A Better Life With Steem || Learn With Steem || Meena: A groundbreaking character who changed social values - Part 3!!!

Since the cartoon will be broadcast in all the South Asian countries, the central character needs to have a suitable name so that every country can think of the girl as its own representative. But finding such a name was not very easy. Because the name must be acceptable in all seven countries. After much thought, the girl was finally named 'Meena'. This is because such names (such as Meenakshi, Meena Kumari) are very common in India-Bangladesh-Sri Lanka. Again, it is heard that Muslim countries, especially Pakistan, have not objected to the name Meena as it has some similarities with the name 'Amina'. Eventually, the name 'Meena' was finalized subject to the approval of all countries. Note that the word 'Meena' in Sindhi means 'light'. In 1997, the Meena cartoon campaign was launched in Vietnam. Meena cartoons are translated into Vietnamese as the main language and 6 other local languages. Interestingly, there but Mina's name was changed to 'Mai' so that the name sounds like the local conventional name!

For a long period of 11 years from 1993 to 2004, Bangladesh Biman included Meena cartoons in their in-flight entertainment program. Meena cartoons were shown on every flight. Besides, Meena has got a place on the billboards at various important points in place of Dhaka city. There are 11 murals of minarets in different places of the divisional cities.

On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the founding of UNICEF, a free mobile app called 'Meena Game' was launched in March 2017 in collaboration with the BBC. You can easily download this fun educational app from the Play Store.

UNICEF and stakeholders are satisfied with Mina's success. Because, the purpose for which this cartoon was started, has been very successful. After the screening of Meena cartoons, the evaluation of girls in the family and society started everywhere from remote rural areas to cities. Inspired by the episode ‘Will Meena Leave School?’, Many have come to realize the importance of sending girls to school. In addition, Meena's three wishes, Stop Dowry, Meena, and the Naughty Boy, have been fulfilled to a large extent.