Trivandrum: Press Information Bureau, Thiruvananthapuram, under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, and UNICEF jointly organised a one-day media workshop on Inclusive Early Childhood Development (iECD) for media professionals.
During the workshop, Muralikrishnan Chinnadurai, Google News Initiative India Network Trainer and AI Expert, trained the journalists on using AI for effective storytelling. The media persons got hands-on training on various tools and platforms, especially Gemini.
Syam Sudhir Bandi, Communications Specialist, UNICEF, highlighted the huge financial burden that health challenges place on families and called for government intervention to reduce this burden. He also stressed the need for the media to make effective use of technology in disability reporting.
V Palanichamy, IIS, Additional Director General, PIB, Thiruvananthapuram, said that the media has an important role in identifying people who are excluded and addressing their concerns effectively. He added that the media can also play a significant role in promoting empathy in society.
Dr Vivek Virendra Singh, Health Specialist, UNICEF India, introduced the topic “Inclusive Early Childhood Development (iECD).” Dr Deepa Bhaskaran, Director of the Child Development Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, spoke on “Parenting Children with Spectrum Disabilities.” Dr Amar S. Fettle, State Nodal Officer, National Health Mission, Government of Kerala, led a session on “Building an Inclusive Health System.”
The workshop aimed to create awareness about the importance of inclusive early childhood development and the need to identify developmental delays and disabilities at an early stage, ensuring that children receive the necessary care and support. Parvathy V, IIS, Director, Press Information Bureau, proposed the vote of thanks.