Supporting Right To Education Campaign Prashant Jawalikar

Objectives To support the Right to education campaign; To support the Right to education campaign; To contribute to the campaign by means of time and resources; To contribute to the campaign by means of time and resources;

Background As per the constitution of India all children in the age group 6 to 14 have a fundamental right to free and compulsory education as will be detailed in law by the government. As per the constitution of India all children in the age group 6 to 14 have a fundamental right to free and compulsory education as will be detailed in law by the government. In original constitution it was stated as: In original constitution it was stated as: "The State shall endeavor to provide within a period of ten years from the commencement of this Constitution, for free and compulsory education for all children until they complete the age of fourteen years." "The State shall endeavor to provide within a period of ten years from the commencement of this Constitution, for free and compulsory education for all children until they complete the age of fourteen years." The Supreme Court in the case Unnikrishnan vs. State of Andhra Pradesh (1993) ruled that the right to education is a fundamental right that flows from the Right to life in Article 21 of the Constitution. In 1997 constitutional amendment making education a fundamental right was envisaged by Government of India and in 2002 education as a fundamental right was passed in the form of 86th amendment. The Supreme Court in the case Unnikrishnan vs. State of Andhra Pradesh (1993) ruled that the right to education is a fundamental right that flows from the Right to life in Article 21 of the Constitution. In 1997 constitutional amendment making education a fundamental right was envisaged by Government of India and in 2002 education as a fundamental right was passed in the form of 86th amendment.

Current Situation Education is a concurrent subject, meaning it’s a responsibility of both State and Central government. By not passing a Central legislation for Right to Education the Central government is abdicating its duties under the constitution. Education is a concurrent subject, meaning it’s a responsibility of both State and Central government. By not passing a Central legislation for Right to Education the Central government is abdicating its duties under the constitution. By providing only a Model bill the central government is not obligated to provide any financial assistance to State governments for implementing the Fundamental Right. By providing only a Model bill the central government is not obligated to provide any financial assistance to State governments for implementing the Fundamental Right. It may run schemes like Sarva Shikha Abhiyan which are not obligatory but voluntary. It may run schemes like Sarva Shikha Abhiyan which are not obligatory but voluntary.

Why did the govt. dropped the bill? Main reason no money!! Main reason no money!! Education being a fundamental right it is an obligation of the government to provide the same. And hence this has first right over government resources. Education being a fundamental right it is an obligation of the government to provide the same. And hence this has first right over government resources. Some Instances of Central Government spending: [S1] Some Instances of Central Government spending: [S1][S1] In the year an additional Rs. 5,010 crore was collected through the 2% education cess for funding universal basic education, but only Rs.2000 crore extra was spent for the purpose. In the year an additional Rs. 5,010 crore was collected through the 2% education cess for funding universal basic education, but only Rs.2000 crore extra was spent for the purpose. The funds given in form of corporate subsidy (in terms of lost revenue generation) through the SEZ bill (which was passed in 2005) stands at Rs.90,000 crore as per finance ministry of India. The funds given in form of corporate subsidy (in terms of lost revenue generation) through the SEZ bill (which was passed in 2005) stands at Rs.90,000 crore as per finance ministry of India. Government has allocated Rs. 9,320 crore in for National highway Development Program (NHDP). Government has allocated Rs. 9,320 crore in for National highway Development Program (NHDP). Government has promised to spend an additional Rs.20,000 crore (estimated) on increasing seats in higher education institutions over the next three years. Government has promised to spend an additional Rs.20,000 crore (estimated) on increasing seats in higher education institutions over the next three years.

How much money it takes? What would it take to fund this bill? What would it take to fund this bill? The CABE report suggests that the implementation of the Bill will require an additional amount between Rs 3,21,000 crore and Rs 4,26,000 crore over six years -- an annual average of Rs 53,500 crore to Rs 72,700 crore in addition to the Rs 47,100 crore that is being spent on elementary education currently ( ). The amount budgeted to be raised by the Education Cess in is Rs 6,875 crore, and assuming this grows at the nominal GDP growth (assumed at 12.2% by the CABE Committee for its calculations), it would cover just 15-20% of the additional requirement. The report also points out that state governments may be fiscally constrained from funding incremental expenditure as required to implement the provisions of this Bill, and the entire burden may have to be borne by the central government. This would imply an estimated increase of 6.4%-8.5% to the central government’s annual budget. This would imply an estimated increase of 6.4%-8.5% to the central government’s annual budget.

Campaign Demands Not abdicate its constitutional obligation; Not abdicate its constitutional obligation; Recognize the importance of elementary education; Recognize the importance of elementary education; Present the Right to Education Bill in the Indian Parliament; Present the Right to Education Bill in the Indian Parliament; Provide for Free and Equitable Education; Provide for Free and Equitable Education; Make Right to Education Enforceable and Justiciable; Make Right to Education Enforceable and Justiciable; Provide space for public feedback and criticism; Provide space for public feedback and criticism; Provide for Timely Implementation of the Bill; Provide for Timely Implementation of the Bill;

Why should we support? Role good education played in our lives; Role good education played in our lives; Priorities of the government, why can’t it spend on universal education? We should not make the government run away from its responsibilities. Priorities of the government, why can’t it spend on universal education? We should not make the government run away from its responsibilities. It’s the poor and marginalized who will benefit from the schemes; Good public education is critical to development of these weak sections of the society; It’s the poor and marginalized who will benefit from the schemes; Good public education is critical to development of these weak sections of the society; As AID we should hold the government responsible to people it is supposed to serve. As AID we should hold the government responsible to people it is supposed to serve.

ASHA Silicon Valley Efforts Accountability Protest on 14 th August at the Indian Consulate; Accountability Protest on 14 th August at the Indian Consulate; Other upcoming efforts Other upcoming efforts Publicizing the issue locally; 15 th August Melas, etc. Publicizing the issue locally; 15 th August Melas, etc. Online petitions, etc. Online petitions, etc. Media support; Media support; Future efforts Future efforts Pressurizing the GoI to take up RTE bill; Pressurizing the GoI to take up RTE bill; Provide feedback on various sections of RTE bill; Provide feedback on various sections of RTE bill;

Resolution “AID Bay Area chapter extends its support to the right to education campaign. We demand the Government of India address the following demands of the campaign” Abide by its constitutional obligation; Abide by its constitutional obligation; Recognize the importance of elementary education; Recognize the importance of elementary education; Present the Right to Education Bill in the Indian Parliament; Present the Right to Education Bill in the Indian Parliament; Provide for Free and Equitable Education; Provide for Free and Equitable Education; Make Right to Education Enforceable and Justiciable; Make Right to Education Enforceable and Justiciable; Provide space for public feedback and criticism; Provide space for public feedback and criticism; Provide for Timely Implementation of the Bill; Provide for Timely Implementation of the Bill;

Individual Responsibility Read and educate yourself about the issue Read and educate yourself about the issue Or atleast talk to the folks from the campaign and know the basics; Or atleast talk to the folks from the campaign and know the basics; Sign the petition and forward it to friends and family; Sign the petition and forward it to friends and family; Participate in the campaign by providing your technical, artistic, and/or other skills; Participate in the campaign by providing your technical, artistic, and/or other skills; Donate when and where needed; Donate when and where needed; “Aachaarvihinaam na punanti vedaha” “Aachaarvihinaam na punanti vedaha”