UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and cine star Sharmila Tagore called on the West Bengal Chief Minister, Ms Mamata Banerjee, today and invited her to a programme in Delhi against child marriage, child trafficking and malnutrition.
The programme, scheduled in the third week of this month, would be organised jointly by UNICEF and the Department of Women and Child Welfare under a programme of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).
After the half-hour meeting, Ms Tagore told newsmen that the discussion with Ms Banerjee was fruitful but the Chief Minister expressed her inability to attend the programme due to pre-occupation.
Referring to West Bengal, she said UNICEF in collaboration with the Centre was working on the uplift of the girl child. “Child trafficking rate in the districts of Malda and Purulia in West Bengal is very high.”
“We are working extensively to stop child marriage, child trafficking and malnutrition of the children. Something has been done, but we need to do much more work to stop these malpractices in the interest of a better future,” Ms Tagore said.