Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network-Udupi (HB)
Udupi, Mar 16: “The Kannada film crew of ‘The plan’ will launch ‘Save Girl Child Campaign’ in association with Cankids Girl Child Project to raise funds for girls who are suffering from cancer,” said film director Sunil Shetty Kolambe in a press meet, held on Tuesday March 15 at press club Brahmagiri.
Informing about the film, director Sunil said, “The film will be re-released on April 1, 2016. The team is expecting to earn Rs 5, 04,000 collectively from Mangaluru, Karkala and Kundapur and Rs 4, 20,000 from Udupi city in a week after its release.”
“We have decided to donate Rs 14 lac to ‘Save Girl Child Campaign’ out of the total earnings. The remaining money will be spent on theatre rent, private channel programme partners, publicity, design, website, press meet, transport and other works.”
Speaking on the occasion, Girl Child Cancer ambassador, Ritu Balla said that she was diagnosed of cancer at the age of four. She underwent treatment in private hospitals which was very painful for her.
“When I went to Haryana for study, I realized that parents were more worried about securing the life of boys rather than girls. In male dominated country like India, girls are always treated as burden. Even though girls have potentials, they are ignored. This is the reason I decided to devote my full time as cancer survivor employee in 2013. A cancer patient should be confident about being healed and lead a normal life,” she said.
NGO for which Ritu is working, has been involved in creating awareness among people about the campaign ‘Save and Educate Girl Child’. Nearly 44 branches of this NGO are working across the nation as a family support group enabling children and their family from the moment of diagnosis, throughout treatment and after their survival, palliation and bereavement support.
Dr Harshaprasad, Paediatric Haematologist and oncologist, KMC Manipal said, “75-85% of the childhood cancer is curable because of better response to the treatment and protocols.”
Rajesh, Kaustub Jaykumar, actor, Ravi Katpady, Mahesh Shenoy, social worker, Dr Danashree S Pradan and others were present.