Dr. Avnish Jolly, 12th May, 2009 Chandigarh :Non-governmental organisation is influencing the lives of children through theatre and other activities. Started in 1992 by a city-based theatre activist, Zulfikar Khan, Theatre Age has been nurturing the talent of children by providing them life skill training. It started with drop-outs.In 1993, Theatre Age’s group gave its first full-fledged performance on social issues. It has never looked back since then, taking up social issues like environment, female foeticide, HIV/AIDS , de-addiction, National Integration, Global Peace and Vote for democracy. Last week in collaboration with CII, My FM 94.3, Chitkara, Net Solutions and SMS Factory implemented a Voter Awareness Campaign in Chandigarh. The Infotainment Session during the launch ceremony was peppered with a very intense street play performed by Theatre Age led by Zulfikar Khan forcefully conveying the message to engage all in general and a business class and educated youth in particular in the election process.
Zukfikar Khan advocates theatre as the medium for children to express their talent. We requested the children to stop working. They were so good in studies and in plays. They are very good actors and human beings. The NGO today also helps its children to get admission in various schools. Reminiscing the initial days, Zulfiqar Khan, President of Theatre Age, says how every year he used to enable four to five kids to reach the fifth grade assessment here. Then some cases of students were brought his knowledge who were finding it difficult to continue study in fifth grade, as they were also expected to work. But the NGO helped them in such a situation. Zulfi feels it’s important to work with Children in their young age to built healthy community.
Each individual shall and will vote and encourage people around us to vote. This was the sentiment expressed by the theatre personality Neelam Singh, the guest of honour, while launching a week-long Voter Awareness Campaign; orgainsed by CII’s Young Indians Chandigarh Chapter at Sukhna Lake lat week. Making an impassioned plea, Singh advocated, “We must see 15th Lok Sabha Elections as a huge opportunity to profess our citizenship and participate proactively in the spirit of democracy and vote for good governance.”
Anupama Arya, Chairperson, CII Young Indian Chandigarh Chapter, while informing about the initiative, said that the Campaign is an effort to facilitate towards 100 per cent voting in Chandigarh. To address general apathy to elections and engage people in the process, the Campaign has interesting features like street play; interactive quiz at public places; signature campaign; poster and table talkies display; airing jingles through FM; mass SMS etc and will conclude with a human chain at Plaza in Sector 17 last week end, after covering important city locations like Sector 17 Shopping Malls, Panjab University etc.
“We have also galvanized support in city schools because we think youngsters can bring about the change faster,” stated Saryu D. Madra, Deputy Director, CII, Chandigarh for the success of the week-long Voter Awareness Campaign.