National Website: 

wadanatodo.net

Quick Background

Wada Na Todo, GCAP in India, has completed a one-page brief including background information.

National Coalition

Wada Na Todo / Keep Your Promises

In India, people's movements struggling against all forms of discrimination and supporting the rights of poor people to free and quality education, health care, water and sanitation and employment have come togther under the banner "Keep Your Promises".

Wada-Na-Todo-Abhiyan National Secretariat
C-1/E, Second Floor, Green Park Extension
Behind Yusuf Sarai Gurudwara, New Delhi 110 016 INDIA
Tel: 91-11-46082371 to 74 / Fax: 91-11-46082372
Email: info@wadanatodo.net / Web: www.wadanatodo.net

Some milestones of the campaign efforts in India

 - the development of a local policy agenda for the achievement of the MDGs through the development of the campaign focus around the National Development Goals & National Common Minimum Programme, and the reinforcement of the same through Annual Civil Society Reviews. The outcomes of which were presented to the Prime Minister both for 2006 & 2007.

- the involvement of 200,000 children in petitioning the Prime Minister and 80 Members of Parliament to ensure 9% of the GDP for the universalization of Health & Education between Nov 2005 to January 2006. Following this, the Prime Minister in his brief to the national media stated that "Health & Education are the focus of the National Budget 2007-08". The two sectors saw the maximum increases within the budget for the same year & the '% of GDP promise' has since been integrated in the public discourse around the government's performance in the media.

- the launch of the 'Nine Is Mine' campaign which has in turn inspired other efforts for the universalization of health & education across global efforts, and the widespread mobilization of people in the 'Month of Mobilization' that marked the GCAP effort to highlight issues of poverty & the achievement of the MDGs in October 2006.

- The publication of a charter on 'Gender & Governance' in March 2007 around which 48 release events & delegations to policy makers were organized across 12 states to emphasize the integration of women's participation and priorities in the government's flagship programs on health, education and livelihood

- A presentation to the Prime Minister on the efforts around the achievement of the MDGs as part of the global effort to commemorate the mid-point of the MDGs on 07/07/07.

New: ‘India 2007 Citizens’ Report on MDGs' - The report is available here.             

Recent videos

• Wada na Todo "9 is mine" video
• 2nd Civil Society Review of the Common Minimum Programme
  

October 17 events

In India, more than 15,000 local events were organized across 19 states calling for an end to poverty and for greater rights.

• In Madhya Pradesh & Maharashtra alone, 12,500 'panchayats' (village governments) organized local meetings, while a Long March Against Poverty which will involve over 20,000 Dalit activists.
  
• Schools & Colleges across ends the country will conduct the Poverty Requiem & organize 'Banners Against Poverty', and women from across the most marginalized communities of India -- Dalits, Adivasis, Muslim Minorities, Nomadic Tribes, Single women and Women with Disabilities – will make a collective statement on their experiences and register their demands to the government.
  
• The President of India, Pratibha Patil received a delegation of women from the tribunal on the same day to hear their demands on poverty eradication.
  
• His holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar of the Art of Living Foundation mobilized millions globally at his ashram in Bangalore (estimated 50,000), and renowned yoga guru Swami Ramdev is also leading millions of his followers.
  

On 17 October 2007, partners of Wada Na Todo Abhiyan across 15 states organized a diverse set of actions involving communities, panchayats, students and government representatives – aimed at reminding the government to fulfill its commitment to end Poverty & Social Exclusion, as promised in the Millennium Declaration & National Development Goals.

• Andhra Pradesh: 1440 people stood up against poverty in events, in 3 districts, organized by Sanchara Jaathula Sangam, People's Action for Rural Awakening, and Snehita Collective.
• Assam: In 3 events organized in Guwahati and Tezpur, 459 people stood up against poverty in events organized by Bosco Reach Out, Don Bosco Institute and PAJHRA.
• Bihar:  22,629 stood up in Bihar. NACDOR an organization working with Dalits and Muslim minorities mobilized 17629 people comprising of Musahars and scavenger communities. In Patna VSSSESS organized a "Peoples' Summit for a Hunger Free Bihar" on the 16th  in which representatives of VOs / NGOs, social activists, farmers, agriculture labours, socio-economic analysts, agriculture scientists, officers, media persons participated. 25,000 people stood up across Bihar in events organized by VSSESSS partners.
• Gujarat: 62,269 participated in the stand up event organized by NACDOR and Samerth Trust in the state of Gujarat. 400 villages led by Swarashtra Dalit Sangathan, NACDOR's State partner participated in the stand up whereas. Samerth Trust conducted the event within the premise of the state involving 40 people who performed the stand up.
• Haryana: In events organized by NACDOR and Tehreek e Pasmanda Society 1,30,514 community members belonging to Dalits and Muslim Minorities participated in the stand up demanding eradication of poverty and education for all in the state.
• Himachal Pradesh: 50 members representing Voluntary Organisations across the state participated in the stand up event organized by RTDC. Speak out messages demanding Fight against Poverty and Social Exclusion was highlighted in the event.
• Jharkhand: 88,000 people across 18 districts stood up against poverty in events organized by Wada Na Todo Abhiyan State Campaign.
• Madhya Pradesh: 283,863 people stood up against poverty in the state. The event was the culmination of the 'Long March Against Poverty' which traveled 40 districts across the state organized by NACDOR drew the participation of 47,775 people who stood up against poverty.   Samarthan organized 10,000 events across the state drawing a stand up participation of 236,088.
• Maharashtra:  118,700 people stand up event in the state. Wherein the state campaign 'Maha Abhiyan' conducted events across 1027 Gram Sabhas, Lokdhara Network of Notified and Denotified Tribe conducted 35 events involving 8,500 people participating in the stand up.
• Orissa: 199989 stood up against poverty across the state. In events organized by Katha Rakhibaa Sarkar state campaign across 17districts 151,800 participated. NACDOR partners organized 25 events across the state drawing participation from Dalits standing up against poverty and demanding Forest Rights.
• Punjab: 900 students of St. John's School, Chandigarh who are part of the 9 is mine campaign stood up against poverty. They also performed the Poverty Requiem and made 'Banners Against Poverty'. A skit was also organized within the campaign.
• Tamilnadu: 24,840 people stood up against poverty in the state in events organized across 13 districts by Neighbourhood Community Network. State Chief Minister Thiru N Rangaswamy also attended the program in Pondicherry. 230 students of Don Bosco School stood up in Tirupatur.
• Uttar Pradesh: 181,200 people stood up against poverty in the state of Uttar Pradesh. UPVAN conducted signature campaigns in Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi and Allahabad drawing participation of 81200 people. In Western and Eastern parts of the state and Bundelkhand, 70 partner organizations of NACDOR and Tehreek e Pasmanda drew the participation of Muslim minorities in the state.
• Uttaranchal: 101,022 Muslim minorities participated in the stand up event organized by NACDOR and Tehreek-e-Pasmanda Society in the state.
• West Bengal: 500 people participated in the Citizens Convention against Poverty organized by FIAN West Bengal, FOVOWB, IMSE and other state partners.

07-07-07

Read the Indian report on MDGs - Securing Rights: Citizen’s Report on MDGs (pdf)

Partners across the Abhiyan are undertaking a range of initiatives to enable the Mid-Point Review of the MDGs in India. These include:  

A Delegation to the Prime Minister (July 4, 2007)

Wada-Na-Todo-Abhiyan had an opportunity to meet the PM on July 4, 2007 as part of the delegation led by its partner alliance, Social Watch India in relation to the release of the 'Citizen's Report on Governance & Development 2007'. The Report is an annual monitor on the performance of the Parliament, Judiciary and Local Self Governments. It also reviews the key policy developments made each year. Over the last five years, the Citizen's Report has been recognized as a unique commentary on the governance institutions of India from the perspective of the marginalized.

As part of this meeting, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh was apprised of the initiatives being taken to monitor and reinforce the fulfillment of the Millennium Development Goals across more than 10 states of India, and reminded of our earlier submission on the need to increase budgetary allocations for health and education to at least 9% of the GDP.

The Prime Minister was also presented with the Report & key outcomes of the '3rd Civil Society Review of the National Common Minimum Program' that was organized by the Abhiyan in May 2007. The delegation informed the PM that while we have welcomed the introduction of the Rural Employment Guarantee and Forest Rights Acts, the contradictions such as the introduction of the SEZ Act and emphasis on the privatization of basic services have distanced the people of India from the governance agenda of the UPA.

The delegation pointed out that the government's programs were successful in areas where the Right to Information Act and specific measures to increase people's participation was in force. However the provisions – both budgetary and operational - to ensure greater access to information and stronger measures for accountability and participation remain weak and insufficient. The delegation sought the Prime Minister's intervention to create institutional spaces for civil society engagement with the government, including the creation of an annual dialogue on the review of the country's progress on key development agenda.

The PM expressed that civil society initiatives are important to monitor governance as well as to provide constructive feedback to the government at various levels. He agreed that many of the key programmes with high investment can be more effective with the participation of citizens and credible non-governmental organization, and added that Micro planning as an integral part of planning process can be an effective instrument for active engagement of citizens at the local level. The Prime Minister also spoke of the potential of tripartite partnership between local self governments, credible civil society organizations and government agencies to ensure the effective use of resources and implementation of programmes, and pointed out the need to invest in initiatives like NREGA as an effective means to increase the productive capacity of rural India.

An 'India Checklist' on the MDGs

Read the Indian report on MDGs - Securing Rights: Citizen’s Report on MDGs (pdf)

India has an all-important role to play in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, and the broader global objectives laid down in the Millennium Declaration. The progress made by India will significantly determine whether the world as a whole will be able to meet some of the most critical targets of the MDGs – such as in relation to Infant Mortality Rates (IMR), Maternal Mortality Rates (MMR), School Enrollment & Retention, access to Water & Sanitation.

On the other hand, India has an important contribution to make to the future global agenda in line with the ideals of human dignity and international co-operation – as outlined in the Millennium Declaration. Our role as the world's largest democracy, our significant technical, intellectual, financial resources, and the historic contributions that have been made to the ideals of modern global society, particularly in relation to 'ahimsa', equality and the formation of a democratic state.

Wada-Na-Todo-Abhiyan has prepared an 'India Checklist on the MDGs' which serves as a ready-reckoner on the progress made by the government against the key targets and indicators of the Millennium Development Goals. The report is enclosed for your review and dissemination, and available on our website in both English & Hindi.

Reviewing the Mid-Point Progress of the MDGs across India

Partners of the Abhiyan across 12 states are releasing Mid-Term Review Reports specific to their state/ sector, and organizing public meetings, media conferences and rallies to highlight the key challenges that the government needs to address in relation to Poverty, Hunger, Health, Education, Environment & Social Exclusion – which are the key themes reflected in the Millennium Development Goals. The Review Reports will be made available on the Reports Section of our website < www.wadanatodo.net>.

 
Events being organized to mark the MDG mid-point

See all events

Events 2005

Wake-Up to Poverty! on Saturday 10th. September - WHITE BAND DAY II.

“Pray for me brother. Do you need a reason to be kind,” sang Bollywood music maestro A.R. Rahman to a crowd of 20,000 as he gave his support at the People's Concert against Poverty, held on 3 September in Delhi, India.

Throughout the Delhi concert speakers representing diverse groups delivered moving and rallying speeches. Amitabh Behar and Shefali, spoke on GCAP’s Indian campaign and the reality of poverty in India. While Minar Pimple, a GCAP representative in Asia, gave a global overview of GCAP. The climax of the show saw another of GCAP’s Asia representatives, John Samuel, tying a White Band to Rahman’s wrist and united in their demand for an end to poverty.

Read more about the concert

Photo gallery from the concert

More than 10,000 people from across South Asia also attended the South Asian People’s Summit Against Poverty between 3 and 4 September, in Delhi. The People's Summit was held just ahead of the UN World Summit to give the people of the region a voice to discus their countries’ progress on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and how to influence their governments. Then, on 3 September 12,000 participants from the Summit joined a massive rally and marched through the streets of Delhi.

Read more about the People’s Summit

Photo gallery from the People’s Summit

BACKGROUND

Photo gallery from the first White Band day – July 2005

Together, the members of the national campaign are demanding that the Indian government keeps the promises to tackle poverty and injustice made in its Common Minimum Programme. They are also working to ensure that rich countries keep their promises to drop the debt and make aid and trade work for the poor.

The Indian campaign couldn't wait until 2005 to start so it began in earnest in December 2004 with actions on World Aids Day, Dignity Day and Human Rights Day. This inculded a "Skip a Million Meals Campaign" to highlight the need for governments across the world to end the scandal of leaving billions of people in poverty in a world of plenty.

In July and September 2005 millions of Indians, on "yatras" (marches), at work or at school will wear a white band in solidarity with campaigners across the world to pressure world leaders to keep their promises.