Banner project

This is a special page created to provide information on the ‘banner project’ to mobilise public support for the immediate enactment of Employment Guarantee Act.

About the project

A massive ‘banner project’ has been launched to mobilise public support for the immediate enactment of the employment guarantee act. The idea is to collect signatures (demanding an EGA) on banners from all over the country, from now until 10 December. After 10 December, the banners will be brought to Delhi for a creative public display of "people's voices from around the country".

In order to spread information on EGA to all corners of the country efforts are on to collect signatures on at least one banner from each of six-hundred districts in India. In case you are interested in being a part of the project, please send a line to rozgar@gmail.com or get in touch with Vivek S (30917116).

How to go about it

The basics: prepare a banner with slogans demanding the immediate enactment of employment guarantee act. On the bottom right corner of the banner print the name of the district, state and your organisation. Since all banners will be stitched together before the grand display in Delhi it would be convenient to have all banners in one size. Please consider using old saris (or banners of that size) as banners. Using light coloured banners will ensure that the signatures are clear and visible. Ensure that signatures are collected using markers so that they are visible and durable. In case you use dark coloured banners carry white markers, silver pens or gold ink that will ensure that the signatures are clearly visible.

Prachar and publicity: The key aim of the project is to take the message about employment guarantee far and wide and to mobilise public support for the Act. Collecting signatures should be accompanied by extensive prachar (publicity) for EGA. It would be useful to distribute pamphlets widely on EGA (see section on campaign materials). Volunteers carrying the banners should talk to people about EGA before collecting signatures. Materials such as folders, little booklets and other materials that are more durable than pamphlets can be distributed so that people have something to preserve. “EGA Made Simple” is available for such purposes at the cost of Rs. 3 per booklet.

Collecting signatures: there are several creative ways of collecting signatures. Some initial ideas include (1) displaying the banners in public places (2) organising street corner meetings (3) organising special meetings to discuss EGA (4) covering the city with street-plays (5) organising rallies and collecting signatures extensively in the process (6) taking the banners to meetings and rallies organised by other organisations (7) cycle yatras covering your district, etc.

In case you do an extensive campaign and collect several banners you may like to give serial numbers to the banners and may be write a one-line introduction to how you collected these in one of the banners.

Duration of the project

The process of collecting signatures has started. This will gather momentum till December 10 (Human rights day). After this, the banners will be sent to various ‘collection centres’ to relay the banners to Delhi.

Involving the media

The project presents an excellent opportunity to mobilise media on this issue. Creative media planning is essential to get required media coverage on the issue. A media guide is being prepared on media mobilisation. Some initial suggestions include (1) get people to write editorials and articles on EGA (2) collect signatures and statements of support from well recognised people such as MPs, MLAs, cultural activists, and others. Ensure that this is covered by photographers as well as reporters (3) organise a press conference (4) organise rallies, cycle yatras, puppet shows, and other events that will get good coverage.

Encouraging other organisations

As mentioned above, the chief purpose of the banner project is to take the message about EGA to all parts of the country. Please consider spreading information about EGA and the project widely. Local conventions could be organised to discuss EGA. Even if each organisation ensures extensive prachar within the district, we would have taken the message about EGA far and wide.

Sending the banners to Delhi

Several organisations and networks are volunteering to act as ‘collection centres’ for the banners. A preliminary list will be added soon to the website.

Further ideas for action

You can also help the campaign by writing in local media, translating materials into your local language, organising small discussions, preparing songs and other cultural materials, getting the endorsement of the local MP, MLA and other political functionaries, send petitions to the Prime Minister, organise delegations to all parties, etc

For more information

This section of the website will be updated regularly with additional information. So please keep visiting this regularly. You can also write to us at rozgar@gmail.com for further information.

Slogans for banners

Har hath ko kam do, kam ka poora dam do (Work for every one; full wage for work done)

Trishul nahin, talwar nahin, kam ka adhikar chahiye (we do not want trishuls and talwars, we want the right to work!)

Local contacts

To be added soon.