Green Hub Fellows Mary Sandhya Lakra, Anita Gond, and Deepak Yadav will present their film Ummeed Uddano ki_Pankh Phela, Aasmaan Chhoone Ki (Hopes to Fly, Wings to Touch the Sky), which tackles the issue of child trafficking. The film highlights a significant rise in trafficking cases, especially involving girls under 18, with a 65% increase reported in 2014 alone. It also examines the plight of migrant children, many of whom become child laborers.
The documentary focuses on the efforts of the Association for Social and Human Awareness (ASHA) in Bhusur village, Ranchi district, Jharkhand. ASHA provides residential education to children whose parents migrate for work, offering them safety and support. Starting with 250 children, the organization now supports over 600, helping them avoid exploitation and pursue brighter futures.
The screening will be followed by a Q&A session, where the filmmakers will discuss the film’s creation, challenges in tackling child trafficking, and ASHA’s impactful work. The discussion will also address the broader implications of child trafficking and the importance of education in preventing exploitation. The film is made under the Green Hub Central India (GHCI) fellowship, a project of Dusty Foot Foundation and Mahashakti Seva Kendra (MSK), that looks at empowering youth in environment conservation, sustainable agriculture and livelihood through the digital medium. GHCI is supported by Bharat Rural Livelihood Fund (BRLF).
