HYDERABAD: A 25-year-old from Madhya Pradesh, Asha Rajubai Malviya, who is on a ‘Sampoorn Bharat cycle’ yatra hoping to highlight aspects like women's safety and women empowerment, touched Hyderabad on Friday.
Since starting in Bhopal on November 1 last year, she has so far covered 8,785 km spread across eight states and hopes to complete the yatra in Delhi on Independence Day after completing 25,000 km. She spoke to Deccan Chronicle on her arrival here.
On the strong feeling in the minds of people that women are unsafe in India, she quipped, “My yatra is to dispel this notion, particularly among women and children. If a single woman like me can travel around the country all alone, women and children can also step out of their homes and be safe and secure.”
Belonging to Nataram, a remote village in the Raigad district, Asha lost her father when she was just three. She says her mother Rajubai has been an inspiration, all through.
“She taught me about life and how one could face challenges. There have been so many challenges during my Yatra. I think of my mother and this helps overcome them,” she added.
An athlete and a mountaineer, Asha thanked the police for their continuous support. “They were there whenever I felt the need,” she said.
On the completion of the nationwide bicycle tour, Asha will embark on an international cycle tour. She is also penning a book on her yatra experience. On her arrival here, she was felicitated by Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan and DGP Anjani Kumar.
