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| Nine-Is-Mine Campaigners Meet the Chaiperson of the National Child Rights Commission, 14th November 2007 |
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| “I am Inspired By Your Efforts,” Dr. Shantha
Sinha – Chairperson, National Child Rights Commission tells Campaigners Of ‘Nine
Is Mine’ |
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| On the morning of Children’s Day, eight children representing the nation wide ‘Nine Is Mine’ campaign met Dr. Shantha Sinha, Chairperson of the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights to ask for her support to ensure that the government fulfils its promise to allocate 9% of the GDP for Health & Education. |
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| The ‘Nine-Is-Mine’ initiative is coordinated through ‘Wada Na Todo Abhiyan’ (www.wadanatodo.net) which is a network of over 3000 social development organizations spread over 23 states. The promise of allocating 9% of the GDP to Public Expenditure on Health & Education emerges from the National Common Minimum Program which was adopted by the United Progressive Alliance when it formed the national government in 2004. |
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| “Children form 30% of India’s population, and the government cannot even commit 9% of the country’s resources for our welfare,” said 14-year
old Bangarababu from East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. “The government
must ensure free education and also provide the Mid-Day Meal Scheme upto Class
X, instead of only till Class VII as it does currently”, he added. |
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| Akanksha (13 years) from Mumbai spoke of the burden of household and familial responsibilities that girls face, which prevent them from enjoying health and education. “Girls are forced to get married even while they are still children, thus robbing them of the chance to live their childhood and making them responsible for their families at a very young age”, she said and appealed to Dr. Shantha Sinha to ensure that girl children are reprieved from this burden. |
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| Asha Topo from Assam spoke of her family which who is engaged in working in the tea gardens. These tea gardens are primarily as ‘economic
zones’ and are exempted from implementing many of the social standards and
facilities that are applicable to the rest of the country. Asha and others have
joined the ‘Nine Is Mine’ effort to ensure that the government extends the
requisite provisions for education and health to such communities as well. Dr. Sinha
offered to visit Asha and her friends in Assam, to understand the issues and
problems that they face. |
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| Amina Khatun (15 years) from Uttar Pradesh spoke of the need to ensure that municipal schools are equipped with the right facilities and motivated teachers so that students are inspired to not only continue, but also excel in their education. Laxmi Gudillu (13 years) added that municipal schools must provide free education till Std. X as many students are forced to drop out because they cannot afford alternate schooling as the government provides education only upto Std. VII. |
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| Dr. Sinha agreed that the government’s efforts to provide education must not be limited to providing the physical infrastructure, but also ensuring that the teachers, playgrounds, libraries and other investments are made to enable the best quality of education. |
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| “Children have both the courage that is needed to pursue
their rights, as well as the hope it takes to ensure that it is a sustained effort.
I am inspired by your efforts”, said Dr. Shantha Sinha, while also extending
her full support to the efforts being undertaken by the child campaigners of
‘Nine Is Mine’. She encouraged them to continue their efforts till their
objectives were met. |
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| Dr. Sinha promised to represent the children’s concerns at the International Convention on Child Rights which is to be held on November 20 th, 2007 – and which is to be attended by the highest level of
policy makers, including the Chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance,
Sonia Gandhi. |
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| She received a replica of the postcard that has been signed by 300,001 children, and thanked the members of the Children’s Delegation for traveling from the farthest corners of the country to meet. |
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