Nearly 300 schoolchildren from six city schools participated in a walk to raise awareness on social responsibility among small children.
They walked from Kadri Park to Mangala Stadium via Bejai and Lal Bagh during “Walkathon 2011, for the children, by the children, making strides helping lives.”
N. Yogish Bhat, MLA and Deputy Speaker, Legislative Assembly, flagged off the walkathon at Kadri Park.
Niloufer, a member of the Mangalore Ladies Circle 82, which organised the event, said the drive was organised particularly for schoolchildren because an awareness of social responsibility was expected of adults. The idea of awareness had to be brought in people early in childhood. The circle had 15 members, all active, who visited schools with a talk on charity, she said. Mr. Bhat told presspersons that the group had helped a school in Kadri-Mallikatte with infrastructure. There was a requirement for infrastructure in schools, particularly those belonging to the minority community. Schools teaching poor children required special attention, he said.
The members of the Round Table in Mangalore had worked on computer-based education, he said. The walk was a good initiative as it created awareness among schoolchildren about their social responsibility. It was satisfying to know that children would grow with an awareness on working for society, Mr. Bhat said.
Students who participated in the walk were from St. Agnes School, Presidency School, Lourdes Central School, Infant Jesus Joyland School, and St. Theresa's School.
The Ladies Circle was led by certain guidelines, which were “freedom through education”, “educate to enlighten”, and “friendship through service”, said Mirelle Saldanha, Chairperson, Mangalore Ladies Circle 82.
