Children are not only future but ‘present’, nurture them: Unicef envoy Dia Mirza

Special Correspondent

NewsBits.in

Bhopal: Actor and Unicef celebrity ambassador Dia Mirza on Wednesday said that children were not only the future of the country, but present too, in the sense that they were gift to the humanity and needed to be nurtured that way.

The actor, a former Miss Asia Pacific and Miss India, was speaking at an ‘adolescent and young people meet’ organized in Bhopal to celebrate Unicef@70 – the 70th foundation year of Unicef.

Dia attentively looked on as children and youngsters presented play, songs and shared experiences and expectations related to various children’s issues like education, health, protection, sanitation and gender parity, sex ratio, child labour, child marriage and others.

Later, addressing the gathering, the celebrity ambassador said that it was very difficult for a society or a country to progress unless the basic needs and aspirations of children were fulfilled. She said that she wanted to do her bit in this direction and hoped for collective action.

“There is no point of my stardom, celebrity status or fame if I cannot use it for the good of society, especially children. Therefore I feel it is a blessing for me to be associated with Unicef and this event. There is yet a lot of work to be done and I am sure we would collectively do it for children,” Dia Mirza said.

The actor interacted with the children during her talk, striking a chord with them. Earlier too, during experience sharing by Harda and Indore kids on open defecation free campaign, she called the kids near her and pepped them up.

At the end of the programme, she took selfies with the children, making them very happy.

Unicef chief of MP office, Michael Juma spoke about coordination of Unicef and Indian and MP governments for betterment of children. He especially mentioned activities like opening of Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres, support to immunization and ODF campaign and sports for development schemes.

Madhya Pradesh principal secretary for women and children development spoke about the various children and especially girl child oriented schemes of the state and reiterated commitment of state towards children’s welfare.

Retired chief secretary and chairperson of Child Rights Observatory Nirmala Buch and state programme officer of Swachch Bharat Mission Hemvati Burman also spoke.

Youth group Khalifa presented a play on children’s issues,  ANSH Youth Group spoke about its activities, youngsters working as change-loomers (change agents) in Harda also detailed their activities while children associated with NGOs Eka, Arambh and Muskaan shared the results of their mapping on children’s issues and their demands.

Communication specialist of Unicef, Anil Gulati conducted the proceedings. Programme manager Manish Mathur and other specialists were also present along with large number of children and youth.