By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, September 26, 2017: Sexual exploitation of children has spread like an epidemic in the country, according to Nobel Peace laureate Kailash Satyarthi.

Urging upon people to fight against the evil, Satyathi on Tuesday said, “Our children are not safe either in homes, schools or in the market or anywhere. This is a moral epidemic haunting our country. We have to protect our India. The nation will be safe when our children are safe.

He was here to flag off the Bharat Yatra campaign here. The aim of Bharat Yatra is to protect the country from all evils and make it safe for children, he added.

Bharat Yatra, a nationwide march against child sexual abuse and human trafficking, was flagged-off from Bhubaneswar to other destinations. It would cover 11,000 km in 35 days across 22 states.

The Nobel Peace laureate vehemently condemned the twin incidences of alleged sexual abuse in Ryan International School, Gurugram, and in Tagore Public School, Delhi.

“Schools in India are not safe for children anymore. We have to change the situation. We have to fight against the evil to make safer places for our children,” said Satyarthi.

Declaring a war against crimes like sexual abuse and child trafficking, he hoped the Bharat Yatra campaign will make India safe again for children.

He also called upon the parliamentarians to pass a stringent law against human trafficking, including child trafficking.