Bhubaneswar: A documentary named ‘Parichay Sandhanre’ (In Search of Identity) based on the lives of orphaned, single-parent and abandoned tribal children was released at Red Cross Bhawan here Friday.
Harmony, an NGO based in Malkangiri, made the documentary after years of work. The programme was attended by former Orissa high Court judge M Papanna and Regional Thematic Head Aide et Action International South Asia Umi Daniel.
Secretary of Harmony Durga Tripathy said: “The documentary has been made with an aim to create awareness and raise policy issues to improve lives of orphaned children and other children suffering neglect.”
The documentary projects the misery and suffering of young children. The children of Malkangiri struggle to survive in the absence of access to education and other welfare measures. Children who don’t have anyone to guide or to protect live in hunger and loneliness. They face the greatest challenges in the struggle for survival as children.
The documentary also shows how tribals are providing community care to such children in accordance with their customary practices. “The community is playing the role of a parent extending social protection to these children. It is taking utmost care of the children and ensuring food security, schooling and such other measures. The community is protecting the children and they manage to live without being stigmatized as orphans,” Tripathy said.
According to a survey done by the NGO, there are 131 children who are orphaned and 1,191 who are abandoned or being raised by single parents.
