[eebill] FW: A report/press release on public hearing (from SJ)

[Gita Dewan Verma]

//was there something also in Bangalore / pres conf in Delhi on GATS / CSS? 
Someone mentioned today a recent news report but did not recall from it any 
more than names of SP Shukla, Sadgopal and Agarwal and CABE.


>From: "Ashok" <socialjur at mantraonline.com>
>To: "Glenn Fawcett Locus Outreach" <glenn at lotusoutreach.org>, "Gita Diwan 
>Verma TownPlanner" <purplepapaya36 at hotmail.com>, "Ghanshyam JUDAV" 
><judav_jharkhand at yahoo.com>, "Gerry Pinto UNICEF" <gpinto at unicef.org>, 
>"Geeta" <geeta at cemd.org>
>Subject: A report/press release on public hearing Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2005 
>14:35:55 +0530
>
>
>
>TAKE SCHOOL TO CHILDREN CAMPAIGN
>
>(No to Child Labour-Yes to Education­)
>
>
>
>                                  478-479, Lawyers' Chambers,
>
>Western Wing, Tis Hazari Courts, Delhi-110054.
>
>Phone: 23910014
>
>Fax:     23986541
>
>   E-mail: socialjur at mantraonline.com
>
>        Website: http://www.socialjurist.com
>
>
>
>31.01.2005
>
>
>A REPORT/PRESS RELEASE
>
>
>In continuance of 'Take School To Children Campaign', Social Jurist, a 
>civil rights group, along with Chetanalaya and M.V. Foundation took another 
>concrete step by organizing a 'Public Hearing' at Mukandpur on Sunday, 30th 
>January, 2005 in which more than 3000 parents and children participated. 
>The panel of people responsible for the hearing consisted of Sh. Abu Baker, 
>Chairman, Delhi Minority Commission, Sh. Ashok Agarwal, Advocate and 
>Convener of the Campaign, Ms. Kiran Agarwal, Secretary, Indian Pediatrics 
>Association, Sh. Vijendra Kumar, Municipal Councilor, Rohini, Ms. Reema 
>Banerjee, Convener, Delhi Bal Adhikar Manch, Fr. Fredrick D'Souza, 
>Director, Chetanalaya, and representatives from many NGOs working in the 
>area including Asha and Kirandeep.
>
>
>
>The introductory speech was given by Mr. Ashok Agarwal in which he not only 
>highlighted the plights of the children and the parents of the locality, 
>but also brought to notice other factors like existence of one lakh child 
>labour in Jahangirpuri-Bhalaswa area alone, insufficient number of schools, 
>failure of the government and MCD to provide quality education to 47,000 
>school going children in the area. He urged the general public to raise 
>their voices against the wrongs. He also demanded doubling the number of 
>Municipal and Delhi Government Schools in the area and opening of 
>residential schools to deal with the children engaged in labour. The 
>government has not implemented Delhi School Education Act, 1973, which 
>mandates the government to open residential schools. The government has 
>been violating the fundamental right to education of the children with 
>impunity, said Mr. Agarwal.
>
>
>
>This was followed by an open public hearing in which lots of parents and 
>children came up with their problems and complaints, which ranged from 
>security of children to misbehavior by teachers to non-availability of 
>schools and transport facilities etc. It must be noted that in Mukundpur, 
>which consists the population of 1.5 lakhs, there is only one primary 
>school up to class 5th and no government school at all. For studying in 
>higher classes, they have to seek admission in schools of nearby areas 
>which are 4-5 km. away where they are merely "harassed" by the school 
>authorities, as told by a mother whose daughters have finished primary 
>school education.
>
>
>
>The local residents came out with all their grudges against the educational 
>system. The pivot lied onto the basic facilities like availability of 
>toilets, good drinking water, especial facilities for the disabled 
>children, good behavior of teachers and transport facilities etc. Poonam, a 
>class IVth student has no option left than to leave the study because there 
>is no school after class V in the area. One local resident mother Lalita 
>told that her son has refused to go to the school after he met with an 
>accident while going to the school. "My son has lost his legs and it could 
>have been prevented if the school was nearby" she added to her heartrending 
>story. A little boy named Ramu, who was studying in class VIth, also met 
>with an accident in the similar way and left the studies thereafter. The 
>consequence of these accidents made a negative impact over the local 
>residents and now they fear to send their children to the schools. Rakhi, 
>who is a student of class V told that teacher never teaches and children 
>pass the examinations by cheating. Without knowing any thing, they are 
>promoted to the higher class and when they go to the secondary school 
>level, they fail there due to lack of basic knowledge. Rakhi revealed one 
>sensational information that teachers usually sit outside the classroom for 
>some refreshments during class periods, giving the task to the eldest 
>student of the class to "control" rest of the students. Whenever the 
>"monitor" complains to the teacher against any student, teacher makes the 
>whole class, which is normally not less than of 50 children, to slap that 
>student. Fr. D'Souza demanded the suspension of such teachers without 
>further ado saying it to be the violation of basic human rights.
>
>
>
>The people expressed their anger against the area MLA and the municipal 
>councilors for their failure to pay attention to the school related 
>problems. The local MLA before the election cracked the coconut three times 
>on the proposed government school land and assured immediate construction 
>of school but after the election, the MLA did not even visit the area, one 
>veteran Pradhan of the area said.
>
>
>
>In his short speech, Mr Abu Baker, drew the attention on the necessity of 
>proper implementation of the law. "Law and provisions are already there, 
>the need is of its proper implementation," he emphasized. Having served the 
>society as a teacher throughout his life, Mr. Baker extended his hand to 
>the people of Mukandpur for every help and support.
>
>
>
>Other eminent speakers also raised their voices against the discrepancies 
>on the part of government and stressed on providing not only educational, 
>but also medical facilities, etc. to children. Mr. Vijender Kr. Gupta 
>assured the gathering that he would take up their cause and would fight 
>along with them for their basic fundamental and human rights. Dr. Kiran 
>Agarwal requested the gathering to communicate their complaints in writing 
>to the authorities and she would also do her best to take up their cause 
>with the authorities.
>
>
>
>The public hearing culminated into the following demands:-
>
>
>
>1.                  The strength of government and MCD schools should be 
>doubled.
>
>
>
>2.                  At least 5 government and 5 MCD schools in 
>Bhalaswa-Jahangirpuri area should be declared residential schools.
>
>
>
>
>
>3.                  Government school should be opened in Mukandpur area.
>
>
>
>4.                  Government and MCD should ensure availability of basic 
>physical and academic infrastructure in the existing schools.
>
>
>
>5.                  Government and MCD should ensure quality education to 
>the school going children and action should be taken against the erring 
>teachers.
>
>
>
>Mr. Akbar Ali, an activist from Chetnalaya, gave vote of thanks.
>
>
>
>
>
>(Ashok Agarwal)
>
>                 Advocate, Convener
>
>Take School to Children Campaign
>
>Mobile-9811101923
>
>
>
>
>

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