Gravittus Foundation and UNICEF Host Roundtable on Child Development, Health, and Rights in Pune
Pune, Maharashtra, June 22 – In a powerful initiative aimed at raising awareness about children’s health and development, Gravittus Foundation (founded by Usha Kakade) and UNICEF came together to organize a roundtable conference in Pune on Monday. The conference addressed crucial issues surrounding child health, development, literacy, and youth participation in water management.
The conference garnered appreciation for “Good Touch, Bad Touch”, an initiative launched by Usha Kakade. This program, aimed at preventing abuse and violence against children, was praised by dignitaries for its significant impact on the community.
Inauguration and Key Speakers
The event was inaugurated by Dr. Neelam Gorhe, Deputy Chairperson of the Maharashtra Legislative Council, and Rajeshwari Chandrasekar, Chief of UNICEF’s Maharashtra Regional Office. The conference saw participation from various prominent artists, activists, and members of civil society, including:
- Dr. Vidya Yerwadekar, Pro-Chancellor, Symbiosis International University
- Farah Khan, Indian Film Director & Writer
- Adv. Divya Chavan, Lawyer
- Padmini Kolhapure, Indian Actress and Singer
- Dr. Medha Kulkarni, National Vice President, BJP Mahila Morcha
- Dr. Avinash Bhondwe, Former State President, Indian Medical Association
- Sanjay Haldikar, Writer & Director, Child Theatre
- Dr. Amita Phadnis, Pediatrician & Neonatologist
- Laxminarayan Tripathi, Transgender Rights Activist
- Rahul More, Deputy Commissioner, Women & Child Development, Maharashtra
- Amitabh Gupta, Additional Director General of Police (Jail and Correctional Services), Mumbai
- Jugnu Gupta, Social Worker
- Arun Khore, Senior Editor and Writer
The dignitaries collectively explored the relevance and global impact of the issues discussed, followed by an action plan aimed at raising public awareness on the topic.
Key Insights and Initiatives Discussed
Dr. Neelam Gorhe urged the Department of Child Welfare and Education to implement the “Good Touch, Bad Touch” program across Maharashtra with the support of UNICEF and Gravittus Foundation. She further emphasized the need for making laws like the Juvenile Justice Act available in Marathi for greater accessibility.
Rajeshwari Chandrasekar highlighted that children’s rights can be categorized into four core areas: the right to survival, protection, participation, and development. She pointed out that statistics show a significant gap in educational continuity, with fewer than 50% of girls reaching standard V after joining standard I. To combat this, UNICEF is launching a learning campaign to improve retention rates.
Usha Kakade, founder-president of the Gravittus Foundation, shared that the primary discussion points of the conference focused on child health, development, literacy, and the importance of youth participation in water management. She mentioned that the foundation’s “Good Touch, Bad Touch” initiative has already reached over 400,000 children. Kakade also announced plans to extend this message to cities like Solapur, Kolhapur, and Nagpur in the next three months with the help of UNICEF.
Amitabh Gupta emphasized the importance of child-friendly police stations and the need for better data networks to implement laws effectively. Farah Khan suggested using films as a powerful medium to raise awareness about children’s rights, while Padmini Kolhapure spoke about the importance of parenting in shaping a child’s future.
Laxminarayan Tripathi raised the issue of addressing the unique challenges faced by transgender children, calling for more inclusive programs from UNICEF. Dr. Amita Phadnis focused on the role of good parenting, mental wellness, and nutrition in child development.
Dr. Vidya Yerwadekar spoke on the importance of teaching respect for women from a young age, while Sanjay Haldikar highlighted the need for children to engage in street play as a means of raising awareness about societal issues. Advocate Divya Chavan stressed the importance of establishing child-friendly courts in India.
Jugnu Gupta and Arun Khore also shared their insights, contributing to the rich discussion on child welfare.
Film Screening and Closing Remarks
A film screening was held, shedding light on the rights of children to survival, protection, participation, and development. Swati Mohapatra, communication specialist at UNICEF, Mumbai, facilitated the conference, while Leena Saldanha compared the discussions and Sanghmitra Khore delivered a vote of thanks.
Conclusion
The roundtable conference concluded with a renewed commitment from all stakeholders to work towards improving the welfare of children, particularly in the areas of health, safety, education, and equal participation in society. The discussions from this event will pave the way for a broader action plan aimed at raising awareness and fostering positive change.
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