The Least Vulnerable Group To Covid-19 Is An Equal Stakeholder In The Fight Against It, And PM Modi Acknowledges That 

A new campaign of short awareness films hit social media on 25 March. The series of short awareness films sees children at the forefront.

PM Modi has addressed children as his "Bal Sena" or "Balak Sena" in the context of India's fight against Covid-19. The title given by Modi itself speaks of a serious purpose.

In his interaction with the people of Varanasi on 25 March over video conferencing, PM Modi gave a mention to 'Balak Sena'.

"Balak" stands for children and "Sena" for army.

By referring to 'Bal Sena' as an important facet in India's fight against Covid-19, Modi has ensured that the domestic safety nets involving elders and the campaign to keep adults home, and make them sustain social distancing, become stronger through children.

Here is how: The campaign turns the power tables towards children. It makes them the boss of these tough times. There is an element of home policing the restless parent/s.

The mom says she needs a break after a day's work. She wants to interact with the neighbour/friend - which would be done by stepping out of home. The child tells her that she is not allowed to go out.

The child hands over the remote to the mother in sort of a sacrifice -- needed to keep her home. "Balidan dena padega, Corona ko jo harana hai (the sacrifice is inevitable, Corona has to be defeated)".

Strong messaging concealed in a sweet envelope.

Another video in the same series mentions "Corona ko harana hai, Pradhanmantriji ki baat ko manvana hai."

The series has now become part of a wider visual campaign in India's battle against Covid-19.

Something pointed was needed to engage elders in the capacity of being parents, and when they are not parents, as citizens. The series endorsed by Modi offers just that.

It, as the cliche goes, 'hits home'.

The participation of children in the fight against Covid-19 had the Janata Curfew (22 March) as it backdrop. The Janata Curfew -- appealed by PM Modi -- was a massive success.

Social media websites saw a spurt of videos where children were seen participating in the clanging of utensils, just as Modi had requested. Children had hopped into action even without Modi's appeal or before the Janata curfew.

Videos and images of children from weaker sections of the society, who were seen participating in the Janata Curfew tribute to frontline warriors, moved many and will stay in India's collective memory.

Many children have been off school for the entire month of March or half -- owing to precautionary measures (more from parents than schools initially). They are now part of the daily precautionary regimes being followed at home by parents and elders.

Children have powered Modi's Swachch Bharat (Clean India mission) campaign. Their participation in the fight against Covid-19 was a natural development. The element of "trust" (vishwas) is evident in his posts on Twitter.

If children share Modi's task, just as the campaign suggests, they would have, without knowing, played a role in bending or denting some Covid-19 numbers. The task could become a vacuum filler for them -- even as they try to stay engaged -- depending on what parents can provide or inculcate.

This week, Swarajya wrote about this little one, who is pleading his policeman father to not go out. The video leaves one with a lumpy throat.

A minor addition to the series would be appreciated. It should widen its representation of all sections of the society. There are children of daily wage earners, there are children of vendors and hawkers, children of doctors, nurses and health workers, policemen, of safai karamcharis, and the homeless, who urgently need representation in the series.

Children across the social strata seem battle ready to glue elders into a safety net. They are stakeholders in the fight against Covid-19, because the well being of elders - as parents or grandparents, would eventually matter to children.