Wada Na Todo Abhiyan

Launching Event in Mumbai

Invitation

Background of WNTA

The conscious citizens and civil society groups are in the process of raising concerns with their respective Governments on the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) that were accepted in the United Nation’s Millennium Summit in 2000 by 189 UN Member States. Wada Na Todo Abhiyan (‘Keep Your Promises’ Campaign) emerged in India out of the initial civil society discussions on MDGs held after the World Social Forum at Mumbai in January 2004.

The promises made by Indian Government in relation to MDG through National Development Goals and Common Minimum Programme provided a legitimate ground to build a citizen’s movement for Governance Accountability. At the National level series of meetings and events are being organized to address the issues of poverty, loss of livelihoods, ill health, etc. Many States such as Rajasthan, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh etc. have been actively participating in this National Campaign by evolving their State specific agendas.

Process in Maharashtra

Maharashtra is considered as one of the developed states of India and yet, over 30% of the population is still living below poverty line, nearly 2000 indebted farmers have taken their lives since 2001, more than 50% women still face domestic violence, child labour still persists, government hospitals are poorly equipped with medicines and appliances and the youth are facing acute problems of unemployment. In this situation various grassroots actors, institutes, networks, alliances, wish to undertake a collective campaign on the issues of Governance accountability towards poverty alleviation.

In a State level workshop on “Governance Accountability and Poverty Alleviation” held in Mumbai on 8^th and 19^th September, it was decided that ‘Wada Na Todo Abhiyan’ would be launched in the State. At the National level a call was given for a month of mobilization across the country to demand the accountability of the Government towards poverty alleviation. Accordingly, it was decided that region specific launching events would be organised on a common date i.e. 17^th October 2006, which is also being remembered as International Anti-Poverty Day.

Consequently each commissionerate region in rural areas such as Marathwada, Konkan, and Western Maharashtra has planned their own activities. Mumbai being the active center of movements, a special event is thought for the city.

Your participation is necessary

With the presence of sensitive citizens and representatives of various types of civil society organizations we think it is important to share and discuss about the status of promises made by the Governments that are impacting lives of each citizen, and take your inputs to establish linkages with our struggles for peaceful society and to initiate strategic actions to demand with our Governments to accomplish the promises to end poverty and achieve Millennium Development Goals.

For this we invite your organisation for a meeting at

St. Xavier’s College,

1^st Floor, Multi Media Room,

5, Mahapalika Marg,

Mumbai 400 001

Date:   17^th October 2006

Time:  2 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.

Please make it convenient to attend

On Behalf of State Working Group:

Datta Patil, Eknath Awhad, Lalit Babar, Thomas B., Mangala Daithankar, Mohan Surve, Amitabh Behar

Contact Persons for Mumbai Event:

¨      Baliram Balsaraf, Sampark (9869030292)

¨      Bhagwan Kesbhat, YUVA (24116393 / 9819060735)

¨      Mohan Surve, Vikas Sahyog Pratishthan (9869250410