Bharat Yatra: Children scared to go to school not acceptable, says Kailash Satyarthi

India's famous Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi commenced his Bharat Yatra on 27 September and said that when children start getting upset and afraid at the mention of going to school, that becomes unacceptable.

"Children should be safe everywhere and if children start getting upset at the mention of school because they are touched inappropriately or are raped then this will not be acceptable," the Nobel peace winner told ANI.

Speaking about the importance of initiating the Bharat Yatra, which is a fight against child trafficking and sexual abuse in India, Satyarthi said that this journey is a fight against the wrong in the society.

"I started Bharat Yatra to end this silence and fear towards atrocities on children that make them live their lives in peace," he said.

"By the time we reach Delhi, we will pass by almost 22 states and constituencies, and will walk about 11,000 kms," Satyarthi told ANI.

He said that his main motive is to "awake the sleeping soul" of India.

"Child abuse, child rape, child trafficking will not be tolerated," he said.

Speaking about one of his main demands, Satyarthi told ANI that a strict law be created in regard to child trafficking.

"The good thing that happened recently was that the Home Minister promised me in an event that a law against child trafficking will be implemented that could be as soon as possible can come into work," he said.

He said that he is glad that the Prime Minister, the President, the Vice-President and many Chief Ministers are supporting his cause and the yatra.

The 63-year-old activist started his 35-day Bharat Yatra against child sexual abuse and trafficking, and has been campaigning for the freedom, safety and security of the children across the globe for the past 36 years.

He was awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 was for his continuous efforts and struggle for the rights of children.

The Bharat Yatra has received support from Google through its homepage promotion.

The Yatra is aimed at increasing awareness and reporting of the cases of sexual abuse, strengthening medical health and compensations, ensuring protection of victims and witnesses during the trials of cases and increasing convictions of child sexual abuse in a time bound manner. 

-ANI