IANS

Actor Anil Kapoor donned the role of a goodwill ambassador and pledged his support to the promotion of birth registration, as part of the Universal Birth Registration campaign (UBR) launched by Plan India - a child development organisation.

The actor unveiled a poster at an event at India Habitat Centre here Saturday, heralding the campaign. Filmmaker Govind Nihalani and Bruno Oudmayer, country director of Plan International (India), were present at the occasion.

Anil Kapoor will actively promote UBR through the electronic medium and other activities. His participation in the campaign is a reflection of his beliefs in upholding the basic right of a child - the right to a name, legal identity and nationality.

The actor said: "Being a public figure also brings along with it a sense of tremendous responsibility because people look upon you for inspiration. I have received a lot of love and affection from people. Helping this cause is one of the most meaningful ways in which I can repay and make a contribution to society."

Govind Nihalani, who is also a member of Plan India's governing board, said Anil Kapoor was the ideal choice as ambassador.

"The need was to have an ambassador who himself believed in the message and had full commitment towards it. I am glad a celebrity like Anil Kapoor is partnering and extending his whole-hearted support to the UBR campaign."

The UBR campaign has been targeted to generate awareness in states like Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Karnataka where mass media, including television and radio, have been used in a big way. Besides, the grassroots mobilisation in Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan is resulting in increased registration levels.

Plan India and the Office of the Registrar General of India (ORGI) have come together to ensure universal birth registration. The birth certificate is the first legal document that the state gives to its citizens and its possession ensures a large number of rights and privileges.

Plan India, as per the National Population Policy, has set the goal of achieving 100 percent registration of births by 2010.