New Delhi, 27 April 2009: Bollywood Stars Mahima Chowdhary and singer Jasbir Singh Jassi joined Devli, a former child bonded labourer and thousands of other children and adults to share the stories of education during the Big Read (Open Books to Open Doors of Development) on 26th April 2009 New Delhi organised by the National Coalition for Education and Bachpan Bachao Andolan.

Devli, 11 years old the star attraction had returned after the international launch of the Big Read with HM Queen Rania of Jordan and senior officials of the Obama administration in Washington DC on 22 April. Speaking her story she said, “education changed my life and I believe that if every child is given opportunity to study then they can become officers, and get jobs like all of you present on the dice. I feel the pain in my heart when I see children working in the dhabas and other places. I have helped to enroll 20 children in government school of my village therefore I am sure that if we all work together we can send every child to school. I would like to become teacher and would provide good education to all children.”

Kailash Satyarthi, President of Global Campaign For Education said that “from past few years we have been saying that education is important but still 75 million children are out of school in world.  For many people in this world education is second name to freedom from slavery like for Devli and many other children who were rescued.”  He also defined few challenges that we are facing to provide education – economic Crisis in the world, this must not affect the spending and funding on education because education is the remedy to all problems. Following this is the challenge of exclusion – the gender disparity, caste systems, etc is hampering many children from going to school. These challenges have to be met so that we can achieve Education For All.

Mahima Chawdhary, Bollywood actress and singer Jasbir Singh Jassi also announced that they will help in propagating the issue of education in all the possible ways.

Dr. Warren Mellor, Country Representative, UNESCO brought the message from the UNESCO Director General Koïchiro Matsuura, “UNESCO is working actively in many countries raising awareness on the importance of education. Global Action Week is a highly effective platform to enforce the issue of education all over the world”.

Mr. Amod Kanth, IPS and Chairperson of Delhi Commission for protection of Child Rights said that “it is my responsibility and my duty that every child in Delhi is free from exploitation and avail its rights.”

Ms. Elizabeth Slime, Country Representative CARE discussed the importance of girl education as education for a girl would help her make decision for her life and for her family.

Dr. G.V.G Krishnamurthy, Former Election Commissioner narrated his time of school and said “there was only one library in my village and that was also 8 km away from my house. I used to walk barefoot to get books and then 10 of my friends used to study that one book with the help of lantern and then I got scholarship to study further the efforts helped me become the person that I am today”.

Well known storywriter and editor of children’s magazine, KILLOL Chaitanya Prakash taught children the ways of writing stories. Children found the speech very enriching and planned to write their stories.

Dr R Govinda, well known educationist said that India need to act fast to achieve Education For All till 2015. We are still lagging behind in supplying good quality education to all children. 

In a parody of the recent political situation and the ongoing elections former child labourers showed the unwillingness of politicians to speak on issues of social development particularly the fundamental right to education in India, through a play. They play also showed the components of education incorporated (or lack of it) by the political parties in their election manifestos Lalu Prasad Yadav, Dr. Manmohan Singh, Mr. L. K Advani, Mr. Narender Mod, etc some of the key leaders played by the children.

This is not the end of an event or campaign but start of a movement in which all politicians, children, celebrities, general people are coming together to make sure that all children go to school. This movement would grow day by day. Said R. S  Chaurasia, Chairperson of Bachpan Bachao Andolan in his closing remarks.

Also present in the event were Ms. Sandhya Bajaj, Member, National Commission for the Protection of the Rights of the Child, representatives from teachers associations, UNESCO, CARE, PLAN, OXFAM and other civil society organizations from Delhi. 

India has the largest democracy in the world and has a dubious distinction of having almost one third of its population illiterate. The recommendations on budgetary allocations and education made by various commissions have not been fulfilled. Scarcity of teachers in schools, poor quality of education, corporal punishment, teacher’s absenteeism, various fees and surcharges on education and various other factors are rampant in our education system. Lack of political will in this regard has been dragging constitutional guarantee to educate every child as her/his fundamental right in the political and bureaucratic corridors for eight years. Obviously millions of children have missed out education due to this gross apathy and negligence. Dr. Rai, Convenor, NCE.