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| Launch of the ‘9-Is-Mine’ Signature Campaign, 13 Nov 2006 |
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| On the eve of World Anti-Poverty Day (Oct 16th), more than 4500 children from across 10 states of India, and representing diverse communities met at the Constitution Club, Delhi to join hands to ensure that the government keeps its promise of eliminating Poverty and Social Exclusion by 2015, and enabling universal access to health and education - as committed in the United Nations Millennium Declaration and the National Development Goals. |
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| On November 13, 2006, 80 children met again to lauch the 9-Is-Mine Signature Campaign and determine future actions for this initiative. |
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| Towards this objective – a call of ‘Nine Is Mine’ was launched, and more than 200,000 children from across 14 states of India signed up to petition the government to keep this promise, followed by a delegation to the Prime Minister, and meetings with more than 80 Members of Parliament towards the Budget Session of Parliament (2007). |
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| “How do we know if the government will really listen to us, and commit 9% of the GDP to Education & Health?” |
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| Nov 13th, New Delhi: On the eve of Children’s Day, 80 children and representatives from schools and NGOs met to deliberate on this question at the YMCA Auditorium in New Delhi. The group comprised of representatives of the "Nine Is Mine" campaign - an initiative of children, schools, communities and organizations across 15 states of India to ensure that the government commits 9% of the GDP to public expenditure on Health & Education, as promised in the National Common Minimum Program. |
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| Representatives of Holy Child School, St. Columba’s School, Bluebells International, British School, Jaspal Kaur Public School, Carmel Convent - Faridabad, Alcon International School, Guru Harkishan Public School and Childline India Foundation were among those deliberating the nuances of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the provisions of the Union Budget in relation to their effort to popularize and implement their demand for 6% of the GDP to be committed to public expenditure on Education & 3% of the GDP to Health on this day. |
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| Gobinda Naik from ODAAN reminded the Delhi students that in stark contrast to the neat school uniforms that they wore – many children of the “Other India”, including himself and his friends from Khandhamal district, Orissa – have never seen the inside of a school, or even held a pencil in their hand! He hoped that through this effort, children from across the country can speak in one voice to enable every child to enjoy health and education as a right. |
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| Deepak Xavier from the Centre for Budget & Governance Accountability (CBGA) reinforced the gaping divide in the opportunities for survival and development among children of India in his presentation to the group. He quoted the Human Development Report 2006 which indicates that only do only 4 out of 10 enrolled children in India complete Class X, only 6 of 100 children in the country survive beyond the age of 1! Needless to add, India ranks 126th out of 177 countries on the Human Development Index, and has the dubious distinction of being among the 5 countries in the world with the least public expenditure on health – even less than Sierra Leone and Niger who have the lowest rank on the Human Development Index. |
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| The need to end the social “apartheid” in access to Education and Health was emphasized by other solidarity speakers who were present on the occasion. The special needs of girl children, children with disabilities and those from dalit and adivasi communities was also stressed |
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| Henri Valot from the Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) spoke of the efforts being undertaken across 80 countries to end Poverty & Social Exclusion. He cited the efforts of a 17-year old of Indian origin, Anish Kattukaran - who has single handedly mobilized people and resources to initiate the Make Poverty History campaign in the Emirates - as an example of the will and determination of young people to enable social change. |
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| “Nine Is Mine should be the call of not only children, but of all people”, said another participant thereby setting the stage for the Release of the “Nine Is Mine” Declaration, which is to be taken to 15 states of India through the ‘Wada Na Todo Abhiyan’ to enable 100,000 children and their supporters to petition the Prime Minister to keep his promise to commit 9% of the GDP to public expenditure on Health & Education. |
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