CRY's call at the Mumbai Marathon

On January 20, 2008, CRY (Child Rights & You) will run the Mumbai Marathon to start a campaign for free and equal education for all children. Powered by the same belief, nearly 170 others from varied backgrounds are also running with CRY. This is the second consecutive year that CRY is part of the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon.

CRY believes that education enables each child to grow and explore her potential to the fullest. CRY’s education campaign reiterates the Constitutional promise to children to provide equal, free education to all (Sabko Shiksha, Saman Shiksha).

CRY points out that the poor quality of government schools often forces parents to opt for private schooling. In other words, people are paying for what should come free of cost. In Mumbai, the BMC schools are supposed to provide free education and also 27 other articles, including books, bags, uniforms and even a midday meal, free to all schoolchildren.

The BMC budget for education just for Mumbai exceeds Rs 1000 crores per year. CRY puts across a valid question ’Why are we not making government schools work?’

This campaign is part of a larger call to action across the Maharashtra and Gujarat. CRY is committed to mobilize citizens to demand equity and quality education for all children and thus it demands universalization of quality education.

CRY says ‘At the Mumbai Marathon, let every footfall count to make education free and equal for all children’