Believing that spreading awareness and changing mindsets is more important than initiating social welfare schemes, the Women and Child Development Ministry is making short films on inappropriate touching, pregnant women and adoption.
Sharing the details of the move, a top official in the ministry said that a film aimed at educating children about "good" and "inappropriate" touching would be screened at government schools in the country.
"The film is meant for young girls to help them identify the difference between 'good touch' and 'bad touch'. It (film) stress on the need for speaking out when they feel uncomfortable.
"Studies show that more than 50 per cent of girls or women experience some kind of inappropriate behaviour from within their known circles of friends and relatives and... They do not know what to do (in such cases). The idea is to put an end to it by empowering girls," the official said, adding that surveys say one in four children faces some sort of sexual abuse by the time they are 18.
The National Film Development Corporation of India will be roped in to create the films, the official said, adding that they have finalised the content for the films.
The ministry is also making a film for educating pregnant women on the various aspects of pregnancy.
"Often, women after giving birth are at sea... They are clueless about how to take care of the child. This film is aimed at educating the women about pre-pregnancy health and how to take care of the baby and what all precautionary measures they need to take during and after delivery.
"It will be a two-hour film which will be screened at the OPDs and waiting areas of hospitals," he said.
The short film on adoption is aimed at encouraging parents to go for adoption through legal procedures.
Addressing the national meet on adoption organised by CARA (Central Adoption Resource Authority) recently, WCD Minister Maneka Gandhi had said that she wants more children to be adopted every year. She has also proposed to make adoption rules easier.
