Popular cartoon character Chacha Chaudhary declared mascot for Namami Gange Programme

New Delhi: Chacha Chaudhary, the popular Indian cartoon character, has been declared as the mascot of the Namami Gange Programme, a statement said on Friday.

The decision was taken at the 37th executive committee meeting of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) chaired by its Director General Rajiv Ranjan Mishra, the Union Jal Shakti Ministry said.

“NMCG has always been into community engagement with special focus on youth and children. This association will be one more step towards it,” said Mishra.

In the meeting, Ashok Kumar Singh, Executive Director (ED), Projects, presented the project details and said that Chacha Chaudhary can be useful in ground-level activation for Ganga rejuvenation, the release said.

"NMCG has been focusing on youth as part of its outreach and public communications efforts as they are the impellers of change. As a step towards this NMCG has tied-up with Diamond Toons to develop and distribute comics, e-comics and animated videos. The content will be designed with the objective of bringing about behavioral change amongst children towards Ganga and other rivers," the Ministry said.

Initially, the comics will be launched in Hindi, English and Bengali, the statement said.

The total estimated budget for the project is Rs 2.26 core, it added.

Some major projects in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar were also discussed and evaluated in the meeting, the ministry said. (UNI)