Adelaide-based social activist Saru Rana was conferred the Pride of Australia Medal by News Corp, a leading media organisation of the country, for her work on child rights, earlier this week.
Ms Rana has been recognised for her project titled ‘Mini Me’, which focuses on providing a healthy social environment for children living in Australia, New Zealand and India.
This project was an offshoot of her human rights organisation, Shamshir, which campaigns against child abuse, spreads awareness about bullying and sexual assault of children.
Ms Rana showing her medal. Source: Saru Rana
“I’m a school teacher and I know what it takes to get a project approved in schools, not only in Australia but also India. We work in a way that school children don’t even realise that they are acquiring knowledge about bullying, sexual assault and abuse and, more importantly, about how to report these concerns to what we call their ‘circle of love’,” Ms Rana tells SBS Punjabi.
The medal and certificate awarded to Ms Rana.
“Being physically violent with children in the name of discipline is common in Indian culture. But that can impact them mentally. There are softer and more effective ways to discipline them and that’s what we spread awareness about,” she adds.
Click on the player at the top of the page to listen to this interview in Punjabi.
