In a unique initiative,
students from more than 35 colleges in
Mumbai including Xaviers, Andrews, Jai
Hind, Hinduja, BJCC and KJ Somaiya, along with members and volunteers of
CRY participated in a superhero march to pledge their support for child rights.
Hosted by the young and ambitious students of Wilson BMS the initiative aimed
at raising awareness for a social cause. The march saw the participation of close
to 30 colleges from across Mumbai who walked the mile from Wilson College to
Mafatlal Building and back with celebs Nakuul Mehta, Disha Parmar (Pyaar Ka Dard Hai Meetha Meetha Pyaara
Pyaara) and model Rochelle Rao (Extraaa
Innings).
“The reality today is that
children are forced into labour all across this country, every single day. CRY
has been fighting for child rights for the last 35 years and when a college
like Wilson asked us to join in a campaign that fights for these very rights;
we were honoured to partner with them. The young will take this fight forward
and it’s reassuring to see so many youngsters stand up with such conviction for
the rights of a child,” said Kreeanne
Rabadi, Regional Director — West, CRY.
The Superhero Mile was an event
that was created around the idea of raising awareness about the atrocities
faced by children in India on a daily basis. The young are energetic and this
call to being a hero for a child resonated positively among the youth.
“Every 15 seconds a child is
abused across the globe. It’s our duty to safeguard the sanctity of our
children today. We believe that there is a superhero in all of us to safeguard
humanity and this walk was aimed at awakening that superhero,” said Zuleika Homavazir Sattha, HOD, Bachelor of Management
Studies, BMS Wilson.
“The recent rape of a
6-year-old in Bangalore depicts the pathetic and sadistic mentality of today’s
society. It’s high time we raise our voices against the heinous crimes committed
against children in our country, almost every day,” said Vyankatesh Kharage, a student
of BMS Wilson.
Nakuul
Mehta, who
represented CRY at the event said, “Child Rights and its relevance in
today’s world is far too important to ignore. The atrocities being committed
every single day against children are terrible and there is a need for a voice.
Organisations like CRY do as much as they can, but it is up to each and every
one of us to also respond to this call for action. I am reassured when I see
college-going kids taking an active interest in such activism and I know that
if this is the mood of today’s youth, India sure does have a better future.”
“Partnering with a cause so
close to my heart makes me even more enthusiastic about this march. That, and
the fact that this Superhero Mile represents today’s youth and their genuine
concern towards the injustices around them. This was a call to action and I
responded... and I am very excited to be associated with both the BMS
department at Wilson College and CRY for this initiative,” added Rochelle Rao, who was also present at
the event.
