‘Because I am a Girl’ is written by personalities from varied fields that includes writers, actors, artists, and TV stars. It attempts to capture the factual stories of girls in India, their struggles, dreams, and determination to keep hope alive in their lives. The book features stories by  Anjum Hasan, Pooja Bedi,  Meenakshi Reddy Madhavan, Shahana Goswami, Namrita Bachchan, Nafisa Ali Sodhi and Aditi Rao Hydari.

Speaking at the book launch, Mr. Govind Nihalani, Chairperson, Plan India said, “This book presents a heartening collection of seven mentally stimulating stories of young Indian women who are empowered through right knowledge and guidance provided by Plan India through its outreach programmes. The book showcases Plan India’s resolve to draw society’s attention towards disadvantaged individuals and Plan India’s efforts for their upliftment. “

‘Because I am a Girl’ is Plan’s global campaign designed to fight gender inequality, promote girls’ rights, and lift millions of girls out of poverty providing them an opportunity to reach their full potential. Mr. Nihalani in the foreword of the book, recounts how in the process of implementing ‘Because I am a Girl’ programme across the country, Plan India came across many stories of courageous young girls who challenged their circumstances and rose above them and their  unrelenting efforts formed an inspiration for this book. 

 
Summary of the seven stories:
• Anjum Hasan visits a village in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, where young girls are forced to become sex workers.
• Pooja Bedi goes to Lucknow and meets a woman who gets an ultrasound done but then decides against killing her unborn baby girl.
• Meenakshi Reddy Madhavan travels to Hyderabad where she meets a young girl who comes to the city, learns data entry and finds herself a job.
• Shahana Goswami meets a young school drop-out who has done a beautician’s course, and plans to set up her own parlour.
• Namrita Bachchan tells the story of a young girl who sells vegetables in the male-dominated Delhi’s Govindpuri sabzi mandi during the wee hours of the morning and then learns to read and write during the day.
• Nafisa Ali Sodhi writes about a young girl in Delhi, who works as a rag picker but is a bright young student.
• Aditi Rao Hydari encounters a woman whose husband died of tuberculosis and who is training to be a nurse now while being an apprentice in a hospital

Plan India is an Indian NGO working to improve the lives of disadvantaged children, their families and communities through an approach which puts children at the centre of community development. For over 32 years, Plan and our partners have worked with communities throughout India to break the cycle of poverty by helping children access their rights to protection, basic education, proper healthcare, a healthy environment, livelihood opportunities and participation in decisions which affect their lives. We encourage children to express their views and be actively involved in improving their communities. Plan India currently works in 11 states in India and has touched the lives of over a million Indian children. Plan India is a member of Plan International, one of the world's largest child centred community development organisations.  For more information please visit, www.planindia.org.

The design of the booklet is simple and user friendly. Graphics and illustrations have been used to convey technical information,and it can be easily understood by common people.

If you need a copy of the booklet please write to us at planindia@planindia.org. Else download the soft version copy here .

In India, at the heart of this celebration is the “Count Every Child” campaign, a vital programme striving to provide children all over the world with birth certificates. Plan India, is marking the event by organizing a meeting with our children’s group with the chairperson of NCPCR (National Commission for Protection of Child Rights), Ms. Shantha Sinha in New Delhi.

The children’s group would comprise of street and platform children who would meet the chairperson and make an appeal to highlight the issues which affects them. The issues would be presented in a form of memorandum including, the challenges with regard to birth registration for street children and recommendations for support from NCPCR in taking the issue forward with the relevant authorities.

Further, a video conferencing is being organised between the group of Plan India children with Plan Pakistan community children to share their opinion, views on the issues affecting their lives. In addition, to the above activities children will fly balloons across Plan partners and Partner Units.

Ms Bhagyashri Dengle, Executive Director, Plan India, said, “India has one of the world’s youngest populations and birth registration ensures a child right to his/her Identity. Plan India continues to remain committed towards the cause by creating awareness and understanding amongst population about advantages of birth registration. Plan India has been working tirelessly to overcome barriers of birth registration, through an innovative grass-root level campaign ‘Count Every Child because Every Child Counts’ to achieve the 100 % registration of births in India.

As a part of global celebrations of this anniversary, worldwide events are being organized ranging from a concert in Haiti, girls football match in Bangladesh, planting of 75,000 trees in Zimbabwe, sports day in Sudan, Lion King theatre party in Hamburg to VIP visits by the likes of the Pakistan Prime Minister.

Speaking on the occasion, Nigel Chapman, CEO, Plan International, said: “We take it for granted that every child celebrates their birthday – just as we, as an organisation, are celebrating our 75th birthday. Yet millions of children around the world cannot mark it because their births are not registered. These children don’t know how old they are because often they don’t have a birth certificate.

“Some 51 million children every year are denied the basic right of a birth certificate, leaving them at risk of being denied schooling, healthcare and housing, and making them more likely to be exposed to exploitation and abuse. Without this vital piece of documentation, children have no formal identity, don’t officially exist and are denied basic rights. We have to put a stop to this.”

To show support, members of the public are able to send a specially designed birthday card to a friend through a free online e-card service. There are hundreds of cards available, all of which have been designed by children worldwide. Importantly, those that send cards will be asked to sign up to a petition to be presented to the UN Secretary General urging governments and authorities to implement universal birth registration. 

Whilst children all over the world need a birth certificate, one of the most marginalised groups without documentation is girls. Girls in the developing world are more likely to suffer from malnutrition, be forced into an early marriage, be subject to violence or intimidation, be trafficked, sold or coerced into the sex trade, or become infected with HIV. Access to a birth certificate would help protect girls.

In this important year for Plan the Because I am Girl campaign will be launched in New York on October 11th on the International Day of the Girl Child. Fighting for birth registration will be an important part of this global awareness campaign for gender equality.

Pune, February 26, 2012: Plan India, the leading child centered development organization that promotes child rights and improves the quality of life of vulnerable children in India has organized a  two day event including Fundraiser Golf Tournament & Charity auction to engage with eminent personalities of the city and seek their support for the cause of Right to Education.

The event was hosted by distinguished philanthropists, industrialist and ardent golfers, Arti and Atul Kirloskar. The first day of the event hosted the Golf tournament called “Tee Off with Plan” involving the most well known golfers of Pune including Padmaja Shirke, Bhausahib Patwardhan, Manisha Jitha and Narrotam Chowdhary. The tournament provided a platform for building awareness about Plan India and its various program initiatives. Plan India also introduced to participants its sponsorship program called ‘Saath Saath’. Through ‘Saath Saath’ Plan India gives donors an opportunity to sponsor a child in one of the Plan India’s child centered community development programmes and address a child’s basic needs like quality education, healthy environment, Protection, participation & generating livelihood opportunities for his/her community.

The Funds raised through these events shall be utilized in school improvement programs aimed at implementing the Model School Approach. The event witnessed participation from well known personalities including Mr. Govind Nihalani, Chairperson, Plan India Board and an eminent Filmmaker and Noted Film & theatre personalities Anupam Kher and Amol Palekar.

Speaking at the event, Ms Bhagyashri Dengle, Executive Director, Plan India, said, “We at Plan India are extremely thankful to Arti and Atul Kirloskar for hosting this event and to all the artists and the supporters who have given their time and resources to enable children to attend the schools and complete their school education through a joyful learning process.

Plan India will utilize the funds raised in its unique School Improvement Program where we have been implementing the Model School approach in 500 schools in the states of Uttarakhand, Delhi, Rajasthan, Bihar, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh and by 2015 we wish to reach out to 1500 more schools.

These interventions have benefitted 200,000 children till date. Our strategy is to demonstrate that creation of optimally functioning government schools is possible and that there are cost effective ways of incorporating good practices to promote accountability in school systems.”

On this occasion, Ms Arti Kirloskar, Secretary, Plan India Board said, “I have been on Plan India Board since 2007 and had several opportunities to visit various program areas and see how Plan India always ensures that every rupee raised through various donors goes towards betterment of the underprivileged children. As Secretary, Plan India Board, it’s my privilege to host this Fundraiser. I sincerely thank everyone who has joined me today in extending support to the cause of children and education.

We would need your continuous support as together we can make a difference in the lives of millions of children.”

The Golf tournament was followed by the charity auction titled ‘There is a Plan for every Child’ auctioning various artworks, luxury goods and memorabilia. The Auction saw eminent personalities coming together to support the cause of right to education. An exclusive collection of about 50 items was auctioned which included an assortment of Art, Luxury goods, Jewellery and Celebrity memorabilia.

About Model School Program

The Model School program was initiated in 2006 to address the key issues of underprivileged children’s lack of access to quality education and hence the denial of their basic Right to Education. Plan India addresses the problem of lack of optimally functioning government run schools for the poorest and most vulnerable groups of children. Following from this problem, the over arching purpose for this programme has been defined as- ‘To demonstrate how quality education can be ensured for all and to support the states to scale this up across all government schools’.

The model school envisions schools as better places for learning for children. It is aimed at improving the accountability, efficiency, quality and child-friendliness of schools. The program comprehensively addresses the issues pertaining to children’s right to quality basic education bringing meaningful changes in school which affects children’s enrolment, retention and completion of basic education.”

The Program propagates usage of innovative teaching and learning methodology in classroom with the end result of children learning joyfully, strengthened community and parents’ participation in school affairs.

About Plan India

Plan India is a nationally registered child centered community development organization with no religious, political or governmental affiliations. Plan believes in Child centered community development which is a rights-based approach in which children, families and communities are active and leading participants in their own development. It enhances their capacity and opportunity to work together with others to address the structural causes and consequences of poverty at all levels. Over the years, Plan’s role within communities has evolved from providing direct benefits to supporting communities to identify their needs and devise solutions to meet those needs. This has involved the active participation of community members.

For over 30 years, Plan and its partners have helped communities throughout India to help themselves, so that children have access to their rights including the right to protection, basic education, proper healthcare, a healthy environment, household economic security and participation in decisions which affect their lives. Plan India currently works in 11 states in India and has impacted the lives of over a million children.

Plan India is part of Plan International, one of the world’s largest community development organizations. Plan’s vision is of a world in which all children realize their full potential in societies which respect people’s rights and dignity. Plan’s work is supported by funding from individuals, corporations, institutions, foundations and government agencies within India and abroad. For more information visit: www.planindia.org or Follow us on facebook.

In an event held outside Lucknow, the capital of India’s most populous state of Uttar Pradesh, the newborn was given a birth certificate by the local administration.

Bhagyashri Dengle, Executive Director, Plan India said: “By celebrating the birth of a girl as Baby 7 Billion we are drawing attention to the serious issue of India’s declining child sex ratio.”

Hundreds of thousands of female foetuses are being terminated in India every year even though sex-selective abortions and use of ultrasound technology for foetal sex-determination are illegal in the country.

According to India’s 2011 Census, the ratio of girls to boys has dropped to an all time low since records began. Today, there are just 914 girls for every 1,000 boys between 0 and 6 years.

Plan India has launched Let Girls Be Born campaign in six Indian states to galvanise action to address the issue of female foeticide.

“Plan has been working in India for the last three decades and the survival, protection and development rights of girls have been a key focus of our community development work. With ‘Let Girls be Born’ we are raising awareness and advocating for the fundamental survival rights of girls,” added Bhagyashri Dengle.

In Uttar Pradesh, Plan’s partner Vatsalya is working with communities and making them understand the social consequences of widening gender gap. Plan chose Uttar Pradesh to mark the birth of Baby 7 Billion as the state accounts not only for the highest number of births but also the highest number of ‘missing girls’. With a population bigger than that of Brazil, it has just 899 girls for every 1,000 boys. The situation is similar in other states such as Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and country’s capital Delhi.

As part of Plan’s initiative, Baby 7 Billion, along with other six newborn girls from the same community will be sponsored by seven eminent women from India. They will support the sponsored girls for the next seven years – the key period for survival and childhood development and serve as ambassadors for girls’ survival rights. The organisation will report back on the development of Baby7 Billion girls at regular intervals.

Arti Kirloskar, Secretary, Plan India Board is spearheading this initiative and the other eminent personalities joining her are: Abha Narain Lambah, Conservation architect; Anoushka Shankar, Sitarist; Mallika Sarabhai, dancer and choreographer; Sunita Narain, environmental activist.

Arti Kirloskar, Secretary, Plan India Board said: “Through this small initiative we want to demonstrate that through concerted efforts we can bring in a lasting change in the lives of millions of girls. Allowing girls to be born and giving them equal chances in life is critical and it does not cost much to ensure a quality life.”

Editor’s notes:

• Plan India is a nationally registered child centred community development organisation. For over 30 years, Plan and our partners have helped communities throughout India to help themselves, so that children have access to their rights including the right to protection, basic education, proper healthcare, a healthy environment, livelihood opportunities and participation in decisions which affect their lives. We encourage children to express their views and be actively involved in improving their communities. Plan India currently works in 9 states in India and has impacted the lives of over a million children.

• As a response to India’s worst child sex ratio since records began, Plan India has launched ‘Let Girls Be Born’ (LGBB) campaign and its main objective is to realise a gender balance in society by eliminating female foeticide/ infanticide and ensuring the right to identity, name and citizenship for girls.

• Plan India is part of Plan International, one of the oldest and largest children's development organisations in the world with programmes in 50 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas to promote child rights and lift millions of children out of poverty. The organisation works with more than 58,000 communities, covering a population of 56 million children.

• The ‘Because I am a Girl campaign’ (BIAAG) is Plan’s commitment to unlocking the astonishing potential of girls around the world by fighting gender inequality, securing girls’ rights and lifting millions of girls out of poverty. The campaign is dedicated to building the human capital of girls through knowledge and skills, aiming to equip, enable and engage girls of all ages to acquire the assets, skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in life.

• Plan believes that birth registration is a critical first step in ensuring the rights of a child. Since the launch of its birth registration campaign in 2005, Plan has facilitated registration of over 40,000,000 people across 32 countries, most of them children. The campaign has helped to improve laws in 10 countries enabling access to registration for an additional estimated 153,000,000 people.

• World Development Report 2012: Gender Equality and Development says globally, “missing” girls at birth and excess female mortality after birth account for an estimated 3.9 million women each year in low-and middle-income countries. Almost one million of these excess deaths are in India.

The report was unveiled by the Chief Guest, Ms Surina Narula, Patron, Plan India. Also present at the event were Govind Nihalani, Chairperson, Governing board, Plan India, Mr. Raj Nooyi, Member of Governing Board, Plan India and Ms Bhagyashri Dengle Executive Director, Plan India.

The report highlights the attitudes and awareness of men and boys on gender equality and recommends strategies to engage men and boys in achieving this. It aims to show that far from being an issue just for women and girls, gender is also about boys and men, and that this needs to be better understood if we are going to have a positive impact on societies and economies.

It includes a primary research commissioned by Plan India in five states - Delhi, UP, Bihar, Gujarat and Karnataka with over 6000 respondents. It highlights the awareness and attitude of boys and girls and young men and women (from 10-14 and 15-35 years of age) towards gender roles, in areas of decision making, family planning and health, attitude and action relating to dowry and women’s economic and political rights, division of household chores among the men and women and thinking related to gender stereotypes.

Speaking at the occasion, Ms. Surina Narula , Patron , Plan India, said, “Across the country, girls face double discrimination because of their gender and age, leaving them at the bottom of the social ladder. Plan India’s focus on the engagement of men and boys in achieving gender equality is aimed at bringing positive impact on society and economy.

Ms. Bhagyashri Dengle, Executive Director, Plan India said, “In our endeavour to protect the rights of the girl child in India, Plan India invests in bringing about a social change that would engage men & boys to respond to the existing inequalities that the women & girls in our country face, through action at individual, community and National level.”

“Plan actively engages the Government and other development partners in addressing the gender disparities through strategies that strengthen the role that men play in bringing harmony and peace through addressing issues of violence, abuse and support girls and women in exercising their rights.”, she added.

Plan intends to use the results of the study to strengthen its programmes relating to the rights of the Girl Child and advocate with the Government and civil society partners to ensure men and boys engagement in areas of nutrition, education, health care, decision making and women’s economic and political rights.

The report is third in a series of an Annual study on the State of the Girl Child in India, published by Plan India as a part of its campaign “Because I am a Girl” (BIAG). In 2009 and 2010, the reports focussed on the theme State of girl child in India and ‘Girls in a changing Landscape: Urban and Digital Frontiers’ respectively.  The report series aims at highlighting the various issues that affect the life of a girl child.

Because I am a Girl is Plan's campaign to fight gender inequality, promote girls' rights and lift millions of girls out of poverty. Research has shown that girls are more likely to suffer from malnutrition; be forced into an early marriage; be subject to violence or intimidation; be trafficked, sold or coerced into the sex trade; or become infected with HIV.  Plan is producing an annual report on the girl child each year in the run up to 2015, the target year for the Millennium Development Goals. Each report provides tangible proof of the inequalities that still exist between boys and girls. Join our campaign and help us transform the lives of the world's poorest girls.

Plan will mark October 31- the day when the global population is projected to pass 7 billion - by celebrating the birth of a girl in India’s most populous state of Uttar Pradesh.

According to India’s 2011 Census, the growing gap between the population of girls and boys aged 0 to 6 years has now reached 7 million. The ratio of girls to boys has dropped to an all time low since records began. Today, the sex ratio in this age group showing 914 girls for every 1,000 boys.

Despite the Indian Government having enacted the law against using ultrasound technology for sex-selective abortions, its continued practice is believed to be resulting in more than 500,000 female foetuses being terminated every year.

As part of its commitment towards the girl child, Plan India has launched ‘Let Girls Be Born’ initiative to address the issue of female foeticide and infanticide and ensuring the right to identity, name and citizenship for girls.

Bhagyashri Dengle, Executive Director, Plan India said: “We are the world’s most rapidly growing nation, yet among the most challenging for girls. Plan has been working in India for the last three decades and the survival, protection and development rights of girls have been a key focus of our community development work. With ‘Let Girls be Born’ we hope to reach out to people to make them realize the consequences of the declining sex ratio, and encourage them to be active in celebrating girls.”

Plan India which has made registration of birth an integral part of its girls’ rights campaign will advocate with the state government to reiterate its commitments to the girl child and to issue a birth certificate to ‘Baby 7 Billion’ – a girl child, at a public function on October 31.

Asif Mohammad, Director, Program Implementation, Plan India said: “A birth certificate is recognition of a valued life. In India particularly, it gives live data on the gender gap and serves as a vital indicator to track where girls are being lost.”

Editor’s Note:
Plan India works in 10 states and has directly impacted lives of over a million children and their families. As a response to India’s worst child sex ratio since records began, Plan India has launched ‘Let Girls Be Born’ (LGBB) campaign and its main objective is to realise a gender balance in society by eliminating female foeticide/ infanticide and ensuring the right to identity, name and citizenship for girls.

Plan India believes that birth registration is a critical first step in ensuring the rights of a child. Since the launch of its birth registration campaign in 2005, Plan India has worked with communities and governments to register the births of over 5 lakh children across the country and reaching out to many more. Plan India is currently focussing on ensuring the birth registration rights of children in difficult circumstances.

Aimed for teacher, and headmasters teaching in the elementary classes (1 to 8 standard), NGO workers and education practitioners of civil society, this toolkit was launched at Hotel Dayal Paradise, Gomati Nagar in the presence of Bhagyashri Dengle, Executive Director & Asif Mohammad, Director, Program Implementation, Plan India, Bharat Bhushan, Secretary PANI, Sehba Hussain, Executive Director, BETI Foundation & State Advisor to SCPCR on RTE,  Prof. Rakesh Chandra, Educationist, Lucknow University.

Since its launch at the national level, more than 300 school teachers in state of Uttar Pradesh have benefited from this manual. The module will reach out to 2000 schools by the year 2015 in seven states - Uttar Pradesh, Uttrakhand, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, New Delhi, Orissa & Rajasthan to prevent violence in schools.  Plan India is launching this module in Hindi, Telugu and Oriya to help reach out to more teachers and to ensure that it becomes part of the training curriculum of teachers.

Sharing an overview on the Plan India’s initiative, Bhagyashri Dengle, Executive Director, Plan India said, “We firmly believe that all violence in schools is preventable and never justifiable. Violence in schools has devastating long-term consequences for children who face it. Therefore, it is everyone’s responsibility to stop it – be it students, teachers, communities or governments. To address this issue, Plan India has strategically developed a Positive Discipline Manual which can be used by teachers and headmasters of the elementary schools to build an environment that encourages child participation and positive engagement with children in classrooms and schools.”

A Plan India study on the impact of corporal punishment in 2006, confirmed that corporal punishment was a regular feature in the lives of most children in schools. Children reported nearly 33 different types of punishment.  Hence to develop a module on positive disciple was conceptualized and to achieve this Plan India conducted several studies on various aspects of education including corporal punishment and violence in schools at multiple field sites in the country. Field level workshops were conducted with different education authorities with a purpose to capture what schools are already practicing as positive discipline and  behavioral changes introduced by teachers themselves to enforce discipline.

The toolkit supports training inputs to help teachers find answers for the following key questions such as; what is Positive Discipline and how to achieve this; How to change beliefs and practices of staff and children inside schools; How to change their working environment for positive energy and How to get the local education authorities perform their role in supporting this initiative.

The award is part of Accenture’s Skills to Succeed initiative, which is equipping 250,000 people by 2015 with the skills to get a job or build a business.  The grant will help provide underprivileged 18-to-25 year olds with skills training, as well as life skills and work readiness training to prepare them for jobs in industries such as information technology, customer relations, business process outsourcing and electronic repair. 

The two-year program will build networks of employers to match trainees with local job opportunities. In addition, Accenture will help Plan International develop a business model for its REACH project, which currently trains disadvantaged young people in cities in Vietnam, so it can expand that program to other developing countries.  To date, REACH has placed 80 percent of the people it has trained.

“Supporting Plan International helps bring to life Accenture’s commitment to building skills – drawing on our people’s passion, experience and dedication to developing and nurturing talent,” said Adrian Lajtha, chief leadership officer at Accenture.  “Plan is succeeding at a rapid pace and is proving that it’s possible to make a significant, lasting impact on the economic well-being of individuals by developing skills and connecting people with the right job opportunities.”

“These are truly exciting times for the rapidly expanding economies and markets of India and Vietnam,” said Plan International CEO Nigel Chapman.  “But we must remember that this can exacerbate the widening gap between rich and poor.  Accenture’s globally recognized know-how is a perfect match to Plan’s existing programs and will help us reach marginalized young people and help ensure they have the skills and opportunities to actively participate and share in the benefits of a growing nation.  We are confident a standardized model for youth training programs will have a ripple effect, allowing us to rapidly expand the program worldwide.”

The RTE Forum, which brought together both national civil society organizations and over 10,000 grass roots networks, held a consultation today in the national Capital to present the findings of the report.

Shanta Sinha, Chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, who was the chief guest at the stock taking, said both civil society and the Government were equal stakeholders and partners in the implementation of the RTE. “There are drawbacks, including lack of human resources but with political commitment, we can skip timelines to  make sure the RTE reaches every child in this country.” 

Ambarish Rai, spokesperson for the Right to Education (RTE) Forum, said: “Considering that the RTE Act came after a century-long struggle, beginning with a demand for legislation for universal education initiated by Gokhale in the colonial era, it is a shame that one year after the enforcement of the Act; we have yet to get off the ground on key provisions of the Act. The dream of universal education remains a distant reality.” 

There were several provisions within the Act that had to be fulfilled within the first year. State Rules are one of the most important elements to ensure the overall implementation of the RTE Act. They outline the modalities of the implementation of some provisions under the Act.  “In this one year, only 5 states -- Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Orissa, Sikkim and Manipur -- have notified their State Rules,” Rai said.

The NCPCR has been mandated with monitoring the implementation of the Act which is a good step forward, but the body lacks the capacity to do justice to the scale of educational right violations. “Moreover, SCPCRs have only been set up in half the States and where they do exist, they are sometimes manned by only one person and they are not always independent of Government,” Rai said.

Trained teachers are critical to the success of the RTE. The overall shortage of teachers is estimated to be 14 lakhs and States like UP have a huge shortfall of over 2 lakh vacancies, which have not been filled up due to lack of resources. Eight States have less than 50 per cent teachers who are professionally qualified. “It is a sad state of affairs that teachers who are the focal points implementing the RTE Act are the ones that know the least about it! If we are to get rid of cruel and archaic practices like corporal punishment, urgent attention must be given to school based training for teachers,” Rai said.

The School Management Committees (SMCs), with three quarter representation from the community, are the first line complaint mechanisms under the RTE Act. However, these have by and large not been formed in most States. This leaves parents and children without a visible place to go if their educational rights are violated.

Another area that has not been addressed is the issue of child labour. Worryingly, there is one law – the Child Labour Prohibition and Regulation Act -- that regulates child labour while the RTE stipulates that children under 14 must go to school. There is no move to amend the CLPRA and bring it in line with the RTE. All States must make clear provisions to ensure that all working children are removed from work and mainstreamed back into schools.

As a first step, the process of forming State Rules should become more participatory and these rules should be developed at the earliest. The RTE forum seeks the immediate formation of SCPCRS with independent and apolitical people with subject expertise so that child rights violations can be identified and dealt with effectively.

Transparency systems to monitor the implementation of the Act need to be strengthened. One clear model is of the Madhya Pradesh education web portal where all information is publically available. This must be replicated by other States.
 
“The overall status of implementation should be publically available. Parents and civil society have a right to know what is happening in their States and a clear redressal mechanism needs to be put in place,” Rai said.

Chief Guest Shri Kapil Sibal, Honorable Minister, HRD and Additional Charge of Communication and info New Delhi inaugurated the event with a welcome speech. The conference provided a platform to deliberate upon further action that needs to be undertaken within the South Asian countries to accelerate the process towards the achievement of Goal III under “Education for All” goals by offering concrete recommendations through identification of gaps and systemic issues hindering attention to adolescents.

The conference saw participation from seven South Asian Countries – India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Bhutan towards Empowering Adolescents to become agents of social transformation. An assembly of 85 members participated including NGOs working for Education of Adolescents’, Government officials, Development Partners, representatives from UNESCO and various field offices in South Asia, representatives from Plan India and partners’.

Expressing her views Ms Bhagyashri Dengle, Executive Director, Plan India quoted “Today, a large number of adolescents are out of school in South Asia. This problem requires serious action from both individuals and the government. Our focus has always been on working with adolescents in a holistic manner covering areas such as education, health, citizenship, reproductive health, protection and safety. Our aim is to create awareness on their rights and prepare them to articulate their voices on issues that matter in their lives. At the same time we support them to get vocational skills for employment to create an inter- generational cycle of well being for these adolescents.”

South Asian countries including India have more than 45% of its population in the age group of 15- 35. About 22% of people are in the age group of 11-20 and out of those around 50% either never attended school or dropped out because of varied reasons. The reasons for dropping out are many. Onset of puberty resulting into engagement and marriage, household chores mainly looking after children, financial crisis at home are very common reasons for high dropout rate among girls.

For boys, the main reasons for dropping out are financial crisis, inability to deliver good results in the school examinations and the need to be productive and contribute to the family income.

The conference provided a platform for experts to discuss ways to apprehend the potential of these adolescents and their contribution to their communities.

An interdisciplinary and rights-based framework has been devised for empowering marginalized adolescent in South Asia through a broad-based programme. Overall objective of the conference was to contribute to the thinking on Education for All Goal 3: Promote learning and life skills for young people and adults.

Through this forum, Plan India & UNESCO intend to:
1. Distribute the learnings from cases presented at the conference to ensure quick action and adaptation.
2. Draw attention of the respective countries to EFA Goal III and subsequent formulation of the appropriate strategies, policies and programs for their education and development.
3. To develop future strategies regarding implementation of Goal 3 that can be  shared by Member Countries – governments as well as the civil society.

At the Balika Milan Samaroh, these confident girls shared their experiences on how education from these shivirs lead to positive changes in their lives and helped them to raise awareness among other community girls. At the event, girls and young women between the age group of 12 to 25 years came together, met and discussed issues that affected them.

Balika Shivirs were first conducted by URMUL Seemant Samity Bajju in collaboration with Plan India, Lok Jumbish and other NGO’s in Rajasthan’s Bikaner district to encourage girls to get away from everyday chores at their home and focus on pursuing their education.  In Bikaner district, girls’ education is still a low priority for most local families residing in rural areas. Although they are integral to the family economy - they help manage households, take care of younger siblings, and work in agriculture and animal husbandry - girls have traditionally never been allowed to study. 

Speaking at the event, Ms Bhagyashri Dengle, Executive Director, Plan India expressed- “The achievement of girls’ right to education can address some of societies’ deeply rooted inequalities, which subject millions of girls to a life without quality education. With our initiatives, we invest in girls and work to change the social and economic equation for girls and women, helping them to be equipped with the requisite skills to face the world and enable them to succeed in life.”

Plan India in partnership with URMUL Seemant Samity Bajju in Rajasthan has continued conducting this unique residential camp between 1998 -2008 where approximately 2500 girls could come and get education up to the level of 5th standard. In 2001, Plan India further collaborated with URMUL Seemant Samity Bajju by building on its success with Balika Shivirs and the Kishori Prerna Manch (KPM), where the girls were taught various life skills apart from education, like training skills, running a library in the villages, sewing and stitching, creative arts, educational tours and media tool training etc.

Girls became more empowered and many such KPMs were started in many villages. These skills have worked as a catalyst to sharpen their talent. The girls are happy to acquire these skills since as village girls they would never get a chance to show their talent without the support of URMUL Seemant Samity Bajju -Plan.

With such initiative, Plan India and URMUL Seemant Samity Bajju have brought about significant changes in the lives of these deprived girls and have uplifted them from the shackles of poverty.

Some Extraordinary work done by the girls of KPM are:-
1. In the Famine Relief Program organized at the village level, the girls helped in the relief work.
2. They worked as Sanchalika (organisers) in Anganwadi Centers and did pre-workshop training
3. They worked as teachers in Girls Training Camps.
4. They worked as ‘Education friend’ for Government School going children
5. At the village level they trained girls in sewing
6. At the village level, they did the important work of putting girls back to school
7. In their own family, they created an atmosphere for equality of girls.
8. Some girls who had studied in Girls Camps are presently associated with higher education in colleges.

Plan India, a child centered organization in association with NGO partner Vatsalya, working in Uttar Pradesh, today announced the launch of ‘Let Girls Be Born’ program at UP Tourism Bhawan, in an endeavor to reduce the number of forced abortions and to guarantee the right of girls to be born.

The project ‘Let Girls Be Born’ strengthens measures to be taken as part of Plan India’s commitment on improving the situation of girl child as part of it’s “Because I am a Girl ” (BIAG) campaign to initiate projects which enables working towards improving the situation of girl child. In past, Plan India also supported a film and tele-serial called “Atmajaa” that dramatized many of the issues of Sex selective abortions (female foeticide) in a popular format. 

The event commenced with inauguration of sensitization workshop in presence of H’onarbale Chief Guest Justice Vishnu Sahay, to address the issue of female foeticide, declining child sex ratio and generate a common platform where everyone can join to support this cause.

Speaking at the event Mr. Asif Mohammad, Director - Programs, Plan India stated “Plan India’s focus is to work with women, men, girls and boys so that children grow up and develop in safe and enabling environments where each child’s right to survival & protection is respected and realized. Let Girls be Born national project is planned to be implemented in six states during 2011 – 2013. It is yet another step of Plan towards ensuring the survival rights of girls.

Dr. Neelam Singh, Chief Functionary, Vatsalya said “We are happy with our association with Plan India. With this project, we are advocating the issue at the forefront by generating mass awareness to make people realize the status of the declining sex ratio, its consequences in the society as well as all its medical and social dimensions.”

Dr. Singh made a presentation and key note address on ‘Status of sex ratio & social consequences of female feticide and declining sex ratio in Uttar Pradesh’ followed by panel discussion with various panelist / stakeholders who included subject experts Smt. Kum Kum Tripathi, Anchal Gupta, Dr. Roli Mishra, Deshdeepak, Mr. Anjani Kr. Singh, Dr. PC. Kannaujia, Pradip Mishra on Social repercussions and situation analysis of the implementation of PC-PNDT Act in Uttar Pradesh.

The excited kids interacted with Anil and Suniel and shared their personal life experiences and issues faced by them. Suniel and Anil were pleased to meet these kids living in difficult circumstances. Children cited real life experiences on how they successfully managed to overcome their hurdles with help of Plan India.

Sharing his views on the occasion Mr. Anil Kapoor - Plan India’s Patron & Goodwill Ambassador said, “It fills me with excitement as I interact with these kids at this special occasion today. The only way to nurture a true relationship with children is to understand them and their needs especially those who need care and support and I feel blessed to have had an opportunity to be with them and be able to do something for the children. My association with Plan India has given me a platform to do something meaningful for the betterment of millions of children in India. I look forward for more such interactive session and gala time”

Ms Bhagyashri Dengle, Executive Director, Plan India expressed- “Plan in India has a long history of helping communities create real and lasting change for children. We most strongly believe that future of the country lies in its prosperity of the children who would grow up to be citizen of tomorrow. We extend our gratitude to Mr. Anil Kapoor for taking out valuable time and being with us today. It is indeed a great encouragement for the children to meet their role models who interact with them and help create memories forever”

The event was co- hosted by Plan India supporters, Sangeeta Assomull and Ramola Bachchan and the funds raised from the event would be utilized for the Plan’s various education related projects across the country under the campaign, Because I am a Girl. Ms Rani Mukherjee was the guest of Honour and the dance performance by children of Plan community trained by Shaimak Dawar, Victory Art Foundation lighted up the evening.

Speaking at the occasion Bhagyashri Dengle, Executive Director, Plan India said: “Plan has spent over 30 years in India, dedicating itself to the cause of children’s empowerment. It is a proven fact that girls face twice the discrimination because of the gender and age. Empowering girls is an effective tool for fighting poverty, increasing education and ending violence - it is a catalyst for overall social, economic and political development. Each one of us has been blessed with the power to make a meaningful difference in the lives of disadvantaged children, especially girls. I encourage you to join hands with Plan India to help children be the active and leading participants in their own development and enable their voices to be heard”.

Anil Kapoor, Patron, Plan India: “My journey with Plan has been a long and fulfilling one. Having witnessed their work first hand on many occasions, I was truly inspired by what I saw. Plan’s work puts children at the heart of everything that they do and hence make a lasting difference to their lives.  Please join me in extending support to Plan’s “Because I am a Girl Campaign” to enable girls have a better future”.

A very rich collection of inspired creations by celebrated jewelry designers, contemporary artists, fashion designers and Italian brands was presented at the auction. Collectors looked forward to bidding for Art   by celebrated artists like Akbar Padamsee, M F Hussian, Ranbir Kaleka, Sunil Padwal, Hemi Bawa, Shobha Broota, Seema Kohli, Binoy Varghese etc. The collection included luxury items, destination holidays and cruises.

Of special interest was the first photographic work of veteran designer JJ Vallaya who decided to auction his debut creation for Plan India. A limited edition diamond studded pendant by SH Raza and a limited edition Blvgari wrist watch - the 45th of only 125 pieces in the world along with a Salvador Dali lithograph was among the exhibits.