Meena, the lovable cartoon girl created by UNICEF, would soon make friends with little ones from the state.
The girl with a pet parrot, who is already a familiar face to around 9 lakh Balasabha members of Kudumbashree, would soon reach the homes of all children through Meena Radio, an educative and entertaining programme initiated by Kudumbashree to be aired on All India Radio.
Meena with her naive questions and honest replies have been poking fun at social injustice against children for many years now in South Asia, through various programmes run by the UNICEF.
For the past one year, UNICEF and Kudumbashree have been engaged in Meena Communication Programme through which the girls and boys in 54,000 Balasabhas across the state were enlightened on their rights and needs. Named ‘Meenayude Lokam’, the radio show is an extension of this activity where students from Balasabha and outside would create educative and entertaining content on children’s issues which would be broadcast by AIR on Sunday, from 4 pm to 4.20 pm.
A repeat of the same would be aired on Tuesdays from 2.55 pm. to 3.15 pm Balasabha members would listen to the programme and a discussion would be held on the day’s theme and the response would be communicated to Meena Radio which would be aired in the next episode.
“Meena has good influence on children, we have made it out from the responses in Balasabhas. There have been instances where children have come out openly with their problems during the Meena Communication Programme. We are sure every child will like her,” said P K Thomas, Kudumbashree director.
Taking cue from the experiences in the Balasabha, Kudumbashree has worked on the content of the programme keeping a flip chart provided by UNICEF as the base.
Uttar Pradesh is a state which has already tried out Meena radio programme for the education of girls. In Kerala, the focus is on child issues.
“It is not like Kerala children do not face problems. Many children suffer at home or outside due to many reasons. We are telling them through the radio that education, health- care and love are all their rights and not charity,” said A Jayakumar, programme officer Kudumbashree.
Meena radio will be officially launched on July 19 here. The programme will go on air from Sunday next.