The foot march is done to commemorate the International Day of Peace and to be concluded on October 2nd, the International Day of Non-Violence.
21 September 2021
New Delhi, India
The 12-day long "2021 Justice and Peace Foot March” organized jointly by Ekta Parishad and Sarvodaya Samaj has started. This unique global foot march was inaugurated by Gandhian Rajagopal P.V. with a one-day fast from Patna, the capital of Bihar. Rajagopal P.V. leading the foot march said on this occasion that the foot march is being started on the occasion of International Day of Peace and it will be concluded on October 2nd, the International Day of Non-Violence. This foot march is a historic step in itself, hundreds of youths will participate in this march who will talk to the people about justice and a peace-based society. This is not only a big initiative in India, but also it is one of the important initiatives at the global level.
This foot march is being organized in 105 districts of the country as well as in 25 countries of the world. In Madhya Pradesh, this march is being organized in 27 districts. During the march, about five thousand pedestrians will walk and about ten thousand kilometres will be covered. In this 12-day long march, different programs will be organized every day. Important issues like climate change, non-violent economy, migration, developing non-violence-based leadership skills among youth, etc. will be discussed in these programs. Along with this, local issues like how to establish peace in the villages visiting during the march, how to beautify the village, how to ensure everyone's access to pure and potable water, etc. will also be discussed and also seek non-violent solutions to local problems.
Foot marchers in Odisha, India. Photo: Ekta Parishad
Gandhian Rajagopal P.V. Describing the purpose of the foot march, he said how we should make good use of the important time we have from 21 September, International Peace Day to 2 October, International Non-Violence Day, so that we spread non-violence, justice and peace in the world. It is not important to celebrate any day, but what and which kind of program we do around that day is important. Our aim is, instead of celebrating these days in their rooms and campus, hundreds of youths during the journey should join us in the march on the streets and interact with various issues of the society and talk about them. During the foot march, the talk of justice, peace and non-violence will be loudly and it will be our endeavour that such things should not be limited to the city only but reach the villages and small towns also. The main objective of the foot march is to prepare the society for justice, peace and non-violence. Along with this, understanding has to be developed about justice and peace-based system in society.
Describing the two important goals of the foot march, Rajagopal says that one of them is also that we have to raise the issue in front of the government to establish a Ministry of Non-Violence and peace. During the march, we will also conduct a signature campaign for the establishment of the Ministry of Non-violence and Peace. At the same time, our second goal is to write to the United Nations about the non-violent economy. In this we are going to write that the current economy is very violent, some people have a lot and some people have nothing. That's why we will talk to the United Nations about a non-violent economy and we will also launch a signature campaign about it. Overall, the purpose of this foot march is to influence the Government of India as well as the United Nations and the governments of other countries about the system based on justice, peace, non-violence.
For more information, please contact
Aneesh Thillenkery
National General Secretary, Ekta Parishad
(+91) 9971964569
ektaaneesh@gmail.com