Gopalan schools organise walkathon to generate awareness against sexual crimes

Is the city safe for girls? This is the foremost question haunting the minds of school and college-going girls and their parents, following a series of sexual violence in the Garden City. In a bid to generate awareness among the public, students of two prominent schools- Gopalan International School and Gopalan National School, organised a walkathon on Sunday, from Gopalan Signature Mall.

The walkathon was a self-motivated one, and an attempt to express solidarity to all the victims.

"It is high time to voice our anger to make educational institutions and the world outside it, a safe place for women", says Anishka, a student.

Ably guided by their teachers, the students said that the need-of-the-hour was to make Bangalore a safe city for women again. Displaying placards with the message- 'Pledge to make Bangalore a safe city for women,' students also signed the pledge document to support the cause.

Around 600 children who participated in the event said that the walkathon reinforced confidence in them.

"The walkathon was a huge success as it was steered by our school students. The message was loud and clear-respect women and girls and give them their freedom," said C V Nagaraj, Academic co-ordinator for Gopalan Schools.

The school principal, Deepti Singh asserted, "This was a voluntary event organised by the students, for the students. To ensure safety of women inside the campuses, we need to work with students, parents and the staff."