Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi's march against child trafficking reaches north east

Nobel Laureate and child rights activist Kailash Satyarthi's month-long march Bharat Yatra against child sexual abuse, rape and trafficking has reached Assam.

The yatra, which was flagged off from Kanyakumari and will culminate in New Delhi, is supported by six smaller states, including Assam, West Bengal and Odisha.

The northeast leg of the march was recently launched by Satyarthi in Guwahati.

The march saw the participation of over 3000 youths and dignitaries to demand protection of children and their rights.

The yatra will cover almost 11,000 kilometers spread across 22 states and union territories.

Satyarthi said, "Bharat Yatra is being organized on issues like child sexual abuse, rape and trafficking. These issues are not ordinary crimes; they have grown as a moral epidemic."

"This epidemic is destroying the moral fabric of the nation. This is destroying the family values, safety at home and schools and everywhere," he added.

The campaign aims to empower children and youth to become change-makers for a child-friendly world.

In Meghalaya, large number of people, including students of schools, colleges, social activists, political leaders and government representatives, gathered on the premises of University of Science and Technology to become part of the march and pledged to make India safe for its children.

The yatra was led by children, who were accompanied by a group of several core marchers, including volunteers from educational institutes and social activists from all across the state.

Director Kailash Satyarthi Foundation, Dr. Sampurna Baruah said, "In our country, millions of children are everyday abused and the number is on an ever increasing spree, which is why, we all gathered here to raise awareness and fight such heinous crimes."

Satyarthi along with the participants called upon the youth to step up and fight for children across India.