Colors' ‘Doree’ supports Govt’s ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ drive

Colors, Viacom18’s flagship GEC brand, has announced its collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Child Development’s ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ initiative, to address the issue of girl child abandonment, through the launch of its new fiction show, ‘Doree’. ‘Doree’, which premieres on November 6, 2023 and will air every Monday to Friday at 9:00 pm on Colors, aims to generate popular conversation and thereby raise awareness on the issue of girl child abandonment.

Television as a medium has played a huge role in holding a mirror to society and led to many women becoming agents of change. With an aim to bring societal change and address the gender bias against girl child, through this association Colors aims to raise awareness about the social evil of girl child abandonment. In addition to launching a primetime show on the subject, as part of this association, Colors will promote the 24-hour emergency toll free Child helpline number (1098) for those seeking assistance for any abandoned girl child across the nation. 

Smriti Zubin Irani, Minister of Women and Child Development and Minority Affairs, said, “Just as a nation’s progress is defined by how it treats its women and children, similarly entertainment’s impact is defined by how it can change mindsets. Under the guidance of our honourable PM Shri Narendra Modi, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has made great strides through the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ initiative in changing the way girl child is perceived. I’m glad that our country’s foremost entertainment channel Colors has joined in this initiative to create a show, ‘Doree’, on the important but often overlooked issue of girl child abandonment. The channel will be raising awareness of our Child Helpline Number 1098 amongst viewers and provide the much-needed popular support to this initiative.”

Kevin Vaz, CEO – Broadcast Entertainment, Viacom18, said, “We are honoured to be partnering with the Ministry of Women and Child Development to raise awareness about the prevalent issue of girl child abandonment through our new show, ‘Doree’, and the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ initiative. As the country’s most watched primetime entertainment destination, joining forces with the ministry to promote the Child Helpline Number 1098 through our show is poised to catalyse meaningful behavioural change in the society. We are hopeful that ‘Doree’ will touch the lives of millions of viewers and bring focus on the social evil of child abandonment.”

The social drama revolves around six-year-old Doree, fighting against a patriarchal society for her rights, and features popular television actors Amar Upadhyay as Ganga Prasad, Sudhaa Chandran as Kailashi Devi Thakur, and child actor Mahi Bhanushali as Doree.