UNMC inspires India to Stand Up & Take Action

The United Nations Millennium Campaign (UNMC) in partnership with Wada Na Todo Abhiyan (GCAP-India) launched the India chapter of the global peoples mobilization movement called Stand Up Take Action in the capital.

The United Nations Millennium Campaign (UNMC) in partnership with Wada Na Todo Abhiyan (GCAP-India) launched the India chapter of the global peoples mobilization movement called Stand Up Take Action in the capital. The movement seeks to inspire people from around the world to take action in support of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs),which aim to eradicate poverty from the world by 2015.

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are eight goals with measurable targets and clear deadlines for improving the lives of the world’s poorest people. To meet these goals and eradicate poverty,leaders of 189 countries signed the historic millennium declaration at the United Nations Millennium Summit in 2000.

The Stand Up and Take Action movement was started in 2006 to ensure that the achievement of the MDGs remain a priority on the global political and public agenda and the world leaders do not slow down or slip from their promises,especially since there are just six years left to the 2015 deadline for the achievement of the Goals.

Story continues below this ad

Events are being planned in over 130 countries and on every continent. These will range from major rallies and concerts to gatherings in school assemblies and town halls as well as delegations visiting politicians.

Wada Na Todo Abhiyan (Do not Break your Promise Campaign) will launch the second phase of the 9 is Mine Campaign on October 16th across the country. This will be a massive citizens audit of government health centres and schools in over 100 Parliamentary constituencies and would serve as a significant call to action for citizens to take.

National Confederation of Dalit Organizations (NACDOR) and Teherika Pasmanda Muslim Samaj (TPMS),partners working with socially excluded groups,will be undertaking a range of creative actions such as candle light vigils, Stand Up events at key mosques across the country,rallies,human chains etc.

In Andhra Pradesh,Andhra Pradesh Vyavasaya Vruthidarula Union (APVVU) will organise rallies,public meetings and hearings across the districts of Andhra Pradesh in protest against hunger and food scarcity.

Story continues below this ad

Shri Shri Ravi Shankar will lend his support to this mobilization by activating the wide network of Art of Living across the states of India. RTI petitions will be filed by volunteers to elicit key information about people rights and entitlements regarding health,education and hunger. On the three days in October,AOL will be organising prayer meetings and organise various other Stand Up actions across the country.

Noted lyricist and celebrity ad man Prasoon Joshi is a great champion of this cause. Aamir Khan,Kiran Bedi,Sachin Tendulkar,Rahul Dravid,Baba Ramdev are amongst some of the noted personalities who have endorsed the MDGs by appearing in social advertisements that are a call to action to citizens.

Minar Pimple,Deputy Director and Head of Asia,Millennium Campaign said, Stand Up is a global movement of solidarity and a unique opportunity for the voiceless to raise their voice and be heard. By taking innovative and simultaneous actions,spanning the deserts of Sub Saharan Africa,the summit of Mt Everest and the streets of New Delhi,citizens create new hope and vigor in these difficult times.

This October,Stand Up gives us an opportunity to celebrate Diwali more meaningfully. Let us all Take an Action,Be Counted and on the occasion of the festival of lights,be instrumental in dispelling the darkness of poverty.