Climate Activist Licypriya rejects ‘#SheInspiresUs’ honour, says her refusal may draw Govt’s attention

Team Udayavani, Mar 7, 2020, 4:18 PM IST

Days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that he would hand over his social media accounts to women with inspirational stories, the government took to Twitter to honour many women from various fields of work with the trend ‘#SheInspiresUs’.

One of these women is 8-year-old Indian climate activist Licypriya Kangujam from Manipur who has become the face of climate change activism here.

However, Licypriya seemed to be unhappy with the honour and decided to turn it down after a lot of thoughts. Although she felt pretty proud of herself on receiving the honour, the news also saddens her.

Earlier, Licy had taken to Twitter to say, “Dear Modi 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 (sic).”

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

In another tweet, she said, “Government doesn’t listen to my voice and today they selected me as one of the inspiring women of the country. Is it fair?”

Government don’t listen to my voice and today they selected me as one of the inspiring woman of the country. Is it fair?

I found that they selected me amongst the few inspiring women from 3.2 billion people under the initiative of Prime Minister @narendramodi ji #SheInspiresUs. https://t.co/N6Vmahm2PM

— Licypriya Kangujam (@LicypriyaK) March 5, 2020

The 8-year-old said she will not accept “this honour” until the government takes note of her demands and protests.

As the voices against the issue are growing louder day by day, young Licypriya urges the government to implement stringent climate laws that will help in regulating the carbon emissions and other greenhouse gases and may “bring transparency and accountability.

She also believes that the inclusion of climate change as a compulsory subject in the education curriculum will help to look at the matter from a very grassroots level.

On March 5, the government had taken to the social media to say, “@Licypriya 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.”

@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

Credit: News18