Jamshedpur: In a remarkable triumph for educational content creators, the documentary film “Taruni” has secured the prestigious Best Program/Best Video award in the Independent E Content Creator category at the All India Children Educational E-Content Competition (AICEeCC) 2023-24. The competition, hosted by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), New Delhi, unfolded on 15-16 March 2024 in Shillong, the capital city of Meghalaya.
“Taruni” sheds light on the life and endeavors of social activist Tarun Kumar, fondly known as the Padman of Jharkhand, who has devoted himself to catalyzing grassroots change. Produced by Kumar Vivek and directed by Hemant Mukhi under the banner of GR8 Films, the documentary portrays Tarun Kumar’s unwavering commitment to addressing critical social issues, including menstrual hygiene, adolescent and women’s health, education, and environmental concerns in the remote regions of Jharkhand.
The award ceremony, graced by Rakam A Sangma, the esteemed Education Minister of the Government of Meghalaya, and NCERT Director Prof Amarendra Behera, celebrated the outstanding contributions of “Taruni” to the realm of educational content.
Tarun Kumar’s pioneering initiatives, particularly through his organization Nishchay, have touched the lives of over 100,000 children across remote areas of Jharkhand. With a resolute aim to empower 500,000 children in his lifetime, Tarun Kumar’s relentless efforts have earned him a place in the Limca Book of Records twice. His impactful work was also featured in a television show on Doordarshan last year.
“Taruni,” a production of GR8 Films, delves into Tarun Kumar’s inspiring journey and is now available for viewing on the OTT platform “Mera TV” [link: https://www.meratv.in/play.php?furl=taruni].
Furthermore, at the AICEeCC, the short film “Alarm,” helmed by directors Hemant Mukhi and Kumar Vivek from Jharkhand, clinched accolades for Best Direction and Best Actor in the video animation category.
For those interested in witnessing the highlights of the award ceremony, the live program streamed by NCERT can be accessed on YouTube [link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90TmpNcSJg8]. Notably, glimpses of “Taruni” can be spotted at 18 minutes 57 seconds and 1 hour 1 minute 15 seconds into the video.
