SSS PUNE ORGANIZES A MARATHON FOR THE CAUSE OF CHILD BEGGARY, AND CHILD LABOUR

‘Run against child beggary’, a short marathon was organized on 8 Oct 2023 at Yerwada, Pune by Sarva Seva Sangh. The marathon was flagged off by Adv. Avinash Salve the municipal corporator of Yerwada, at 6:30 am from Lokshahir Annabhau Sathe Rang Mandir, Yerwada along with Mr. John Paul, former municipal corporator of Yerwada, and Rev. Fr. Tomy Thomas, the provincial superior of SVD India, Mumbai province. The marathon proceeded through Gunjan Corner, Yerwada Bridge, Sadal Baba Chowk, Deccan College road, and returned through Tarkeshwar Chowk to Lokshahir Annabhau Sathe Rang Mandir and there it was concluded. The Short Marathon of 5.2 km was organized to create public awareness of child beggary and child labor. More than 500 people joined in this event from different walks of life. Many Youths from CYDA, students and staff from Christ College, staff and scholastics from Divine Word Seminary, Fransalian Seminary, team members from SeeCubic Pvt. Ltd, Brisalcone Pvt. Ltd, Divine Mercy Sports Group, and many others participated with much enthusiasm. Begging children are at a high risk of meeting with accidents and are vulnerable to substance abuse and addiction. They also lose their education and their childhood. By giving money to begging children one makes a child a beggar for life, instead giving to needy children what they need, namely, food, water, sanitary materials, study materials, etc. The marathon was to call the attention of people to this social evil and to join together to end this social evil of child beggary and child labor by making affirmative responses and by making others aware of the same.