MGM AWARATHON- THE LONGEST TORCH RELAY MARATHONS TO CREATE AWARENESS ON CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION

Objective of the practice :

1. Raise awareness by educating the public about types, signs, long-term effects of child abuse and help lines to report child abuse

2. Engage the public by making them understand their role in preventing child abuse

3. Promote Healthy Family Dynamics through parental education, positive-parenting-techniques, and encourage effective communication to reduce the risk of child abuse

4. Advocate for policy by informing the community about various child protection laws, such as POCSO and existing legislation

5. Promote Safe Environments by educating people in public & community to recognize signs of abuse

The Context :

According to NCRB report - 2023, there has been a 26% increase in crimes against children, with Maharashtra ranking second in child abuse cases. Preventing child abuse starts with raising awareness in the community to recognize the signs of abuse, establishing support systems, and reporting of abuse.
The stigma and taboo surrounding abuse deter victims from reporting due to fear of social rejection. This sparked the initiative of MGM AWARATHON by MGMIOP, aimed at raising awareness at the grassroots level through the longest torch relay marathon, involving the MGM community.

The Practice :

MGM AWARATHON-2022, in collaboration with MUHS-Nashik, was a 27-hour, 210 km non-stop torch relay marathon from Aurangabad to Nashik. A total of 79 students and faculty members from MGMIOP participated in the run, alongside school children. Along the route, students performed skits in various locations to raise awareness about preventing child abuse.

MGM AWARATHON-2023, themed "Running Miles, Spreading Smiles," in collaboration with the Commissionerate of Women & Child Development, Pune, was a 29-hour, 246 km run from Chh. Sambhajinagar to Pune. Over 100 people from MGMIOP participated, joined by school students, police officers, NGOs, and villagers from various communities along the route. A pre-AWARATHON campaign was initiated to raise awareness among students at 15 schools in Chh. Sambhajinagar, where MGMIOP students performed skits to raise awareness about the causes of child abuse and how to prevent it.

Evidence of Success :

1. MGM Awarathon became a huge success as was joined by on-lookers and passers-by to support the initiative

2. Received BEST OF INDIA RECORD award for longest-torch-relay-marathon (2022)

3. Received BEST OF INDIA RECORD award (2023) for “Largest number of school students in the audience for child abuse prevention awareness”

4. Received ASIA BOOK OF RECORDS award for longest-torch-relay-marathon (2023)

5. Raised awareness amongst 50,000+ PUBLIC AUDIENCES

6. Raised awareness amongst 15,000+ SCHOOL CHILDREN through skit at schools

7. One-of-a-kind initiative to achieve global recognition

8. Appreciated by various government authorities for the initiative

Problems encountered :

1. Continuing the torch-relay at night was challenging due to lack of streetlamps which was overcome using battery-operated lights & headlights of the vehicle

2. Heavy traffic on certain routes created delays. Coordination with local traffic authorities and the strategic use of escort vehicles helped in managing the traffic.