Chennai engineer to paddle 8,500 kms to raise awareness about human trafficking

Amidst growing cases of human trafficking, a 35-year-old man from Chennai is cycling 120 kms daily to raise awareness about the menace of child abuse and human slavery.

Naresh Kumar plans to travel 8,500 kms from Chennai to Hamburg in Germany in 90-days mission to raise money for the survivors of abuse and trafficking cases.

Talking to ANI about his mission named, 'Freedom Seat' and the purpose behind it, Kumar said, “The reason for this cause is to end human slavery. I am very self-sustained on this journey. I will be going through 12 different borders through the Middle East & Europe. I have done similar missions in New Zealand & Australia, & all for the same cause.”

Naresh is an electronics engineer working in the US. In one of his Instagram posts, he shared that he has earlier taken several expeditions in the US. Europe and Australasia. Planning the trip from India was a real struggle for him. He writes, "The struggle began even before I hit the road. Late night phone calls, paper works, unnecessary delays, bureaucracy, and the dollars 💵 to get the bike to India. 3 months of absolute frustration and I came so close to pulling the plug on this mission."

View this post on Instagram

Having planned several expeditions in #USA, #Europe and #Australasia, I assumed planning one in India would be a breeze especially being my home country but boy was I wrong. . The struggle began even before I hit the road. Late night phone calls, paper works, unnecessary delays, bureaucracy, and the dollars 💵 to get the bike to India. 3 months of absolute frustration and I came so close to pulling the plug on this mission. . I was real pissed and that’s when my friend cheered me up and said that planning a mission like this in other countries is not a big deal and that I should be real proud that I could plan and execute something in India. . #Kindness is finally here. @freedomseat is a go. Not too long until I hit the road. Thanks so much for your kind words of encouragement and support. . Many thanks to @jeffsonbikes For building a rad tandem and thanks @sureshkumarlb from Probiker for helping me put the bike together. Thank you @bedrocksandals @quadlockcase @quadlockcycle @apidura @furtherfasternz

A post shared by Naresh Kumar (@iamarunr) on Feb 6, 2019 at 6:49pm PST

 

He is carrying with minimum luggage that consists of a GPS gadget to keep his family and friends updated on the journey, few clothes, accessories and a tool kit which has spare tubes for his cycle, a sleeping bag and a tent to rest at night to help him survive the daunting journey.