Baton to carry message on child safety

GURUGRAM: A baton launched in the city by Barun Thakur, the father of the boy who was murdered in a city school last year, will travel to all states to spread the message of child safety.
At the end of its journey, the baton will be handed over to the President of India who will be requested to look into the future of children in the country.

A city-based foundation organised an event in Gurugram on September 8, the day Thakur’s son was murdered. The baton’s idea came up to give a push to the government to take action against violence and raise awareness about basic safety norms in schools.

At the event, Thakur said, “This safety baton will move around India, passing every state capital, to inspire and stimulate people to work in the interests of the children of this country.”

The foundation , set up by Thakur, also wants to create momentum to declare September 8 as ‘Child Safety Day’. For this, “a request letter has already been sent to the Prime Minister and the departmentsconcerned”, according to its members.

The petition has received support from several MPs, including minister Ram Kripal Yadav from Bihar.

Thakur said, “There is an urgent need for schools to look into the safety and security concerns of students. After a tragedy, everyone looks into lapses but later, they forget all about guidelines for safety of kids.”

Those present on the occasion emphasised the need for stringent measures to ensure safety of children.

Mahabal Mishra, a politician from West Delhi who was present at the event, said, “Cameras have been installed in schools but we, ourselves, need to be more vigilant.”

Thakur added, “The recent shocking incidents of child abuse, physical, mental or sexual, sometimes followed by murder, in our schools are a blow to children’s right to a safe and secure childhood.”