By Tricitynews Reporter
Chandigarh
15th November:- Ahead of the 'Lalkaar' concert in
Mumbai on November 21st, actor Farhan Akhtar speaks on MARD's involvement with
the campaign on ending violence against women and girls. Farhan elaborates on
why #BasAbBahutHogaya is the call to action.
Q1 -With What Aim did you start up
with this campaign (MARD)?
Ans- He initiated this campaign back
in 2013. There was an emotional reaction after the horrific Nirbahaya Incident.
He always felt that the anger he and his friends used to feel after every such
incident always stayed up to our living rooms. But he started feeling if he
can’t channelize this anger and concern then what is the point? So he started
with MARD, an initiative that addressed our concern of having a society which
is safe for men and women. Like we men have freedom to go out late at night or
watch a movie, same principle should be applicable for girls as well. The main
motto behind initiating MARD was to change the thought process of men,
especially the young ones.
Q2- Till now what is the overall
response of the people?
Ans- The response of people is very
positive. Now it has been 4 years. We engaged with lot of students from
different colleges and we saw that there has been a positive impact on their
thought process. Apart from this campaign, there is lot of NGOs, lot of people
who kept highlighting different issues as well. However, the amount of change
that has been brought about is not enough. We will keep trying and working to
achieve it.
Q3. Does such type of incident also
happen in the film industry and if they do happen then how do people of
industry deal with it?
Ans- He feel that irrespective of the
nature of the industry one hails from, the victim of such violence and such
harassment should speak up. He is somebody who is interested in what they have
to say. However, he doesn’t know anyone who this has happened to.
Q4- This campaign was initiated on
social media and social media has played a big role. However, there are people
from rural background who don’t use social media that much. What are your plans
to reach such people?
Ans- This is the first year of our
campaign and it is the first time that Feroz Abbas Khan, Population Foundation
Of India and he have come together. This campaign will slowly unfold. The show
started by Population foundation of India named ‘Main Kuch Bhi Kar Sakti Hoon’
has already reached such audiences and their messages have reached the masses.
The show also airs on Radio. So we are trying our best to use all the available
modes of communication. We will be conducting our concert ‘Lalkaar’ on 21st
November in Mumbai. We would also love to conduct more such concerts in
regional languages to reach more people who don’t have access to television and
internet.
Q5- What is your message for the men
out there?
A- He’d like to ask all the men out
there to listen carefully to the messages conveyed through ‘Lalkaar and be a
catalyst.
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