Patna, 22nd June 2009 – Plan India, a child centered development organization, launched its fifth state level campaign "Learn without Fear" in Bihar. The objective of the campaign is to create an environment which can prevent all forms of violence in schools. This campaign is about preventing all forms of violence against children in schools. It includes corporal punishment, sexual abuse, neglect, verbal abuse, emotional abuse, bullying, peer-to-peer violence, youth gangs, use of weapons, and harassment in school and on the journey to and from school.
Plan India launched its nationwide advocacy campaign aimed at preventing violence against children in schools on 20th November 2008 in New Delhi.
In Bihar, Plan India has been working with the children, teachers and government in building awareness on "Safer Schools". In this process Plan India in co-ordination with its partner ADITI were involved in the production of four documentary films - Education, Gender Discrimination & Problems faced in Co Education schools. The children also prepared two plays "AAB ANKUR BOLEGA" & "AISA KAISA BACHPAN", which expressed views of children on safer schools. The plays were based on physical and mental abuse a child goes through in schools.
The "Voices of Children" that highlighted issues of violence in schools were exhibited in the form of comics, cartoons, radio jingles, animation and short films. The key elements of non attendance in schools identified by the children were corporal punishment, bullying and neglect and discrimination. The exhibition was inaugurated in presence of Ramdeo Prasad, Chairman, Child Labour Commission, Bihar, K.P Rammaiah, Secretary, Social Welfare (ST & SC), Govt. of Bihar, Vijoy Prakash, Secretary, Rural Development, Govt. of Bihar, Jitendra Kumar Sinha, District Magistrate, Patna, Ms. Lilly Vishwanathan , Advocacy Manager, Plan India and Mr. Arvind Singh, Executive Director, NIDAN.
To gain more support from different stakeholders such as dignified personalities, educationist, Govt. officials, media a group of 800 – 1000 children will take out rally to support the campaign on 23rd June at Gandhi Maidan.
The representatives from various fields affirmed their support to the campaign by putting pen to a signature campaign against violence in schools. At the national level the signature campaign was kick started by Mr. Anil Kapoor, noted Actor, and Patron of Plan India. The campaign will travel across India to gather support for providing safer learning environment for children.
Ms Lilly Vishwanathan, Advocacy Manager, Plan India added, "The campaign will be actively implemented in Bihar and the objectives set for next three years is to increase awareness among children, teachers, parents, educational administrators and communities at the national, state and local levels on the negative impact of violence on children and their right to learn in safe (violence free) environment in schools."
On the implementation of the campaign, Mr. Arvind Singh, Executive Director, NIDAN added, "In the program areas where Plan India and we are working, Plan India will offer training and support to teachers and communities to help reduce violence and we will work with school authorities and advocates for "Safe schools" in Bihar."
The state level campaign for "Learn without Fear" has been launched in Uttrakhand & Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh & Orissa. The next step is to launch the campaign in Rajasthan.
About Plan India 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 India is a child-centered development organization that aims to promote Child Rights and improve the quality of life of vulnerable children. Plan India is a part of Plan, founded in 1937 after the Spanish Civil War and currently works in 68 countries. In India, Plan works in 11states and has directly impacted lives of over a million children and their families since 1979 and empowered them to realize their potential.
Our child centered community development interventions focus on Child Protection and Child Participation, Children in Difficult Circumstances, Health, Education, HIV / AIDS, Early Childhood Care and Development, Water and Environment Sanitation, Disaster Preparedness, Household Economic and Social Security and Community Governance.
The basis of Plan’s work lies in its commitment to the principle of equality and rights, developing the capacity of civil society to enable them to meet their needs and replicating successful models that have worked.
Log in to www.planindia.org for more information or visit http://learnwithoutfear.in/
