketan, a rehabilitation centre in Chanho district, for almost a year. He was then sent, along with four other boys, to a vocational training centre, Bal Ashram, at Viratnagar, Jaipur, for training in welding and carpentry. Currently in Jaipur, he is also studying in Sohtana High School.

Sanjay Mishra, the state secretary of the organisation, said Ansari was selected among 100 children from India training at the Viratnagar centre. “He was picked up for his oratorial skills and his performance in academics and vocational training courses,” he added.

“We are happy that a boy who lacks basic education and was a child worker in Koderma is already on his way to Geneva to deliver a speech,” Mishra said.

Ansari, the son of Mustakin Ansari, is the third among his six siblings forced to work in mica mines to collect dhivra (mica) pieces from 10am to 6pm.

“We had to dig up pits for dhivra. Sometimes the pieces used to enter our open wounds and later result in infections,” recalled the gutsy teenager.

Organised mining is now mostly closed in these parts as there is no high quality mica left. The soil is also not fit for agriculture. The Naxalite problem adds to problems here. Left with no other options, many families are forced to make their children work.

“I could not study as my family was too poor and our nearest school was 15-20km away. But, my parents allowed me to come with Bachpan Bachao Andolan and I studied further,” said the boy.

On the forthcoming conference, Manan said: “I am thrilled. I would like to speak about the need for India to uniformly implement labour laws. Action should be taken against those who force us into labour.”