As
a signatory to the Millennium Declaration, India has a huge
task ahead. However since September 2000, desired progress
has not been made in the direction of attaining these goals.
In order to meet the millennium development goals in the
remaining 10 years, there is an urgent need to build pressure
on political leaders to deliver on their commitments to
the goals
- Hence
there is a need to link millennium development goals with
accountability of institutions and government at both
national as well as state levels.
- In
this context a campaign of civil society actors “
Wada Na Todo” was initiated at national level to
strengthen bottom up pressure from village, Panchayats,
districts state and nation on the performance of the development
oriented basis service delivery systems
- This
campaign initiated in the state of Uttar Pradesh by UPVAN
has been named as “Wada Nibhao” campaign
- “Wada
Nibhao” campaign has initiated to monitor the grassroots
status of girl child education and public health in Uttar
Pradesh for influencing the government policies on millennium
development goals.
Status
of girl child education in the state:
The
millennium Development Goals in order to achieve universal
primary education stated that all boys and girls should
complete primary schooling by 2015.In this context, National
development goal has been spelt out in 10 th Five year plans
and Uttar Pradesh has adopted this with the aim that no
child should be left out and there should no drop outs during
their period of primary education. By the year 2003, Children
between the age group of 6-11 must be admitted to some primary
school and by 2007 every child should complete his primary
education. There are facilities of non-formal education
and bridge course for drop out children.
However in spite of such facilities out of 20 crore
children, 6.90 children don’t have access to education
.The literacy rate in Uttar Pradesh is 57.36%, out of which
70.23%males and 42.28 % females are literate.
Some
facts about status of education in Uttar Pradesh have been
stated below. (Source: upportal.com)
- Of
the estimated 5 crore children, roughly 3 crore children
in U.P do not attend any school.
- Out
of 1.24 villages in U.P., around 40,000 do not have a
primary school.
- Every
day the state spends Rs 8 crores on salaries of 3 lath
primary and upper primary school teachers.
- The
state is unable to provide safe buildings, drinking water,
black boards, toilets etc. to 50% of the 1,59,484 primary
schools.
- Out
of every 10 students who enter 1 st grade, only 4 complete
4 years of schooling.
- Literacy
rate 57.36 %, is 17 years behind the national average.
- The
state has 468.71 lakhs literates of whom 332.68 are males.
According
to the studies it has come out that though children
register themselves in schools due to various policies
of government, but they leave school without completing
their studies. Drop out children are main reason of
lacking behind achieving the universal primary education.
A study revealed that 70% children between the age group
of 6-10 years attend school, and one third out of these
are not able to complete their studies. The drop out
rate of children between classes 1 to 5 is high. The
drop out rates of girl child is about 62% whereas for
males it is 56% .The main reasons stated for this are
lack of proper facilities, lack of time due to household
work and low standard of education.
Status
of Public Health in the state:
The millennium Development Goals
stated to reduce by two-thirds the mortality rates among
children less than 5 years of age. In the present context
of the health facilities, this task seems difficult.
The birth rate in Uttar Pradesh is 32.1 per thousand;
death rate is 10.1 per thousand and the maternal mortality
rate is 707 per 1 lakh population.
In this context it has been stated in National development
goals to reduce infant mortality rate to 45 per thousand
live births by 2007 and 28 per 1000 births by 2007.The
following facilities have been made in order to achieve
these goals-
1. Increase
deliveries by trained personnel
2. Eliminate
condition of anemia among all women by 2001
3. Increase
immunization of all children to 69% by 2006, 85 % by
2011 and complete immunizations of all children by 2016.
4. Ensure
that 50 % of all children receive all required doses
of Vitamin A by 2006 and 70 percent by 2016.
5. Reduce
the incidence of acute respiratory infections among
the children.
Health Watch and KRITI resource centre reports suggested
that maternal mortality rate in Uttar Pradesh is 707
per per 1 lakh. The rate of maternity in Uttar Pradesh
is highest in the country .
A
survey conducted by Mahila Samakhya came out with following
findings-
- In
Uttar Pradesh, everyday about 110 women die due to lack
of proper medical facilities.
- There
are 5479 abortions daily in the state.
- Out
of every one thousand delivery, 116 are between the age
group of 13 to 19 years.
- Every
year only about one fourth of the pregnant women are only
able to avail proper medical facilities.
In
Uttar Pradesh about 48% women and 47% adolescent girls suffer
from anemia.
These statistics clearly show that conditions of hospitals
and health centers are very poor. Information from Uttar
Pradesh Government reveal that there were only 3 hospitals
per 1 lakh population, which is very insufficient. Apart
from this the number of trained staff is also less and this
directly affects the birth rate and the death rate.
“Wada
Nibhao” Campaign
Uttar Pradesh Voluntary Action
Network (UPVAN) is engaged in creating a conducive environment
for voluntary action in the State. With a view to have wider
intervention of voluntary efforts, the idea of network emerged
by bringing together, different actors of civil society
and other voluntary action groups, on a common platform
with the mission of increasing cumulative strength of active
and dynamic voluntary organizations by enabling them to
accelerate their effective voice for social change.
Wada Nibhao campaign have been started in Uttar Pradesh
by UPVAN for making the state accountable and responsible
in their efforts for realizing the development goals. It
will try to monitor the institutions of governance and would
find the realities regarding their commitments towards the
citizens
It is an initiative of the civil society members to pressure
the government regarding their performance of the service
delivery system. The data of grassroots realities would
be collected and report would be published for circulation
to various actors of civil society. These reports and the
actual grassroots level reality would also be fed into national
programs to influence the policy makers.
Objectives
of the campaign:
It was felt necessary to build up
the pressure to the Govt. to influence the policy related
to health and education.
- Grassroots
level planning and implementations with field realities;
- Motivations
to common people for cumulative strength for putting pressure
on government;
- Mobilization
of public by organizing demonstrations on important national
days
- Make
the Government feel responsive and accountable to citizens;
- Engaging
organizations to collect collate & disseminate field
realities on girl child education and primary health facilities
in Uttar Pradesh.
Wada
Nibhao campaign would like support and participation of all
the actors of civil society to make this endeavor a success.
PLANNED ACTIVITIES
OF WNA
The strategy on Wada Nibhao Abhiyan was decided in annual
general body meeting held on 3 Oct 2005 .
Meeting and seminar with member organization regarding collection
of data
A state level workshop for discussion on Public Health and
Girl Child education.
Media visit in all the 4 regions of U.P.
A four monthly Newsletter on MDG.
Celebrating issue wise days of national importance
Publication of learning material charts and posters.
Analysis, compilation and publication of report for advocacy
at both state as well as national level. 
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