Online campaign Awaaz Do is gathering support for education to children out of school
Online campaign Awaaz Do is gathering support for education to children out of school
The much touted Right to Education (RTE) Act might have been enacted with a noble intention of making education accessible to every child in the country but as is the case with all such acts, very little action is seen on the ground level. Except in a few states, a large number of the children across the country are yet to benefit from this Act.
Speaking up: A poster highlighting the campaign
This might however change soon.u00a0 A unique online campaign, 'Awaaz Do' by UNICEF India is again being revived and is gaining widespread support in its fight for the right to education for some 8 million children who are not in school. The response to the campaign is overwhelming with more than 200,000 people joining it in less than three months since it began.
The Awaaz Do community page on Facebook has 2500 active members. "Please tell me how can we contribute to the campaign. If students can do something about it, I am keen to help," posted Kunal Sinha, Head Boy, DPS, R K Puram on the Facebook page.
Human Resource Development minister Kapil Sibal, who is also the member of Facebook Awaaz Do community said, "Eight million children are currently out of school in the country. Every child in India is entitled to equitable and quality education. Awaaz Do campaign will help ensure that. If we want free, quality education for the eight million children out of school, we all must be a part of the campaign." Even Bollywood actor Priyanka Chopra has signed up for the campaign.u00a0 As part of the campaign, the UNICEF representatives are mapping out schools in the states that are facing basic problems such as shortage of teachers, classroom infrastructure, inadequate water facility in girls' toilets and playgrounds.
Making use of new technology and social networking, the campaign allows citizens to get actively involved and demand the right for children who are excluded and marginalised.
"UNICEF is working with the Government of India to outline a roadmap for implementing RTE at the national and state level. However, the success of this act is also largely dependent on collective action," said Urmila Sarkar, UNICEF's Chief of Education. "The Awaaz Do campaign is a platform for the combined voices of the government, the corporate world, the media and individuals to become an undeniable force to ensure every child is in school," added Sarkar.
Awaaz Do campaign will organise a programme on January 25 with a symbolic presentation of all the plans to be implemented. The event would take place at Red Fort, Delhi with the HRD minister, UNICEF India representative and school children participating in it.
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