Bhubaneswar: PECUC (People’s Cultural Centre), an organisation working for the protection of children’s rights, had come up with the concept of a Goodwill Ambassador in 2010 to promote the rights of children and to create a child-friendly environment.
PECUC thought the Goodwill Ambassador will help to raise awareness about children’s rights like the right to education, safe places to play and raise awareness about the impact of violence, bullying, poverty etc on children.
The Goodwill Ambassador was expected to work for creating a child-friendly environment through various programmes and campaigns.
Odia actress Bhoomika Dash was declared PECUC’s latest Goodwill Ambassador for the promotion of child rights during the period 2019-21 on the occasion of National Anti-Child Labour Day.
Sportsperson Anshika Routray was appointed as Goodwill Ambassador for promoting the right of children to play at a function held at the Regional Science Centre, Bhubaneswar.
Bhoomika Dash, 16, is a popular Odia actress who started her career in 2014 as a child artiste in the movie Rumku Jhumana and since then had acted in many movies like Tu Mo Love Story, Sriman Surdas, Hero No: 1 and Nayaka Na Debadaasa among others.
Anshika Routray shotput athlete , 14, is the daughter of Olympian Anuradha Biswal. She recently set a record at the 66th State Athletic Meet for Under-16 girls in Cuttack in the Shot Put event. She managed a throw of 11.82 metres, breaking the previous record of 10.86 metres.
Ranjan Kumar Mohanty, child rights activist and Secretary, PECUC, said that the rights of many children could not be protected and that many children still drop out of schools and are engaged as labourers.
The two Goodwill Ambassadors we have chosen this year are still in their teens (below 18), but have done well in their fields. Their achievements will be an example for other children, he said.
PECUC Executive Director Anuradha Mohnaty said that apart from child rights in education and other things they are focusing on children’s rights to play as that is necessary for their mental and physical development.
She said that both Bhoomika and Anshika will campaign to promote the rights of children, end child labour, provide quality education to children and create facilities for children to play.
Bhoomika said that she will try to promote the rights of children, end child labour, provide quality education to all, end violence against children and provide an environment to children to live with dignity.
“Children like me need to play and that is their right. I will try to promote that,” Anshika said.