Mini-marathon gears up to spread social awareness

Citizens of H/West Ward Federation with Wake Up Bandra have organised its first mini-marathon on February 27.

Citizens of H/West Ward Federation with Wake Up Bandra have organised its first mini-marathon on February 27.

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Mumbaiites for Child Rights (M4CR) and Kripa Foundation two of the Non Government Organisations participating in the run will spread awareness about youth education and involvement of HIV infected or addicted people in the society. “Children are our societies future and it’s our duty to protect their rights. If they didn’t receive good education today then they will fall in more misery and poverty in future which can turn into bigger social problem for the society in future,” said Nitin Wadhwani volunteer from M4CR.

M4CR, an initiative by Child Rights and You (CRY) is a network focusing on improving quality of BMC school’s education and other facilities that civic students are liable to receive like quality day meal, stationery and so on. “We have formed group of members who observe the neighbouring civic schools and demand accountability from the education department. This exercise is quite important as taxpayers’ money is used to fund and run these civic schools, so whether it’s serving the purpose or not should be monitored,” said Naresh Karmalker, Trustee of H/West Federation.

The organisers will be spreading awareness about the depleting open spaces in the H West ward. “Now only 47 open spaces are left in H West Ward. This is major concern for us as if the open spaces are not there where will our children play and grow. Awareness about protecting the open spaces is equivalently important,” added Karmalkar.

Kripa Foundation’s 100 volunteers will be participating in the run. The foundation has been working on rehabilitation of addicted and HIV infected people. “Over 50 per cent of these volunteers have recovered from the addiction and participating in the sporting event. This is the best way to prevent them from relapse as well as to socialise them,” said Fr Joe Pereira, Founder Managing Trustee of Kripa Foundation.