Run For Laadli: A marathon where participants will pledge for women safety
An initiative of Delhi Police with the Laadli Foundation Trust, a marathon will take place on December 17 to stop crime against women, and ensure them safety.
To put an end to crimes against women and spread gender equality, Delhi Police is organising a half-marathon, Run For Laadli, in the Capital on December 17. The initiative is taken by the Delhi Police is in association with Laadli Foundation Trust — a Delhi-based NGO.
“This marathon is different from others. Apart from the general public, we are pushing youngsters from JJ colonies to participate. Some of the youth from the colonies are already going through YUVA training and they will also act as a volunteer to pledge women safety,” says Madhur Verma, DCP (Crime), Delhi Police.
Sanjay Beniwal, Special CP, Women Safety, Airport and Modernisation, adds, “Youngsters who are unemployed and inclined towards crimes are going to participate.We are motivating them to be a part of the run, and pledge to respect women. These participants will pledge that before stopping hooligans, they themselves won’t eve-tease women. They will pledge: ‘Main kisi ladki ko nahi chedunga aur apni biwi pe haath nahi uthaunga’. This is the first step to stop crimes against women.”
The run, which is the brainchild of Devender Gupta, will take place on the morning of Sunday, December 17, from Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium to Central Park in Connaught Place, and will be inaugurated by Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
Why participation of youngsters indulged in criminal activities or offenders? “There are two attractions for them. One is the project YUVA, where we will train the unemployed to provide them a job under Skill India (campaign). And second is the counselling by our volunteers,” says Beniwal.
The plan may sound ambitious but Delhi Police has earlier rehabilitated 800 boys by using the sport of kabaddi as a medium. “The number of participants might not be huge but even if they turn up in thousands, we will be happy that our purpose is fulfilled, somehow,” Beniwal adds.
There will be 15 photo stations on the location, where participants can click pictures with posters reading: ‘I Am A Laadli Saviour’, and take the snaps home.
Mohan (name changed) and his group of seven friends who will be participating in the marathon, says, “We are taking the counselling sessions, and genuinely feel to participate in this marathon.”
About the importance of the initiative, Swati Pandya, a wedding decor stylist — who will also participate in the marathon — says, “We all have a laadli in our family, be it our mother, sister or daughter. And, it’s important that we have justice and equality for them. I want Delhi to be freed of the ‘Rape Capital’ tag that the city has acquired, and I will stand for that.”
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