Kailash Satyarthi begins North East leg of Bharat Yatra

Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi today launched the North East leg of his Bharat Yatra march against child sexual abuse and trafficking.
Addressing the students of Gauhati University where the march began, Satyarthi said the Yatra is aimed at initiating a mass movement calling upon each citizen to take urgent action to break the unacceptable silence about sexual abuse, exploitation and trafficking of children every day.
Giving statistics about the dismal scenario of child safety in the country, the founder of Kailash Satyarthi Children's foundation said that every hour, two children are reported to be raped and six go missing, while 4.5 lakh children have been victims of trafficking, bought and sold for commercial and sexual exploitation.

Stating that children are not safe even in their own homes, Satyarthi said, "even two-month old babies are raped. Many go unreported. This epidemic is kept hidden under social taboo, family and the children's honour".
The Yatra was flagged off from Kanya Kumari on September 11 and will cover 11,000 km in 35 days across 22 states and union territories.