‘Swachhta’ should be instilled in children as one of the core values: Shri Arun Jaitley

Minister inaugurates 1st Rashtriya Bal Film Mela ‘Swachhta’ to be the central theme of Rashtriya Bal Film Mela

Shri Arun Jaitley, Union Minister for Finance, Corporate Affairs and Information & Broadcasting has said that ‘Swachhta’ should be instilled as one of the core values in childhood so that children practice the habit of cleanliness as part of their childhood and personality. The Minister said this while inaugurating the 1st Rashtriya Bal Film Mela here today (14.11.2014). The Minister further added that celluloid media had become a powerful source of knowledge in the Information age and that cinema had been emerged as a powerful tool for education in addition to its manifest function of entertainment. Rashtriya Bal Film Mela would help in instilling values of cleanliness practiced and propagated by Gandhji, the Minister added. During his address, Shri Jaitley also called upon the young children to watch the films made by veteran film director Shri Shyam Benegal especially ‘The Making of Mahatma’ and ‘The Making of the Constitution of India.’ Secretary, Ministry of I&B, Shri Bimal Julka who was also present on the occasion said that the Ministry was carrying forward the vision of our Prime Minister regarding Swachh Bharat and hence the National Children’s Film Festival was organized on the theme of ‘Swachhta.’ The inauguration witnessed the presence of eminent film maker Shyam Benegal, famous sports personality, Sania Mirza, television actress, Sakshi Tanwar, and film personality, Dia Mirza. Organized by Children’s Film Society of India (CSFI) on the occasion of National Children’s Day celebrations, the three day festival would provide an opportunity for children to appreciate high-quality film content, experience value-based entertainment, and to trigger their imagination about environment conservation and cleanliness. The festival would showcase a bunch of internationally acclaimed children’s films on the theme of cleanliness. CSFI’s latest production, Pappu Ki Pugdandi would be the inaugural film in the festival. Other films that would be screened in the festival include Kaphal which won the National Award for Best Children’s Film, Shortcut Safari which will be premiered for the first time, The Goal, Ek Ajooba (CSFI productions), Karamti Coat, Summer with the Ghost, Sunshine Berry & Disco Worms, Yeh Hai Chakkad Bakkad Bumbe Bo, The Boot Cake, Hawa Hawaii, Krish Trish Baltiboy- 3, and Goopi Gawaiiya Bhaga Bajaiiya. The Festival would feature interactive workshops on film making, film appreciation, animation, Charlie Chaplin’s Mimes, and storytelling. Live dance performances, magic act, sand act, and puppetry along with various competitions such as painting on the theme, ‘Swachhta’, and digital collage on the theme ‘Clean India’ and the craft of making utility items from waste materials, were being organized on the sidelines of the festival. The three day festival intended to engage children with hands-on experience on the basics of film making at the same time imparting awareness about the need to maintain cleanliness and protect environment. Courtesy: pib.nic.in