B'lore pedestrians, let's walk for safe roads in the city!

Bangalore, May 7: Bangalore pedestrians are well aware of the difficulties and risk that they encounter everyday while on the roads. In order to make Bangalore roads safer, NGOs are organising a Walkathon to create awareness on better and safer roads in the city on May 9.

United Nations has launched Decade of Action for Road Safety (2011-2020) to create awareness and develop adequate infrastructure for pedestrian safety. This comes in the context where pedestrians are victims of most of the road traffic accidents.

As per the UN statistics, every year 2, 70, 000 pedestrians are dying in road accidents. This shows the intensity of the issues faced by the pedestrians on road and infrastructures provided.

This year theme being "Pedestrian Safety" with a week long celebration (6-12 May, 2013) by UN which also urges to organise programs across the world, NGO's working for children in Bangalore are planning to have SHORT WALK in association with UN's "The Long Short Walk"campaign.

The campaign launched called "The Long Short Walk" is in memory of Zenani Mandela, great grand daughter of Nelson Mandela who was killed in a road accident in June 2010.

This initiative is to draw attention to the needs of pedestrians and make walking safe across Bangalore with adequate infrastructure, enforcement and generate actions on measures to protect them.

Pedestrians in Bangalore especially children finds it very difficult to cross the road and walk on the footpath due to the pathetic condition prevails everywhere. It is disheartening to know that Bangalore is not at all child friendly amidst all developments it has achieved.

On May 9th 2013, at 11 am around 50 Children along with many NGO's like SPARSH, ESAF, CRT, APSA, APD, Mobility India and many others who are trying to uphold the rights and protection of children will be walking on footpath from KR Circle to Kittur Rani Chennamma Circle for spreading awareness among public about road and pedestrian safety by singing songs, holding placards and banners.

The Commissioner of Education Department, K R Circle will be inaugurating the rally. The rally will be received and concluded at Karnataka State Commission for Protection and Child Rights (KSCPCR) office in Kittur Rani Chennamma Circle by the Chairperson.

Thereafter, the children will be submitting their demands and recommendations for road safety and child rights to the members of commission, Traffic Commissioner and department of traffic police.

"We, the concerned citizens and activists for children support us through your esteemed presence in solidarity with this Walkathon and request you to join us in Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Campus on 9th May by 10.30 AM. We also request you to share this news among your partners for wider support and encouragement," said Nagasimha.G.Rao, a member of KSCPCR.

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