hi! please find enclosed the requested brief on our initiative.
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Best regards,
Lysa John
National Campaign Co-ordinator
9% of the GDP Belongs to Us, children tell the PM
On the morning of 1 Feb, 2007, twenty children were received by the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh at his residence on 7 Race Course Road. Subhasini Kumari (9 years) & Biswas Pandey (10) from Bihar opened the discussion with the PM. "We want every child in India to have health and education, and for this we want you to keep your promise of 9 (Nau Ka Wada)", they said. Laxmi Gudillu (13) and Tejal Sawant (14) from Jogeshwari, Mumbai presented the PM with a film which captures the efforts undertaken by children across the country to ensure that 9% of the GDP is allocated for Health & Education.
The 9-Is-Mine Campaign
In the year 2000, all the 189 member nations of the United Nations signed the historic Millennium Declaration to 'free men, women and children from the dehumanizing conditions of extreme poverty'. India is a signatory to this international agreement. Wada Na Todo Abhiyan is a national campaign that seeks to hold the government accountable to its promise to end Poverty and Social Exclusion as expressed in the National Development Goals and the National Common Minimum Program (NCMP). "9-Is-Mine" is the children's initiative of Wada Na Todo Abhiyan, which aims to ensure that the government commits 9% of the GDP to public expenditure on Health & Education, as promised in the NCMP.
The Children's Petition
On 13 November 2006 – the eve of Children's Day - a nation wide signature campaign was launched with the objective of uniting 100,000 across the country to speak up and ensure that their voices are heard in time for the Budget Session of Parliament which commences on February 15, 2006!
On 30th January 2007 – the 59th death anniversary of our Mahatma – thousands of child campaigners met again at the National Stadium, Delhi to reinforce the call for '9-Is-Mine'. Since the campaign focuses on the promise of 9% of the GDP, this gathering was held exactly a month before the Budget Announcement of the Finance Minster – and to celebrate the collection of 200,000 petitions – twice the number anticipated - from children across 14 states for this cause.
The spirited involvement of special guests Om Prakash Gurjar (winner of the International Children's Peace Award), Dr. Kiran Bedi, Minar Pimple (Dy. Director, United Nations Millennium Campaign), Swami Agnivesh and Leslie Lewis enabled the creation of an emphatic message and a powerful experience for over 5000 children who have rallied for 'Nine Is Mine'. The event received wide media coverage the following day, with over 15 dailies – in addition to radio and television broadcasters - carrying stories and reports of the initiative.
Reaching the Prime Minister
On 1 February, 2007 a delegation of 20 children met the Prime Minister and presented him with a Giant 9-Is-Mine Postcard representing the 200,001st signature – and signed in his presence by Ranjan (13), who spoke of his life on the streets of Delhi. The Prime Minister extended his solidarity and assured that their cause is also the priority of his government.
Sony Kumari (11 years) of Asansol, West Bengal shared how she has been forced to drop out of school due to her parents' inability to meet the increase in the school fees. Priyankaben (17) from Surat district, Gujarat spoke of Budwada village which was displaced by the Ukai dam 38 years ago, and how even till date, there is no school or health centre for the village. Dr. Manmohan Singh assured that he would discuss these issues in the forthcoming meeting of Chief Ministers.
Students from St. Columba's School & Mater Dei School, Delhi spoke to Dr. Singh of their effort to spread awareness about the Millennium Development Goals & Global Call to Action against Poverty across schools. They presented the PM with the symbolic White Band representing the global movement to Make Poverty History by 2015.
Representatives of Wada Na Todo Abhiyan presented the PM with the report of the 2nd Civil Society Review of the National Common Minimum Program and apprised him of the efforts being undertaken to monitor and ensure that the promises in the NMCP are fulfilled. The Prime Minister emphasized that the NCMP is the Charter of the People of India, and we must all work together to fulfill the same.
As the children remained for refreshments on the lawns of the PM's residence, there was a burst of jubilation among the little activists of 9-Is-Mine that the voices of hundreds of thousands of children had finally reached its destination! And even as they filed out, smiling and waving at the PMO staff on their way, they were determined not to rest, "We will now renew our efforts back home, and make our voices heard during the Budget," they promised
For further information & to join the campaign, contact: Wada Na Todo Abhiyan
C-1/E, Green Park Extension, New Delhi 110 016
Email: info@... / Web: www.wadanatodo.net
Tel: 011-46082371 / Fax: 011-46082372
Contact Person: Lysa John
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WADA NA TODO Abhiyan
National Campaign Secretariat
C-1/E, Second Floor, Green Park Extension
New Delhi 110 016 INDIA
Tel: 91-11-46082371; Fax - 91-11-46082372
info@... / www.wadanatodo.net
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