India Speaks out: Towards a Just Society 

"I'm not Indian as the Indian state fails to see me as Indian and protect my rights as a citizen", M. A. Shekhar, fisherman from Mahaballipuram affected by CMZ

NEW DELHI, March 27, 2008: Traversing 2,10,000 km over the last two months, NAFRE People's Movement, nationwide Jan Haq Yatra that saw the participation of close to 15 lakh people across 16 states culminated in New Delhi today. The march started on January 23 by taking meetings with people, appealing them to join, capturing their thoughts and simultaneous articulating them as demands before the state governments. Four regional culminations occurred at Kolar in the south, Lucknow in the North, Sholapur in the West and Rourkela in the east. 

Truly the Voice of the People the Yatra articulates demands from the grassroots rather than the other way round. It stands apart in terms of geographical scale and that it accommodates cultural and ethnic diversity which it synthesizes into a single voice for the marginalized and the dispossessed. 

One message resonated across the 16 states: The current development mode that favours the haves and exploits the working class who largely belong to the dalits, adivasis, minorities and other oppressed classes is not acceptable. Choosing not to be a mute spectator of non-inclusive growth NAFRE has decided to play an active role in 'new history'.  

Demanding a just and equitable society, close to 500 representatives from 16 states deliberated in the Capital on the demands from each state and on the future course of action. Common demands were captured as "Memorandum of Demands" and will be presented to the Prime Minister.  

The two-day deliberation in the capital began with NAFRE's Gen Secy, Lakhi Das capturing its 10 year journey since inception. She recalled how initially the organisation's sole aim was to make education a fundamental right and in fact it was largely because of NAFRE's efforts that the bill on education was considered in parliament in the year 2002. Taking on the tonality of equal opportunity that education articulates, NAFRE grew into a people's movement for equity in all spheres of child and human rights. Currently the Right to Work is also being demanded as a fundamental right. Issues of the equal and quality education to be addressed by the Common School System (CSS), of displacement, Special Economic Zones (SEZ) and communal fascism were raised. Now that the expectation of the people has increased, the movement needs to be strengthened in terms of direct struggles. 

In the next session Nasreen and Faisal Anurag, members of the Central Secretariat shared their views on the movement and the vision paper and the current social structure: brahmanical, patriarchal and replete with communal fascist structures need to be demolished in order to establish a society where all have access to resources and opportunities. Another Central Secretariat member, Gour Gopal Sardar added issues of displacement, people rights over natural resources and child rights. Dalit and tribal issues and equality of women and also the rights of the slum dwellers have emerged as a burning issue during the Yatra. 

On the second day the focus was on taking the peoples struggle ahead and its future strategy. The emerged a need to link itself directly with the various movements on the issues of displacement, SEZs, against communal fascism and for CSS was recognised. Common School System, reflects inclusiveness and equity, both of which are vital to the establishment of a People's India. Thus the need for inclusive education cropped again and is now recognised as the best way to address the need for diversity and equity. Commercialization of education needs to be stopped and fair and equal education for all children must be the focus of the day. The Common School System is the only one that can address all these issues for it provides the vital missing link development and progress. 

It was also recognised that the way forward would need the inclusion of youth, to build strong cadres in order that the struggle will be strengthened. The two days meeting concluded with the unanimous decision that the struggle against SEZs, dual education policies, displacement and communal fascim will continue.

Faisal Anurag: 09431171442, Eknath Awad: 09422243133

Please visit: http://janhakkyatra.blogspot.com/

For media queries, kindly contact:

Rajiv - 987116040, Nasreen - 0945552082,

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NAFRE Jan Haq Yatra

Charter of Demands 

• Share of GDP in education should be raised to 10%
• Mother tongue to be made compulsory in pedagogy at pre primary level
• Secular curriculum to be guaranteed
• Abolish all forms of private educational institutions
• Restore the old stipend procedure for all SC/ST students and increase it for adequately covering their education related expenses
• School should not be used for any other purpose apart from imparting education
• Land reforms should be done all across the states along with land redistribution
• Land to the tillers especially dalits tribals, and other minority communities
• Withdraw and abolish all SEZs and SEZ policy
• No displacement of any form and ensure adequate rehabilitation for already displaced people
• Repeal of Armed Forces Special Power Act
• Child Rights to be ensured and protected
• Right to work for 365 days for all oppressed communities and unorganized sector
• Trafficking of all children specially the girl child migration from tribal and dalit communities should be immediately stopped and traffickers should be severely punished
• Stop urban displacement and ensure right to housing and shelter for the affected people
• Expression of democratic right should not be violated
• Ensure and protect the rights of coastal communities
• Special punishment for people who create communal violence and implement Shri Krishna commission recommendation on Mumbai rights
• Implement SC/ST atrocity act more strongly
• All forms of oppression and discrimination towards backward, minorities and dalits should be stopped
• Instead of state laws, an uniform Central law must be enacted to ensure fundamental right to education
• Government should take responsibility to prevent disabilities, provision of medical care, education, training, employment and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities.
• Ensure adequate social security and minimum wages to unorganized sector workers