4th - 8th September 2010

Dear Friends,

As you all are aware that the head of states and government would be meeting on the special occasion to review the progress of Millennium Development Goals (MDG) in New York, from 20-22 September 2010.

Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA, trans. Save the Childhood Movement) firmly holds that achievement of the Goal 2: Universal Primary Education is a cross-cutting goal among the MDGs. It is critical to the elimination of child labour, gender equity, reducing poverty, improving maternal health, reducing diseases and promoting sustainable partnerships. 

Since its inception in 1980 BBA has been spearheading the campaign for the right to education. As we believed and advocated that elimination of child labour is achievable only by good quality free education. With the support of several organisation we had successfully organised a 15,000 km march (Shiksha Yatra, Education March) across 23 states of India in 2001, which lead to the 86th amendment in Constitution of India making education a fundamental right. Further, BBA has also facilitated a Parliamentarian Forum on Education of more than 150 elected Members of Parliament across the political parties, which has played an important role in the enactment of the Right of the Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009 (RTE Act 2009).

Although, the RTE Act 2009 has several loopholes we appreciate the action and intentions of the central and state governments in India.  The initial questions of its functioning, feasibility, earmarking of adequate funds, pattern of budget sharing with states, etc. are still unanswered.

BBA through its activities is directly associated with lakhs of people and children across the nation. From our experience of working on child and education rights, we sincerely feel that until and unless the ownership and participation of every stakeholder is not ensured the RTE is unachievable. It also necessary that ground realities, the real concern and problems of people should be addressed.  For the success of this Act it is important that the efforts of teachers, Panchayats and civil society should be gathered and documented. This all can be possible through a social action and mobilisation. For the expected outcome and desired success it is very important that there should a transparency in information sharing at all levels from all relevant authorities to the stakeholders.

With this background, BBA is organising countrywide public hearings on RTE, as a part of our Peoples’ Review of MDG Goal 2 to Achieve Universal Primary Education.  The key objectives of the hundreds of public hearing at village, block, district, state levels involving the elected Parliamentarians and legislators, Panchayati Raj Institutions, education officials, administrative officials, civil society organisation, teachers groups and educators, media, community members, common people, students, children out of school, child leaders, are:

1. Creating awareness and understanding of the RTE and its implication for the key stakeholders including their responsibilities,
2. Building participation and ownership among the various stakeholders for the real and tangible implementation and monitoring of the RTE, and
3. Collecting and documenting good practices on the realisation of the education right at the grassroots levels to disseminate them as concrete examples of successes.

Children and parents will question their representatives on the crucial right to free and compulsory education.  We have included a background document and sample list of questions for your reference and action.

BBA calls upon all its members, partners, and concerned child rights and civil society organisations to support the Peoples’ Review of MDG Goal 2 from 5th to 8th September 2010 in India and Nepal, and lend support to the RTE Act 2009 and give a push to the achievement of the MDGs. BBA will take the outcome of the Peoples’ Review of MDG Goal 2 to the MDG Review Summit in New York. 

Through this campaign, let us join hand in supporting the children’s right to an education and to be free from exploitative labour conditions.

In solidarity,

Kailash Satyarthi,
Founder, Bachpan Bachao Andolan
Chair, Global March Against Child Labour