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We, at CRY, seek your support in pledging every Indian child her rights, and thus changing the lives of the many underprivileged children in this country. Start talking about child rights. Raise issues facing Indian children with friends. Give time. Give money. Give a shoulder. Give a thought. Give anything you can to this movement. Today on our 25th anniversary, you can do something simple to support our cause. Start by signing the CRY Free-a-Child Chakri and demand that our government and policy makers include the following in their agenda:
       
 
1
 All persons under the age of 18 should universally be defined as 'children'.

  
 
2
 Government expenditure on child education and health should be increased to 10% and 5% of GDP respectively.

  
 
3
 All children between 6-18 years, without discrimination, should be in formal, full-time schools that provide quality education. All children below 6 years should be in anganwadis (pre-primary school). The government should ensure that all children complete schooling up to Class X.

  
 
4
 There should be complete prohibition on all forms of child labour across all sectors including agriculture.

  
 
5
 The National Policy for Children (1974) comprehensive and in line with the Constitution and the United Nations Convention of Child Rights. The National Commission for Children with statutory powers should be established.

  
 
6
 The Free and Compulsory Education Bill should be re-drafted to remove sanctions on parents. Concerned governments should face penalty for failure to provide free, compulsory education to all.

  
 
7
 A comprehensive rights-based policy on food security should be formulated and implemented for all, with extensive legal safeguards. This will ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and no child is born underweight or stays undernourished.

  
 
8
 Coverage of the Public Distribution System should be expanded to include all families below the internationally approved poverty line (1 US $ per day).

  
 
7
 There should be immediate provision of nutritious mid-day meals in all primary schools and extension of this scheme up to Class X with inclusion of out-of-school children. Integrated Child Development Services should be made available to all children under the age of 6, as per the Supreme Court order of November 2001.

  
 
8
 There should be a nation-wide employment guarantee programme of 300 days for all adults in order to ensure that children do not have to work and can go to school.

  
  So come, sign the CRY Free-a-Child Chakri today. And speak up for child rights.