Highlights Of The NDTV-Dettol Banega Swasth India 12-Hour #SwasthyaMantra Telethon

Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan sets the agenda for season 7 of NDTV-Dettol Banega Swasth India campaign, urged people to stay clean, healthy and fight the Coronavirus.

Prasoon Joshi, CEO, McCann World Group India, Lyricist, Screenwriter, and Poet joined the #SwasthyaMantra telethon. Mr Joshi has penned the Swasth anthem for the season 7 of Banega Swasth India. He said, people are now understanding the need to protect the environment.

Sparsh Shah, Rapper, Singer, Songwriter & Inspirational Speaker performed Mahatam Gandhi's favourite bhajan Vaishnava Jana To on the #SwasthyaMantra telethon.

At #SwasthyaMantra telethon, a power-packed panel discussed the importance of the environment to ensure health and well-being for all.

Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Bhupesh Baghel joined the 12-hour #SwasthyaMantra telethon where he talked about the relationship between hygiene, health and environment. CM Baghel also discussed the steps taken by his government in ensuring cleanliness and fighting COVID-19 in Chhattisgarh.

Actor and climate warrior Bhumi Pednekar lent her support to the #SwasthyaMantra telethon. Ms Pednekar along with Mr Bachchan and Bezwada Wilson, Magsaysay awardee and Founder & Convenor, Safai Karmachari Andolan, discussed the problem of poor waste management and its impact on the environment and the inhuman practice of manual scavenging.

At #SwasthyaMantra telethon, Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Chief Scientist at the World Health Organisation (WHO) lauded India for quickly expanding its lab capacity in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic and the citizens of the country for adopting COVID preventive measures. Dr Swaminathan asked to continue to follow precautionary and preventive measures until a vaccine is developed.

A panel dedicated to initiating conversation around hygiene and sanitation, one of the pillars of Banega Swasth India season 7.

Ravi Bhatnagar, Director, External Affairs & Partnerships, RB talked about the importance of teaching children about hygiene. During the Coronavirus pandemic, it is critical to impart lessons on hygiene especially to sanitation workers as well as they are at risk a greater risk, said Mr Bhatnagar.

Union Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan spoke about the increased importance of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, cleanliness and hygiene during the COVID-19 pandemic. To win a battle against Novel Coronavirus, Dr Vardhan, emphasised on behavioural change coupled with citizen participation.

Sanjeev Kapoor, Celebrity Chef and TV personality joined the #SwasthyaMantra telethon and discussed the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on access to food and nutrition.

One of the focus areas of the #SwasthyaMantra telethon was also the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown on the LGBTQIA+ community. People from the marginalised community are facing the double whammy of the COVID-19 pandemic and the stigma. Experts discussed the importance of family support and parental acceptance for children coming out of the closet and other issues.

Actor Neha Dhupia who has been quite vocal about breastfeeding and actor Angad Bedi lent their support to the Banega Swasth India season 7. While Neha Dhupia talked about breastfeeding practices in India and the importance of the first 1000 days, Angad Bedi highlighted the role of fathers in supporting the breastfeeding mothers.

This year, one of the three pillars of the campaign is health under which we focus on nutrition sensitive interventions that include, sanitation, family planning, nutrition, hand wash, immunisation, especially amid COVID-19. At #SwasthyaMantra telethon, experts discussed the renewed attention to nutrition and called for a Jan Andolan (people's movement).

Educationists discussed the need for sex education at an early age and at the school level. They shared how they are breaking taboos surrounding sexual health, menstruation and reproduction in their schools.

Actor Pankaj Tripathi lent his support to the #SwasthyaMantra telethon and with a group of experts and ministers including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria, and Dr Naresh Trehan, Chairman & MD, Medanta - The Medicity, discussed different aspects of Coronavirus and how India's response has improved over the months.

"What I have learned from this pandemic is that you can learn a lot from the people around you, you never know what you are capable of doing. I can say that I have learned more in the last six to seven months than I have learned in my whole life", said actor and philanthropist Sonu Sood at #SwasthyaMantra telethon.

Actor and UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador Dia Mirza talked about the environmental gains made during the Coronavirus induced lockdown.

During the 12-hour telethon, master Aarav Verma painted a beautiful painting that depicts the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on mankind. Right before the end of the telethon, Aarav surprised everyone with the painting which looks nothing less than a photograph.

The 12-hour #SwasthyaMantra Telethon ended with a beautiful dance performance by dancer, choreographer, and social media influencer Melvin Louis and actor Sandeepa Dhar on the swachhta anthem.