Chennai: Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi's ‘Children Foundation’ has expressed concern about the “rampant problem of child sexual abuse and trafficking” in Tamil Nadu while deeply regretting that “many cases have recently come to light about the rape of minors by family members or close friends”.
Stating this at a media conference at the Chennai Press Club here on Wednesday, to announce the Bharat Yatra initiated by Satyarti to spread awareness about child sexual abuse and trafficking, yatra state coordinator Paul Bhaskar said child marriages too were major concern in Tamil Nadu. He said several children were going missing across the country every year and they were “sold multiple times and forced into hard labour”.
Satyarthi's Bharat Yatra will be flagged off from Kanyakumari on September 11 and culminate in New Delhi on October 16. The yatra will pass Chennai on September 13 and Vellore the following day.“This Yatra, launched to work towards creating an India that is safe for our children, has received whole hearted support from our Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” K. Abdul Ghani, state yatra committee member said.
Ghani also emphasised on the long and arduous journey social activists take for their cause. “Children are the future of our country and enshrine our hopes for a good future. They are our best chance at securing a healthy, peaceful and prosperous nation”, he said, adding that Satyarthi has been fighting for the rights of children for over 30 years.
