Bikash Kumar is a 7th grader who lives in Bendi, a village in Bendi panchayat. He is 13years old and the eldest in his family which consists of three other siblings. Bikash is the Secretary of the Bal Panchayat of his village. Bal Panchayat is the body which, according to him, gives every child a voice and an opportunity to raise their opinion. As a member of the children’s council, he is aware of his duties and knows how he and his fellows can make other children of the village realise the implications of child labor and it's harmful impact on a child’s present as well as future.
Bikash comes from a family where his father works as a farmer and mother is a housekeeper. When he was 7years old he used to go to the forest to collect mica with other people. His parents were completely unaware of the hazardous effects of child labor and also how mica could affect a person’s health and especially a child’s. There were incidents when his hands would get gashed and that would cause bleeding but he didn’t get much medical help as he and his parents didn’t take it seriously. “Whenever I used to get hurt, my mother would scold me and ask me not to play outside; I was least bothered to tell her the truth. Going to the forest to collect mica was also a kind of game for all of us.” says Bikash.
Little did he know that this was not any sport or game which could be played in free time! To him, coming to school felt more like a task imposed upon him earlier, he waited for the school bell to ring so that he could run to the forest and collect stones and mica.
He realized the importance of education in his life gradually when he started going to school more frequently. The high point in his life came when he was elected as the Secretary of the Bal Panchayat of his village. As the secretary, he was involved in spreading awareness on issues related to child rights such as experiencing education as the primary right of every child and fighting against all the exploitations against children that existed in the village.
Child labour was a problem and he had seen it closely in his childhood too. Child marriage was another problem, which he and his teammates had to grapple with at the village level. Both these issues served as impediments to children’s right to survival, protection, development and participation. Most importantly, the role Bal Panchayat played in creating awareness on the vitality of education is noteworthy. Bikash realizes it and says, “If I had known how education and learning has made me more confident, how it has uplifted my self-respect. I would have stopped going to the forest long back or may have never gone there.”
It was refreshing to see little Bikash speaking so confidently about his present. He speaks fondly of his engagement with Bal Panchayat’s functioning and his experience in fighting for child rights. He remembers his past and his transformation is visible in the way in which he comprehends child labour as an exploitative malpractice which hinders a child’s growth. The way he could reflect back on his life to deeply understand the consequences while simultaneously altering it for good, was one positive change that one could observe in him.

12 years old Rakesh was selected as a jury member for the World's Children's Prize for the Rights of the Child.

"When I was only 6 years old, I was taking my parents' cattle out to graze with some of my friends when a man offered us sweets. My friends and I decided to take some and were kidnapped. The sweets had something bad in it and we were too sick to run away. When I tried, I was caught and told I would be thrown out of the train. I went to three different houses before I ended up at the place I was forced to work as a slave for 6 years. I slept in a cowshed and was given tea that was drugged every morning to make me work. If I refused to drink it, I was beaten and it was forced down my throat. I worked from five in the morning to ten at night doing various chores. I was sent to cut grass and often cut my fingers from being dizzy from the drugs.

My father had been searching for me and so with the help of the BBA, was able to rescue me. When I was found, I could not communicate with my parents as the man who mistreated me spoke another language. I had lost my mother tongue. I stayed with my parents for a few days after which I came to Bal Ashram. I was happy at Bal Ashram as I was no longer forced to work. I could play games and attend school (non-formal education). Learning and reading Hindi is my favourite. I love to communicate with drawings. I still love to draw."

A completely transformed Rakesh, now has dreams of becoming a teacher. It pleases us to see a child come from witnessing the worst and grow into a spectacular person.

On 11th September, 2017 the day dawned sunny and bright. Marchers gathered at Vivekananda Rock Memorial to take the first steps in long fight to end child sexual abuse and trafficking. The long awaited Bharat Yatra was flagged off by child survivors Ankia and Arjun (name changed) and Shri Kailash Satyarthi in the presence of Mr. Pon Radhakrishnan, Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Shipping.
Kailash Satyarthi spoke about his resolve and commitment to highlight the issue, before taking the first step on 11,000 kilometer long Yatra(journey), “If one single child is in danger, India is in danger. I resolve today to make India safe. Young marchers, we are waging war against exploitation of children and you are the warriors.”
The public event was organized at the end of the march to address a large gathering of youth and children. It started with the lighting of the lamp and was attended by over 6000 people, who were our first pledge takers. The football ground was teeming with children, survivors and locals of the city of Kanyakumari. Faith leaders, MLAs, District Education Officers and Mr. Satyarthi addressed the audience. The Bharat Yatra anthem ‘Hum Nikal Pade’ was released and lifted the spirit of all the matchers. Mr. Satyarthi joined the children in the audience for raising slogans and giving voice to all children and empowering them to fight for their rights.
Key Messages from Dignitaries

“Bharat Yatra is going to create history. None other than you my friends will write this history which will make child sexual abuse a thing of the past.” - Mr. Kailash Satyarthi

“Even when all dignitaries were on the stage. Kailash Satyarthi waited till the children joined us on stage and then he lighted the lamp, to mark the inauguration. This primacy of children is symbolic. This symbolism would become a part of our Samskara, our culture.” - Mr. Alok Kumar, Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh

“We are seeing national integration in the Yatra. The success of the Yatra will have a long lasting effect on the world.” - Mr Vivekanandan, District Education Officer, Kerala

“We wish Kailash ji great success and we will support him wholeheartedly in the March.” - Ms Fathima, Young Indians

“We are proud to join Kailash ji and take part in the March.” - Mr Paul Baskar, Founder Peace Trust

“A challenging task has been taken over by our brother Shri Kailash Satyarthi and our fellow 5000 branches of Arya Samaj promise to participate and extend all our support to Bharat Yatra.” -Mr. Vitthala, Arya Samaj Leader

The Bharat Yatra team lead by Shri Kailash Satyarthi launched a branch Yatra on Sept 13, 2017 from Chennai. It was flagged off at Stella Maris College, with Honorable Chief Justice of the Madras High Court Ms. Indira Banerjee as the Guest of Honour at the flag off event.
Justice Banerjee addressed a spellbound audience of students, youth and other dignitaries, expressing her concern at the growing instances of child abuse and rape across the country.
The marchers, protesting the injustice that the children of the country face daily, walked from Rajarathinam Stadium and were joined by renowned film actor Dhanush, who has wholeheartedly shown support for the Bharat Yatra. The marchers called upon the youth of the country to step up and fight for children across India.
“I will not rest till children of this country are not safe. I am not going to stop fighting if the raping and abuse do not stop. I cannot sleep in peace until we win our war against rape and abuse. This moral epidemic haunts our nation, and it is time we fight against it, together”- Mr. Kailash Satyarthi, Nobel Peace Laureate
“Society has a responsibility towards children. Innocent children grow up to be the adults we want them to be. If educated they will grow up as responsible citizens. Right to life includes in its fold all the basic human rights. Therefore, the fundamental duty of citizens is to take care of their children.”- Honorable Chief Justice, Ms. Indira Banerjee