Bollywood lends support to PETA’s programme for kids

Actors Lara Dutta, Raveena Tandon, Anupam Kher and Jackie Shroff among others are lending support to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India’s initiative – a humane-education programme for children between the age group of 8-12, called Compassionate Citizen.

The programme’s teaching materials feature John Abraham and Jackie Shroff and teach young students always to respect and appreciate all others regardless of their race, religion, gender, wealth or species: the sort of inclusive mindset that will bring a more peaceful and understanding world. Says Lara, “Including Compassionate Citizen in school curriculam will go a long way in building a new generation of socially aware children who have a better understanding [of] and respect for animals and the environment they live in.”

“My children have always been surrounded by rescued animals at home and that has inculcated love, compassion, and respect in them,” says Raveena. “An educational programme like Compassionate Citizen will help develop empathy and appreciation for animals, the environment they live in and people.”

Talking about the programme, Anupam Kher says, “There is no better approach to teaching children the value of human life than instilling in them an appreciation for all life. If you can teach a child to respect and protect the smallest and most maligned among us you create a better citizen.” Resonating the same thoughts, Jackie Shroff adds, “Compassion is what I learned from my mother, and, for me, all children should imbibe this virtue of caring and feeling for all living souls. Compassionate Citizen, I feel, is the perfect programme to help children develop respect for animals.”

Compassionate Citizen is already being used in nearly 2,500 schools across India – including the Doon School and Delhi Public School – reaching out to more than six lakh students. But PETA is working towards having it integrated with the official curricula in all schools across India.