Lucknowites walk for a ‘safe bachpan’
EHSAAS WALKATHON People from all walks brave the chill and take part to promote safety of children in the state capital
LUCKNOW: A number of Lucknowites braved the chill on Sunday morning, walking for a cause. Enthusiastically participating in the Walkathon organised by Ehsaas, people from all sections of society, including men, women, school children, social workers, officials and senior citizens dedicated the morning to the cause of children.
Beginning from the Badminton Academy in Gomti Nagar, the walk culminated at the same point after taking a round of the area. Shachi Singh, founder and general secretary, Ehsaas said, “The idea of organising a walk for the past four years is to make people think about the issue of child safety. The subject is not the responsibility of any one agency alone and the walk symbolises the fact that people from all walks of life and all age groups need to walk together to create a safe city for children.”
To sensitize family and society towards protection of chil- dren and to mobilise resources for education, nutrition, shelter and protection of underprivileged children, the walk called ‘Mera Bachpan..Mera Haq’ was being organised for four years now, she added.
The objective was to spread a message and also to motivate people to make Lucknow a safe city for children. “The walk is a mission, a feeling, a state of mind where you think and act for the safety of children. The walk makes you recognise and initiate an effort to stop any kind of violence towards children,” said Lalita Pandey, academician, who participated in the walk.
But there was more to the walk. The participants were welcomed with an exhibition on child rights at the venue. An enthralling performance by an all woman rock band Zindagi added to the energy of those who participated in the walk. Chef Ranvir Brar was the special guest for the programme.
Another attraction was the Lucknowi breakfast comprising hot jalebi, chhola and khasta that was served at the venue. There were awards for the youngest and oldest walkers, for the biggest contingent and in several other categories.
Kunal, a child who has been participating in the walk for the past three years on a wheelchair and has been supporting the cause of children, was felicitated on the occasion.
“Issues of children should not be discussed in posh conference rooms. The subject requires groundwork and that is what the walk propagates. I am elated to see the response of the citizens,” said an official of the Railway Police Force(RPF) who participated in the walk.