Hyderabad
Manasa Varanasi, who hails from Hyderabad, won Miss India World in 2020. Since then, the winning beauty has been handling various back-to-back events and projects. Despite her schedule and being a prominent name in the glamour industry, Manasa has one cause that she cherishes the most. And that happens to ensure that children are safe from harm and abuse.
She has now joined hands with Hyderabad police as an extension of her Beauty with a Purpose (BWAP) projector 10-9-8. She intends to prevent and stop child abuse in all forms through her initiative. Incidentally, when she approached the Hyderabad police with regards to the cause, they, in turn, guided her with many more doors of opportunity.
Manasa Varanasi's project includes: a) promote child rescue hotline, b) raise funds to equip teams with rescue vehicles, and c) create a sustainable ecosystem that facilitates the rescue and rehabilitation of vulnerable children. So, during her latest visit to Hyderabad, Manasa met up with Shikha Goel, IPS, additional commissioner of police, Hyderabad.
Shikha shares that as per National Children's Registry (NCR), every day, about 109 children in India suffer sexual abuse. While this is the case in all countries around the world, most of these cases go unreported. Shikha further adds that this happens because either the child does not understand what has happened to her or him, is afraid or feels guilty, or thinks it's her or his fault.
Already, the Telangana government has formed a team called Bharosa, and at Bharosa call center, every victim is treated with the utmost compassion. Ironically, during COVID-19, there was a significant rise in the number of child marriages, forced child labor, and sexual abuse. Though a national helpline 10-9-8 exists in India, not many are aware of it. And Manasa now wants to create public awareness regarding the helpline that could save many lives from agony.
In fact, Manasa reveals that the city police, under the guidance of Shika Goel and Anjani Kumar Yadav, want to amplify the message by putting up the helpline number at all traffic signals.