Canada: Tookhar Tamasha Arts performance supports Project Udaan

Indira Naidoo-Harris, Member of Provincial Party, Minister of the Status of Women and Minister Responsible for Early Years and Child Care inaugurated the ceremony.

Min. Naidoo-Harris said, "I feel honored to have been invited to watch this extraordinary performance.”

Prodyut Mukherjee, a new age percussionist contributed to the field with his superb performance of the Rhythmexpress fused with depth and soul.

Besides his musical performance, he fascinated the audience with the reproduction of various realistic sounds, such as the noise made by horses on hooves while moving and the noise made by trains on the railway tracks, etc.

The revenue from this event will go towards promotion of the Project Udaan (PU), a noble cause which strives to rescue and rehabilitate several thousand prostitute children in Kolkata.

PU is a pilot project for the redlight area in in Kolkata named Sonagachi, which is one of the largest red light areas in Asia.

This red light area houses several hundred multi-story brothels with about 11,000 workers and 14,300 children, 3,400 children among these being in the age group of 1 to 10 years.

PU’s noble ambition is to raise these children as their own and provide free food, shelter, clothing, medical help, education, vocational training and hope for their future.

PU looks forward to building a secure house far from the red light area for the rescue of 50 girls between the ages of 5 and 18.

PU hopes that this endeavour will encourage other NGOs to follow their cause to help the remaining 1.2 million such needy children across India.

Setting up Skills & Vocational Training Centre with enriching and safe environment for all-round development of personality of these children is also part of PU plans.

PU is also looking forward to organizing Bal Chetana Shibirs, established especially for the development of self worth of the children and to restore back to them the joys of childhood and innocence.

For children between 8 and 13 years,  PU will establish The ART Excel course for children where students would be taught life skills, yoga and breathing processes to get rid of fear and anxiety and inculcate in them focus and concentration.

Empowerment programs for the Older Girl Child are also organized where these girls would undertake initiatives at the community level to improving their overall living conditions.

All participants will be fully trained with regard to their physical, mental and emotional health enabling them to prepare for future challenges in life.

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)