World Vision India Conducts Walkathon, Cultural Events on Hunger

World Vision India Conducts Walkathon, Cultural Events on Hunger

~Brings the 24 Hour Famine Campaign to Hyderabad~

Hyderabad, 15th September 2014: As part of its national campaign to spread awareness on hunger and malnutrition among children under the age of 5, World Vision India launched a walkathon and cultural event in Hyderabad today.

Inaugurated by the Honourable Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister, Dr. T. Rajaiah, the walkathon was also attended by well-known TV actors Sameer, Pawan sai, Asmitha Sreevani, Raj Kalki, Sainath, Chakri, Zakir, Lohit, Nandakishore and Shanny. MLA and Excise Minister, Mr. Padma Rao also joined the group. The walkathon also drew participation from schools and colleges, community as well as the general public.

Starting from the Mehboob College to Hari Hara Kala Bhavan, the walkathon saw participants carrying banners with facts on hunger and malnutrition in the country in a bid to raise awareness among onlookers on the gravity of the issue. The 24 Hour Famine campaign continued in Hyderabad after the walkathon with a cultural event at the Hari Hara Kala Bhavan where the local community people perform dances, songs and mimicry on the theme of hunger.

Music director B. Hemant Kumar released his song on the theme during the event. “Hunger is a fundamental problem in our country that deeply affects all Indians across social and economic divides,” said Hemant Kumar. “It is a proud moment for me to join such cause and pen down song on the theme. This song is a call to all people especially youth to join the cause and together work to end hunger and malnutrition deaths in our country. Through this song we hope to reach out to as many people as possible.”

Videos showcasing the extent of poverty in India, malnutrition and child labour were also showcased to the audience. The event also saw a round of discussion on what can be done to fight malnutrition in the country.

Hunger is an endemic issue across the nation, with India being home to a quarter of the world’s underweight children under the age of 5. To this day, 40% of the population is malnourished — a decrease of only 10% in the last three decades. Every year, around 6.6 million children die of treatable diseases in the country, 60% of which is due to hunger and malnutrition. From stunted children to undernourished farmers who go hungry every night, hunger remains a menace for which a solution is urgently called for.

“Untimely deaths, chronic diseases and a massive loss in the nation’s productivity should not be reduced to mere statistics worthy only for repetition in political narratives, but needs to become an integral topic of thought” said Dr Jayakumar. “It is high time we discuss hunger as not just an economic but a social problem, which spreads due to the callous attitude meted out to it. The way to end hunger lies with spreading awareness and campaigns such as the 24 Hour Famine is designed to kick start such conversations and drive home the message to the nation.”

The 24 Hour Famine is targeted at addressing issues of hunger and malnutrition that severely impact the lives of children, especially those under the age of 5. Conducted in 7 cities across the nation - Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Guwahati - the 24 Hour Famine consists of events from art exhibitions to literary and cultural competitions driven by local communities, school children as well as civil and public officials to drive home the message. It hopes to engage the public and youth from ages of 13—30 on the problems faced by children due to malnourishment.