Priyanka Chopra bats for fair start for children

Actress Priyanka Chopra as a Unicef goodwill ambassador on Tuesday raised the pitch for a fair start for every child in the country — from privileged ones to the less privileged.

She launched a ‘Fair Start’ campaign, which aims to take the right to grow and prosper to one and all in the country. To this end, Unicef India unveiled a ‘Fair Start’ film that promotes a social media campaign focussing on persisting inequalities that large groups of children in India face, affecting their survival, growth and development.

Dressed in a white shirt and long yellow skirt exuding easy breezy vibe, the actress, who was appointed a Unicef national ambassador in 2010, shared that the campaign in an attempt to start discussion for a better tomorrow.

“I am on more planes than I am on land, but I would’nt have chosen to be anywhere else except here,” Priyanka said, hinting at her busy schedule which includes juggling between her life abroad and in India.

The event was not only high on Priyanka’s star power, but also stayed true to the essence of the campaign. There were children from various schools present, and students and media from Haryana also became part of the event through video conferencing.

Using nursery rhymes from ‘Ringa ringa roses’, ‘Jack and Jill’, ‘Twinkle, twinkle little star’ to ‘Johny Johny, yes papa’, the film weaved a story of how the disparity and huge gap between the rich and the poor in the country is eating away the youth.

It highlighted the gap, but also showed the similarities that ties the children together.

A 14-year-old girl, who shared the dais with Priyanka and Unicef representative in India Louis Georges Arsenault, shared her point of view, saying that “we need to connect to less privileged. When we connect to the less privileged, then I think we start caring of what they are going through. When we start to care, then we start to empower them.”

The actress, who has garnered fame at the home turf and internationally, was floored by the confidence of the girl.

“You remind me of me. I remember when I was 17 standing on the stage on Miss India and being asked big questions. It takes extra amount of bravery to share platform, to be able to bring your thoughts together. I am inspired by you. Thank you for doing it that hasn’t happened for a very long time,” Priyanka said.

Priyanka, who has extended her support to several social causes, believes in the initiative, but says it will take some time for the change to seep in.

“We can’t bring a change. We cannot eradicate poverty, we can’t bridge the gap of the wealthy and the less privileged. Let’s not live in a delusional world. But we can work towards an opportunity, help someone.”

“I believe in equality of gender, career, equality in opinion and equality all around. We can talk about it. People will write and that will make people think about it. It will start a discussion… boond boond se saagar banata hai (drops of water make an ocean).”

As part of the campaign, a series of impactful films will give an insight into the lives of millions of children from various backgrounds, who are full of potential but less likely to grow up healthy and safe, less likely to attend school, less likely to learn and more likely to be married as children.

Inputs by IANS

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