World Vision urges moviegoers to learn from Slumdog Millionare

New Delhi, Feb 23 (ANI): Christian Humanitarian Organisation World Vision has urged moviegoers to increase their awareness by watching movies like Slumdog Millionare.

"Don't just be entertained; do something," insisted World Vision as India's Slumdog Millionaire, a movie depicting the challenges of 'street children' won eight Oscars.

"While the film does a good job in depicting the realities of slum life to a large extent, there are many more challenges these children are up against," said Dr. Jayakumar Christian, National Director, World Vision India.

"Moviegoers should realise that poverty in India is a clear and present challenge for children in India, but there are tangible ways by which people can make a difference," he added.

According to the agency, which has worked in India for 50 years, key issues like malnutrition, HIV infection and AIDS, child labour, education and protection of children and natural disasters and climate change in India need urgent action.

Recent government and civil society reports have pointed to the dismal state of child nutrition and survival in India. World Bank report estimates that malnutrition costs the nation10 billion dollars every year in terms of lost productivity. World Vision's call for proper implementation and allocation of appropriate funds to ensure that every child has nutrition security.

World Vision has underlined a comprehensive HIV and AIDS act to address the challenges of the poverty stricken children born with the deadly infection, as the need of the hour. These children have limited access to health care and antiretroviral.

Talking about the menace of Child Labour, World Vision has called for compulsory education for girls and boys up to the primary level, as it believes that every child who is not in school is a sure candidate for child labour.

The welfare agency also advocates that education is the most effective contributor in the transformation of communities and breaking the inevitable cycle of poverty. It therefore pointed out the need to enact the Right to Free and Compulsory Education Bill and also allocate six per cent of the country's GDP towards education.

Spread over 150 locations in India, World Vision works through long-term sustainable community development programmes and immediate disaster relief assistance. (ANI)