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Update 26 Dear friends: The "Note for Participating Organizations" contains important information for all those organizations that are involved in the Rozgar Adhikar Yatra. After this note, there is a list of a few forthcoming employment-related events. ROZGAR ADHIKAR YATRA NOTE FOR PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS An extended "rozgar adhikar yatra" will be launched from Delhi on 13 May 2005, and continue until the end of June. The aim of this Yatra is to affirm the right to work as an aspect of the fundamental right to live with dignity. In particular we demand the immediate adoption of a full-fledged, universal and irreversible Employment Guarantee Act (EGA). The Yatra is a follow-up to the "display of banners" of 21 December 2004, when thousands of banners from all over the country, bearing about 10 lakh signatures demanding a full-fledged EGA, were displayed in Parliament Street (New Delhi). The banners will travel with the Yatra and be displayed in various places on the way. The main slogan is "har haath ko kaam do, kaam ka pura daam do". The Yatra is a joint effort involving many organizations committed to the right to work. It is being planned (at very short notice!) in a highly "decentralized" manner: the Yatra relies mainly on local organizations to plan the activities and make the necessary arrangements in their own area. This note has been prepared to facilitate this process. Details of the Yatra Route: The Yatra will be leaving Delhi (from Constitution Club, Rafi Marg) on 13 May 2004. It will pass through the states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. The proposed itinerary is attached. The Yatra is expected to return to Delhi at the end of June. The Yatra will proceed from District to District, with one or two days being spent in each District. There is a special focus on Districts covered under the National Food For Work Programme (NFFWP). Transport: The Yatra will proceed in a bus (about 45 seats) - the same bus for the entire journey. The bus will be decorated with banners from the December event. Participants: Few participants, if any, will travel the entire route. Instead, the Yatra is envisaged as a "relay", with participants from local organizations traveling some distance with the Yatra and then "handing over" to other organizations in the next area. Stay and Hospitality: The Yatra is being organized on a shoestring budget and depends heavily on local hospitality to move forward. It is hoped that local groups will be able to make arrangements for food and a place to stay. Contributions to diesel costs, where possible, are also welcome. Speakers: A number of "invited speakers" will be asked to join the Yatra. The idea is partly to ensure that the Yatra includes some effective speakers at every step, and partly to facilitate media work. If you have ideas of invited speakers please contact the Delhi team (see below). Media: The Delhi team will be attempting to draw national media attention to the Yatra. However, local media coverage is no less important, and therefore local groups are encouraged to mobilize the media in their areas. If you need help with media material (e.g. press kits, background material, general information) please contact the Delhi team or check the "Rozgar Adhikar Yatra" info on the web (see below). Finances: The Yatra is a leap of faith in the generosity of the public. A decision has been made not to approach funding agencies for support. A "chanda" (collection of donations) has begun in Delhi, and it will continue on the way. Support from participating organizations, e.g. in the form of local hospitality or contributions to transport costs, is also welcome. Events and Activities The planning of local events is left to local organizations. Suggestions that have already come up at preparatory meetings include:
Preparatory Meetings It was suggested that it would be helpful if local groups convene preparatory meetings at the District level in advance of the Yatra, with active participation of all local mass organizations, including trade unions, students' groups, women's groups, farmers and agricultural workers unions, youth organizations, dalit organizations, etc. At these preparatory meetings, please decide on one or two "contact persons" for your District. This will help local organizations to contact each other. Please send contact details of these people to the Delhi team (see below) as soon as possible, for wider circulation. Contact Details and Further Info In Delhi: At the first preparatory meeting, held in Delhi on 1 April 2004, the office of People's Action for Employment Guarantee (PAEG) was asked to act as a general contact point for the Yatra. The PAEG office details are as follows: Location: Siddiqui Building, Bara Hindu Rao, 6122 Bahadurgarh Road, Delhi 110 006. Tel: 011-2351 0042, 5514 0814 (Priya), 09811087811 (Navjyoti), 09811553633 (Annie), 09810810365 (Subhash). E-mail: rozgar@gmail.com Correspondence address: c/o B-19, Subavana Niketan, Pitampura, New Delhi 110 034. Yatra on the web: A special section on the Rozgar Adhikar Yatra is available at www.righttofoodindia.org (the website of the right to food campaign). Updated information, including contact details of local organizations, will be posted there from time to time. This note was prepared by People's Action for Employment Guarantee, based on two preparatory meetings held in Delhi in April 2004. People's Action for Employment Guarantee is an informal platform of organizations that came together in December 2004 around the demand for a full-fledged and universal Employment Guarantee Act, as an aspect of the right to work and the right to life with dignity. For further details see the "employment guarantee" section at www.righttofoodindia.org. FORTHCOMING EVENTS 1 May: International Workers' Day. Demonstrations across the country. This occasion will also be used to launch a "chanda" (collection of donations) for the Rozgar Adhikar Yatra. 5 May: Rally of unorganized sector workers in Delhi. Main demands include a full-fledged Employment Guarantee Act and comprehensive legislation for unorganized sector workers. People will assemble at Ram Lila Grounds at 11 am. For details contact the National Campaign Committee for Unorganised Sector Workers (c/o Subhash Bhatnagar, tel 9810810365 or nirmana@vsnl.com). 6 May: Third and final preparatory meeting for the Rozgar Adhikar Yatra. Details will be circulated a.s.a.p. 8-9 May: NAFRE convention on the right to work in Jodhpur. For details contact Ambarish Rai (Amb1857@yahoo.com) or nafredel@rediffmail.com 10 May: Dharna and march to Parliament, organized by All India Agricultural Labourers Alliance (AIALA) jointly with the All India Kisan Sangharsh Samiti. The demands include "employment guarantee for all and a central legislation for agricultural labourers and food-for-work scheme to be implemented in every district and each village". For details contact the CPI-ML(Liberation) office in Delhi, tel 2252 1067. 13 May: Launch of the Rozgar Adhikar Yatra from Constitution Club (New Delhi) at 9 am. For details write to rozgar@gmail.com or contact People's Action for Employment Guarantee (tel 011-2351 0042). Last updated: 4 May 2005
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