A Nationwide Mass Awakening Campaign
for Safe Childhood - Safe India
' ...' - Rigveda
('May we walk in harmony, speak in one voice and understand one another's minds')
Background of the Campaign
Along with economic growth, our country today is brimming with self-confidence, big dreams and national
pride. It is during these times like this that historic feats are achieved. These are also times to cleanse the
society of existing evils. One of such evils is violence against children. Millions of children in India become
victims of brutality and violence, in the form of child trafficking and child sexual abuse. Child trafficking is an
organized crime in which children are apprehended at the source, on the route and at the destination, often
to be trafficked or forced into labour or sexual slavery. The statistics are damning. A child is sexually abused
every half hour in India1. Every 2 minutes a child is sold2.
Despite the fact that child trafficking is a part and parcel of our everyday life, the public remains unaware
about the extent and seriousness of this crime. The fact is that society is not only affected by child
trafficking but is also in many ways involved. From the domestic servant we hire from a placement agency,
to the kids we spot selling goods at traffic lights, to underage children forced to work in massage parlours a
majority are faces of child trafficking that we witness but ignore. To continue ignoring this serious crime not
only threatens national security because of the black money that child trafficking fuels3, but also endangers
the childhood of many more children.
In addition, there has been an alarming rise in sexual violence against children. Fear and social inhibitions
often stop our daughters and sons from reporting these crimes, while on the other hand, parents try to hide
the brutalities because the perpetrators are often known to them. In such a scenario, there is a growing
sense of fear, particularly in the case of teenage and young girls in the family.
Why Bharat Yatra
It is evident that these crimes cannot be curtailed only by policing or state efforts. Even the current laws
and schemes for protection of children are not common knowledge for the public. There is an urgent need of
mass awareness and public mobilisation on these issues. India has had a tradition of 'yatras' or marches for
social rejuvenation and reawakening, such as the Dandi March in 1930. It is now time for another such
mass awareness movement for building a safe India for our children.
It is against this backdrop that Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi has decided to launch a Bharat
Yatra, to catalyze the entire nation towards a 'Surakshit Bachpan-Surakshit Bharat' ('Safe Childhood-Safe
India'). Through the Bharat Yatra, efforts will be made to build a common consensus to end all kinds of
violence against children, specially child sexual abuse and child trafficking.
1. Crime in India by National Crime Report Bureau Report (NCRB), 2015
2. Information available at <http://sunriseforchildren.org/human_trafficking.php> Accessed 09 November 2016.
3. Capital Corruption: Child Labour in India, Report by NGO Bachpan Bachao Andolan available at
<http://www.bba.org.in/sites/default/files/CAPITAL%20CORRUPTION.pdf> Accessed 09 November 2016.
What Is Bharat Yatra
The Bharat Yatra will be organized between August to October, 2017, from Kanyakumari to Delhi. Five
other smaller yatras from all four sides of the country will merge with the main Yatra. Thereby the Yatra will
cover 15,000 kms across 25 states. The Route Map of the Yatra is attached.
Around 10 mass contact and awareness programs will be organized every day of the campaign. These
grassroots programs will witness participation of school and college students, along with leaders from
diverse social, cultural, religious, media and corporate organizations. Each day, thousands of local
residents would join them in solidarity and support. The programs would use theatre, music and folklore in
local languages to create mass awareness against violence inflicted on children.
A History Of Successful Yatras
Sh. Satyarthi and his movement have had a long and successful history of organising Yatras. The historic
1998 Global March against child labor across 1034 countries and the 2001 March from Kanyakumari and
Kashmir to Delhi to demand fundamental education for children, are some instances where Sh. Satyarthi
has mobilised millions of people across the world to create public awareness about child rights. They have
also catalysed changes in laws related to children5 in India as well as globally.
The Bharat Yatra is yet another milestone in this journey. It's being undertaken as part of a 5-year long,
global '100 Million for 100 Million Campaign' in which youth will be changemakers for a child-friendly world.
Who Will Join The Bharat Yatra
Given the wide expanse of exploitation of children, it is our effort to involve every section of society as a
stakeholder in the Bharat Yatra. The Yatra will be led by a 100 core marchers among which key would be
survivors of abuse and trafficking. Other marchers will include students from schools and colleges,
families, social activists, government officials, faith leaders, and ordinary citizens. We have partnered with
enforcement agencies, government, corporates, and youth organisations, besides media and social media,
for the Yatra. While the overall organization of the Yatra will be facilitated by KSCF, at each day and place,
local leaders and dignitaries will lead the Yatra.
The Yatra will have:
At least one million people participate in the March
10 million people take a pledge physically and virtually - to oppose any kind of
violence inflicted on children
50 lakh engaged community (Take action online)
Virtual Walk - 1 lakh Kms (People commit to run remotely)
4. For more information, visit www.globalmarch.org
5. Information available at <http://bba.org.in/?q=content/milestones> Accessed on 13 June 2017
When and Where
The Yatra is planned to be launched from Kanyakumari on 16th Aug 2017, at Vivekanand Rock Memorial.
The Flag Off ceremony will have citizens, dignitaries and faith leaders from across the country. The
culmination of the Yatra is planned to take place on 18th October on Diwali eve in Delhi, with a grand
ceremony.
How To Support or Join The Bharat Yatra:
1. March with the Yatra when it arrives in your town, city or village.
2. Organise community marches around your area pledging zero tolerance to child sexual abuse and child
trafficking.
3. Get involved in awareness building programmes by either joining the campaign virtually, through social
media or creating your own. KSCF will provide support with issue related promotional material
4. Devise creative ways in which you or your peers want to join the Bharat Yatra and share with the KSCF
team.
5. Provide support in any manner convinient to you for this most ambitious and historic nationwide march.
Full Day Programme
Full Day Programme + Rest
16 Oct
60km 117 km
50
Full Day Rest
14 Oct 68 km
km
134 km
92 km
122 km
17 October
130 km
130 km
11 Oct
90 km SILIGURI
135 km 141 km
9 Oct 103 km 112 km
11 Oct 100 km
103 km
7 Oct 78 km
142 km
124 km
130 km
2 Oct 1 September
125 km
90 km
120 km
86 km
8 Oct 80 km
60 km
125 km
MALDA
117 km 170 km
88 km 62 km 100 km
140 km
70 km
4 Oct 120 km
MURSHIDABAD
170 km
100 km
180 km
50 km MAYAPUR
57 km
75 km 100 km
27 Sep
25 Sep 153 km 130 km
11 Sep
147 km
134 km
90 km
1 October 92 km
140 km
123 km JALESHWAR
126 km
BHADRAK
132 km
140 km
90 km 184 km 103 km
107 km
77 km 17 October
110 km 16 Sep
156 km 90 km
25 km
CHILKA
182 km 60 km
20 Sep
167 km
150 km
11 Sep
106 km 171 km 147 km
192 km
4 Sep
102 km
124 km
200 km
140 km
133 km
56 km
35 km
25 Aug 114 km
30 Aug
150 km 137 km
87 km
151 km
192 km
21 Aug
66 km
78 km
An Initiative of
102 km
109 km
100 km
