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‘We can’t forget the children’
The private sector and the entertainment industry must do more to provide education to all children in South Asia says Bollywood’s Mahesh Bhatt who was in Sri Lanka last week

By Dhananjani Silva
One of Bollywood’s most prolific filmmakers and special envoy of UNICEF, Mahesh Bhatt made a short visit to Sri Lanka last week to participate in the CIMA Community Leaders Awards organised by CIMA and The Sunday Times Business Club. His trip was aimed at promoting education for all children and corporate social responsibility in the private sector.

At the ‘Samata Sarana’ home in Mutwal which caters to the needs of slum and street children in Colombo North, Bhatt came face to face with the problems children in this underprivileged community have to deal with.

“As a film director and producer, I am glad I have had the opportunity to support children with UNICEF for many years using the skills and experiences of my profession. In my work with UNICEF, I have helped children from different parts of India to learn filming and editing skills so that they can make their own short films about HIV/AIDS. Their work was shown to many young people at schools across the country to raise awareness on HIV/AIDS and prevent discrimination. The creativity and ideas of children always impress me. I enjoy working with them and learning from them,” Mahesh Bhatt said.

Bhatt who began his career in 1971 with a film called ‘Manzilen Aur Bhi Hain’ went on to make landmark films like ‘Arth, Saaranash, Janam and Naam’. His films explored human emotions, of sorrow, desires and needs. His last film “Zakhm” which depicts a touching story of a mother and her illegitimate son against the backdrop of the ’92-93 communal riots in Bombay, won two national awards this year. It also received five screen awards and a Film Fare Award.

Gender disparity in education is a serious issue in South Asia, says Bhatt. “I congratulate Sri Lanka that your primary school enrolment rates are high for both girls and boys. But I also understand that much more can be done to improve the quality of education. I believe that investing in education is an urgent task for us all in South Asia. I would like to encourage people in the private sector, including the entertainment industry to get involved in promoting the rights of the child, especially in education. Children are our future. They will lead our society,” he added.

Established in 1988 as an NGO, Samata Sarana provides education through a non-formal setting for children of slum families who otherwise would have been denied their right to education. Education has also been focused on as a protective tool against child labour and child abuse as these children are from areas where there is widespread drug use and distribution, alcoholism, abuse and commercial sex.

Samata Sarana has a pre-school and non-formal education up to Grade 9 for over 400 children from the Mutwal slums and shanties -- These children are also provided medical services and a midday meal in addition to uniforms and books.

The association also helps neglected elders from the slums and has awareness programmes on children’s rights, adolescence, for expectant mothers and vocational training as well.

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