Bal Hak Abhiyan's State-level Yatra on the Common School System comes to a close 

10 March 2008: Bal Hak Abhiyan, a part of the NAFRE Jan Andolan (NAFRE People's Movement) has toured Maharshtra's 16 districts with a demand to implement the common School System and ensure that people get their basic rights to lands and livelihoods. The Yatra came to a close with a large public rally at which about 3000 people were present, on March 8th at Solapur.

Demands to be placed before the Mantralaya (Mumbai State Assembly)

• Free and Equal education for all - CSS System
• Employment Schemes should be actioned for all, to eradicate any form of  existing unemployment
• The atrocities on Dalit children and women should be stopped immediately ,across all regions in Maharshthra
• The Minimum Wages Act should be actioned. There should be sufficient drinking  water in all communities for the slum dwellers
• The Health Centres with Health Immunization Schemes should be set up in all the communities of all regions, which would be run by the ICDS dept
• To avoid eviction of the slum dwellers and for their accomodation, housing facilities should be provided to them
• Every family under the poverty line,, should be issued ration cards
• Land should be made legalized so that people living for ages near railway tracks and stations, cant be evicted suddenly,without,notice
• Health Centres should be made available to thousands of people,across the cities
• Every worker apart from the payment given to them of 100/- each day,should also be given  employment opportunity  in order to sustain their living, for 360 days in a year
• People,even being educated are unemployed(due to no work opportunities or a payment like 30 Rs every day) in the smaller regions of the state.These families should be given a stipend of 3000/- as compensation to run their family
• Permanent Employment opportunities should be provided along with future pension schemes, bima, to the poor families.
• The poor  children who work at a young age, should be provided with education and their families also  should be provided with sufficient means to live,  so that they can fund their  children

Speaking about the Yatra, Mr. Anil James from CRY said, "This Yatra is a movement to make the government deliver it's promise on making sure every child has the right to go to a good quality school, free of cost."  

Spokespeople: Western Maharashthra Region
a) Mr.Sudhir Sudhal (CRY) b) Mr.Anil James ( CRY) c) Ms Swati d) Mr.Sanjay Ingle e) Mr.Kandudas Kamble f) Mr.Ajith Nansade g) Mr.Dilip Rathore h) Mr.V.P. Suryavanshi i) Ms Jyoti Baghmare j) Mr.Subhash Bansade k) Mr.Shankar Bhalerao l) Mr.Atul Fadtare  m) Ms Pushpa Bhumma n) Ms Shantabai Gaikwad o) Ms Sulochana Koli p) Mr.Ramesh Jandekar
                                                
About CRY (Child Rights and You):
CRY - Child Rights and You formerly known as Child Relief and You is India's leading advocate for child rights. Over 29 years CRY has partnered with NGOs, communities, government, the media and is dedicated to mobilizing all sections of society to eliminate the root causes of deprivation, exclusion, exploitation and abuse. For more information please visit us at http://www.cry.org/

For more information:

Bidisha Fouzdar
CRY, Child Rights and You
Tel: +91-22-23096845 / 9833565401

Shatarupa Maitra
Genesis Burson-Marsteller
Tel: + 91-22-2491 1783 / +919819211852