The recently concluded Global Action Week 2005 activities in India witnessed the active participation of Global March partner Bachpan Bachao Andolan/South Asia Coalition on Child Servitude (BBA/SACCS). The event which received wide support from the media and public, was organized under the auspices of a Working Group for Global Action Week comprising of National Coalition for Education, Global March International Secretariat, Commonwealth Education Fund (CEF), CARE India, Christian Children’s Fund (CCF), Action for Abilites Development and Inclusion and IACR. The focus of the weeklong activities was the “Send My Friend to School” campaign, which was successful in mass mobilisation and sensitisation to the cancerous problem of growing illiteracy in the country. During the week, parliamentarians were also lobbied to keep their promises on education with special focus on girls’ education. Events were held at district, state and national levels to achieve these objectives.

To kick off the week-long activities in the right spirit, on April 24 a nationwide “Run Towards Education” (link to pictures) was organised in 12 states across India. The run was scheduled to start at the same time various parts of the country in a symbolic gesture of unity and perseverance. In the national capital New Delhi, 2500 enthusiastic people braved the summer heat to participate in a 5 km run. About 1000 children, from rehabilitation homes and some out of school children also took part in this run, which was flagged off by a group of 6-7 years old girls.

On April 25-26 Nukkad (Street Plays) were organised in various public locations in New Delhi in an attempt to increase public involvement through a creative medium such as theatre and art. Children from a rehabilitation center enacted the skits on education and Child Rights. These two days were also assigned for the Pledge Letter signing. Another positive outcome of two days of intense campaigning was the formation of a Task Force on Legal Intervention, comprising of advocates and lawyers, who took a principled stand to protect child rights in the country.

The “Knock the Door” campaign took place on April 27 and 29. The organizers of GAW 2005 activities in New Delhi—BBA, SACCS and NCE accompanied children from slum clusters and rehabilitation homes to the residences of Members of Parliament (M.P.) to seek their pledge of support for the cause of provision and access of education to all. About 80 MPs, many of whom were taken aback by the early morning calls, pledged to take up the case of the children in Parliament. Sandwiched between thee two days was “Back to School” campaign on April 28. About 10 municipal schools were chosen in New Delhi and parliamentarians and decision makers were invited to “go back to school” to listen to the grievances of the children, which ranged from lack of clean water to poor instruction standards.

To cap off an eventful week, a public hearing was held on April 30. Titled “Whither Education! Has India Failed Its Children,” the event was attended by eminent media personalities, scholars and members of civil society. However, the greatest impression was made by a group of children from a rehabilitation home who made a thoughtful presentation on the state of municipal schools in Delhi. The presentation was based on a survey of 22 municipal schools in the capital, which had been undertaken by the children themselves.