Youth takes Bharat Darshan Yatra against child marriages

Ongole: With nothing more than a bicycle and Rs 2,000, Akshay Bhagat, 22, of Purulia in West Bengal, embarks on the Bharat Darshan yatra creating awareness against child marriage.

Akshay Bhagat, who fought with his parents for three years to stop the marriages of his sisters, now aimed to lend a hand to thousands of other girl children who are forcibly thrown into the child marriage. After his persuasion, the parents of Bhagat gave up their thoughts and let their daughters enjoy safe and happy adolescence, with no pressure about marriage.

With his saved money of Rs 2,000 and a bicycle, Akshay Bhagat started his Bharat Darshan Yatra about a year ago and visited 22 states in the country. He tried to create awareness on child marriage and its adverse effects in the girl along with human action required to save planet earth from global warming, at schools and panchayats on his way. He is on his return journey from Kanyakumari and reached Ongole on Sunday.

The Childline 1098 and Syndicate Bank officials appreciated the efforts of Akshay Bhagat and felicitated him. He said that he pedaled for about 22,000 kilometers and just about 2,000 kilometers to go home. Bhagat said that he focused on reaching as many rural places as possible to create awareness on child marriages. He said that he is sharing his experiences, encouraging all brothers to do the same to save their sisters from child marriages.