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Bharat Yatra Andolan
for Bachpan Bachao touches USTM
USTM, Techno City, September 23:
Nobel Peace Laureate and founder of the Bachpan Bachao
Andolan, Kailash Satyarthi, flagged off the Meghalaya lap of
his Bharat Yatra march at a function held at the University
of Science & Technology Meghalaya on Saturday. Zenith M
Sangma, Minister Sports & Youth Affairs, Meghalaya, was also
present on the o Satyarthi occasion.
Satyarthi on September 11 commenced his 35-day-long
nationwide march called 'Bharat Yatra'- the biggest
agitation against child sexual abuse, rape and human
trafficking. The 11,000-kilometre 'yatra' is touring through
22 states, starting from the coastal city Kanyakumari in
Tamil Nadu and culminating on October 16 in the national
capital.
Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) symbolises India’s largest
grassroots movement for the protection of children, ensuring
their quality education. As on October 2014, BBA had rescued
more than 83,500 victims of trafficking, slavery and child
labour and had helped them re-establish trust in society and
find promising futures for themselves. Since its
establishment by the Indian children’s rights activist
Kailash Satyarthi in 1980, BBA has led the world’s largest
civil society campaign in the form of the Global March
Against Child Labour and has been at the forefront of laying
down laws against child labour and trafficking in India.
Following the lighting of the traditional lamp marking the
commencement of the function, Mahbubul Hoque, Chancellor,
USTM welcomed the dignitaries and participants in the event.
He said, USTM and RIST were fortunate not only in receiving
and welcoming the Nobel Laureate in their midst, but also
because of being a part of the noble mission i.e. BBA. He
said, “If our children are safe and happy, we can look
forward to a strong and vibrant nation.” He appealed to
Satyarthi to set up a chapter of BBA in USTM to speed up the
growth of the movement and awareness on which Shri Satyarthi
has agreed to open a BBA Chapter at USTM.
Zenith Sangma lauded the mission and vision of BBA which are
to create a child friendly society, where all children are
free from exploitation and receive free and quality
education; and to identify, liberate, rehabilitate and
educate children in servitude through direct intervention,
child and community participation, coalition building,
consumer action, promoting ethical trade practices and mass
mobilisation. He said, “The Government of Meghalaya will
leave no stones unturned to achieve these goals.”
The 2014 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Satyarthi, in his address
said,"One of the major demands through this campaign is that
Parliament passes a stringent law against human trafficking,
including child trafficking.” Asserting that he has declared
a war against rape, sexual abuse and child trafficking,
Satyarthi further added, "Bharat Yatra, the biggest movement
in history will make India safe again for children. I refuse
to accept that the innocence, smiles and freedom of our
children can keep getting stripped and raped. These are not
ordinary crimes. This is a moral epidemic haunting our
nation."
“Our children are not safe either in homes, schools or
neighbourhood or anywhere and the perpetrators (of such
crimes) roam freely. We just cannot wait and watch,” he
said. Following his address, Satyarthi had an engrossing
interactive session with the students present on the
occasion. Following the vote of thanks offered by Prof Alaka
Sarma, Dean Students Welfare and SSS&H, USTM, Satyarthi
flagged off the Bharat Yatra Rally where more than 1,500
students participated.
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