BHUBANESWAR: On the occasion of Universal Children’s Day, UNICEF Odisha in association with AAINA, an Odisha based voluntary organisation, gave away five awards as part of Kallola, an annual short film contest on child rights, here Tuesday.
The awards were presented by chief guest Satyabrata Tripathy, eminent film actor and chairman of Odisha Film Development Corporation (OFDC), Dillip Tirkey, former captain of Indian hockey team and chairman of Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) and professional sprinter Dutee Chand among others.
The theme of the short film competition is based on water and children namely ‘Safe Water: every child’s right’. It focuses attention on the importance of clean water in order to give all children a happy and healthy life. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that globally, unsafe drinking water and inadequate hygiene and sanitation contribute to an estimated 8,42,000 annual deaths that includes 3,61,000 deaths of children under five.
Speaking on the occasion, Tripathy said, “I am happy to be part of the Kallola short film contest on child rights. It is important for everyone to be aware of rights of children. Short films as a medium of creating awareness on these issues is a powerful tool. It has to be seen by largest number of people.”Former MP Rajya Sabha Dillip Tirkey expressed that Kallola is not just a platform for film makers but also a platform for knowledge on child rights.
The annual short film contest on child rights aims to create an environment that promotes the rights and empowerment of children in the state of Odisha. Through short advocacy films, it aims to reach widest possible audiences on issues that promote the rights of children in the state.