Nange Paon Ka dard

The Nange Paon Satyagraha is a social movement which culminated from a social commitment. Mr. Rajesh Singh Sisodia (a child right activist) on12th March 1999, pledged to remain barefoot in order to reflect the situation of barefoot children on one hand and to sensitize government, political parties, N.G.Os and other stakeholders towards deplorable plight of children languishing in vulnerability on the other.

Nobody knows the weight of other’s burden……But we realized it.
Unless one realizes his/her mission the steps may be impractical, hence to realize the pains borne by the children in poverty, Sisodia contemplated to stay barefoot placing following demands before the provincial government:
· Total ban on child labor.
· Stringent laws on child prostitution.
Ultimately the pain & pierce of bare footedness led to vision & mission of the Satyagraha. We struggled first; later on we sang our doings not for sake of popularity, projects and awards but for social evaluation; in order to find where we were right or wrong and to correct our path if found on a wrong track. We did not have any path during initiation of this step, we made them by walking.
Till 20th July 2001, this step was a social commitment or in other words a step taken while emotion on his driver’s seat. By that time Nange Paon alias Bare-foot was a mere pledge as Sisodia was state level functionary of a movement called Bachpan Bachao Andolan. On 20th July2001 well wishers and admirers of this dashing step gathered and decided to give this step a concrete shape. Hence Nange Paon Satyagraha came in to being.
The Satyagraha did set some goals to be achieved with in a short span of time.
Till 2004, Nange Paon emerged out as a child rights group.
Vision: Every one has an access to “Equality of status and opportunity”.
Mission: “To make efforts for accessibility of equal opportunities to all; and; against all those traditions, customs, policies and practices which hinder accessibility of equal opportunities?”
What is Nange Paon all about?
There are various views regarding definition of the word “Nange Paon”. To first Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Sri Ajit Jogi, Nange Paon symbolizes social rejection, economic disparities and political exploitation which the poor are subjected to. Our agreement to this statement is cent percent.
Sri Narendra Kumar a policy analyst and initiator of Public Advocacy in North India though consonant with the above stated views helped us identifying our stakeholders. To him the following segments fall under category of Nange Paon:
· Women & children.
· Victims of corruption who remain untouched by the government schemes.
· Labors that are forced to migrate.
· Dalit and adivasis.
· Cobblers, landless and shelter less.
· Beggars and rickshaw pullers.
· Sweepers & khalasis.
· Non-timber forests produce collectors.
· Unheard & un starred by the government.
· Unsung by media, society and the politicians.
Why Nange Paon exists?
It is evidently clear that unheard, unsung, un starred and the less fortunate ones who are victims of inequality are constituents of this category. Inequality prevails due to structural defects. If one has to wage a war against inequality an effective battle with the following maladies is imperative:
· Inequitable education system which blatantly denies equality of status and opportunity right from the childhood of an individual.
· Non implementation of egalitarian laws.
· Continuance of practices and traditions which encourage class divisions.
· Communalism and casteism.
· Corruption.
· Ignorance.
· Land reforms could not take place properly.
· Fatalism.
· Archaic laws [Most of the regulatory laws date back to pre – independence period]
· Biased public transport system [Railways]
· Capitalism and feudalism.
· Red tapism.
· Indifference towards women and children.
Of above depicted reasons responsible for prevalence of Nange Paon phenomenon, we attempted to slog some selected reasons and contemplate to fight all, with the help of commitment which we have as capital with us.
Challenging: One consumerist maxim “A man is known by the shoes he wears” has been effectively challenged by us. Our belief about the identity is in confrontation with this. To us a man is known by his compassion, his deeds, his dare, his selflessness & lastly his devotion for a right cause. With out wearing shoes we could establish a credible identity among various sectors of the society. It was barefooted ness of the pilgrims which helped us establish an identity. Hence our disagreement with this maxim has received societal sanction.

New directions: We sought to provide a new direction to the voluntary sector in terms of values, devotion & commitment. In the present era, projects have assumed the place of value whereas programs determine devotion and commitment of the organization towards project. An organization is not known by its actions & values but by the projects it runs. We challenged this also. Without any donors support, we are identical to the garreteers of different sectors. Big organizations are not so much known as us even after having enormous funds at their disposal.

Rationale: The process of development is complex and multi-dimensional. This process involves structural, institutional, attitudinal and value changes on the personal, social and cultural levels and also demands efforts in terms of obligation, commitment and organization. But whatever processes were initiated by the system have made the poor woefully neglected.
Whatever declaration be it, the words equality, equity and equitable are given exclusive significance. Equality is thus ornamental to all policies, but the practice has just a reverse story to reveal. All the sectors are embedded in to sections. Fragmentation on the basis of social, political and economic status has become a common phenomenon. Children, women and the poor are worst victims of this phenomenon. In the esteemed lines of preamble to our constitution, we are guaranteed “equality of status and opportunity”. But there are many traditions, customs, policies and practices which hamper equality among all.
What we demanded
As we kept achieving our demands sporadically, as our interaction with the poorest never ended, as our realization was continual, so our demands kept changing.
Demands as on 12.03.1999
· Bring whole Madhya Pradesh under coverage of National Child Labor Project.
· Introduce more stringent laws on Child labor and prostitution.
· Ensure free, compulsory but equitable education.

Demands as on 20.07.2001
· Set up National Commission for Children.
· Scale up National Child Labor Project by increasing the stipend amount of “Under-rehabilitation child labors”.
· Induction of Human Rights as a subject in the academic courses.
· Ensure free, compulsory but equitable education.
Demands as on 20.07.2004
· Increase the number of “General Bogies “in trains.
· For making the Police accountable, implement recommendations of the National Police Commission.
· Constitute “Land Commission in Chhattisgarh” for speedy disposal of land disputes and grievances.
· Ensure free, compulsory but equitable education.
Demands Today
· Constitute “Land Commission in Chhattisgarh”.
· Increase the number of “General Bogies” in trains.
· Ensure free, compulsory but equitable education.

Hence, equitable education is the long term demand of ours……

But what is “Equitable Education”?
Similarity among schools in syllabus, strength of students, size of the building, staff structure and uniform is equitable education.
Is it impossible?
No, it is really difficult but not impossible.
Is it possible right now?
No, it will necessarily consume time. Nange Paon Satyagraha solicits the will of society and the government in this direction.

What did we achieve? Since our efforts in form of obligation and commitment had no parallel, as they helped us establish credible identity, we got our following major demands met:
1. Increase in stipend of “Under-rehabilitation” child labors of N.C.L.P.
2. N.C.L.P. broad based to newer districts.
3. Human Rights Education got a space in academic courses.
4. Parliament passes “National Commission for Children bill.
5. States formulate New Police Act.

Elect Those Who Offer Shoes…….
Led to ambitious
Charan Paduka Program by Raman Singh government in Chhattisgarh
During last Legislative Assembly elections of 2003 in Chhattisgarh, we launched a sticker campaign “Elect those who offer Shoes”, drawing the attention of contestants towards the bare-foot people. Consequently, the Raman Singh Government in C.G. realizing the sensitivity of the demand launched a program of distributing shoes to the bare-foot tendu leave collectors. It was our moral victory as the bare-foot ones became priority of any government.

Sporadic demands which received attention of policy makers and policy advocates:
1. Increase in number of N.G.Os slogging the menace of child labor & prostitution.
2. Governments initiate school enrollment campaign.
3. Governments insist upon the private schools to impart “fee-free education’ to children of lower rungs.
4. The Chhattisgarh government puts a step forward on direction of equitable education by imparting “English Language” in schools of rural areas.
5. The Central government guide lined the state governments for posting only direct I.P.S. officers as Superintendents of Police at the district level.
6. The Chhattisgarh government resolves to take back the “allotted lands” from the industrial houses which are not running at all and if being used for other than industrial purpose.
7. Reforms in railways start taking place.
8. One case of “Fake-arrest” was successfully lobbied by us in whom five innocent victims were released from the jail as a consequence of our persistent lobbying.
At our direct intervention point Surguja, we could establish identity & recognition among the lawyers, doctors, bureaucrats, media, N.G.Os and the politicians’ community. At the state level too our linkages with the N.G.Os, media and the politicians is our major strength.
We consider recognition by different actors as our “biggest demand met”.
What we do...
{1} Informative information center: We could develop an informative information center in eight years. We do have publications on different subjects. Below depicted table informs about strength of the information center.
S.no.
Subject
Number of publications
1
Human Rights
130
2
Child Rights
183
3
Institutional Development
215
4
Personality Development
41
5
Women’s issues
15
6
Panchayat Raj
100
7
Health
45
8
Agriculture, forestry, disaster management
& Other varied issues
130
9
Research papers on different issues
20 files
10
Brochures of other organizations
500
Not only this but also press-clipping on different issues scanned on daily basis from the newspapers. Newspaper clippings provide a strong argumentation base, which are necessary for any campaign to be mounted. Since eight years, strong bunches of clippings on below stated issues have been accumulated.
We collect in formations form the newspapers about:
1. Children related matters. 2. Elementary education.
3. Migration. 4. Human rights.
5. Torture upon women. 6. Policy related & political.
7. Public distribution system. 8. Railways.
9. Land related 10. Naxal violence.
11. Police. 12. Nange Paon Satyagraha.
13. about other organizations. 14. Health.
15. Market. 16. Corruption.
17. NREGA.
{2} Broadcasting Center:- Playing successfully the role of an effective broadcasting center, Satyagraha screamed on different matters, through different mediums.
S.no.
Medium of Broadcasting
Matter related to
1.
Newspapers( using the local media)
NREGA, police, human rights,
land, education, child right
Fake arrests.

2.
Stickers
Nange Paon Satyagraha, railway
Police, election campaign.
3.
Hand – bill
Nange Paon satyagrah, custom
milling rice, land, corruption,
Common education.
4.
Radio (all India radio)
SHGs and rural development ,
human rights, NGOs, child
labor, labor rights, bonded
labor and literacy.

5.
Brochures
Nange Paon Satyagraha.

{3} Lobbying Center: For galvanizing the society on different issues, any social movement has to lobby the matters of those issues. We too did that. Issue wise numbers of matters are as under:
No.
Subject
Before
Number of matters.
1.
Land

51
2.
Police atrocities

60
3.
Health
Our regular
mailing list
34
4.
Corruption

45
5.
Child labor

18
6.
Railways

1
7.
Education

5
8.
Human Rights

53
9

Right to in formation

83
10
others(public interest)

40

{4} Research and documentation: On what ever issue we sought to intervene, we consolidated our understanding on those by having our document. Since our inception we worked out the following publications:
1. Condition of tribal children.
2. Child labor in fireworks industries.
3. Free, compulsory but equitable education system: last resort to combat child labor.
4. Farjee giraftarion kee janjeerein tooteein (Shackles of fake-arrests broken)
5. Dwandaatmak sthition mein manav adhikaron kaa awhaan (Addressing human rights in conflict situations.
6. Blue-print on human rights education.
7. We contributed compilation of following reports for Pairvi, Delhi:
· Status of Child Rights in Chhattisgarh.
· Status of Child Rights in Uttar Pradesh.
· Status of Human Rights in Chhattisgarh.
{5} Networking and alliance-building: We network with the vulnerable groups, affected people, like-minded people & N.G.Os, media persons, business houses, and young professionals.
{6) Sit-ins are important stoppages of the voyage called Satyagraha. Apart from participation in protests of other reputed movements like Ekta Parishad, Bach pan Bachao Andolan, Chhattisgarh Bal Shramik Sang than, Dalit Dasta Virodhi Andolan and many others, we at our own organized:
· One day long “sit-in” in the collector ate premises of Morena district demanding immediate arrest of kidnappers of a female child Shanti on the human rights day the 10th December, 1999.
· One day long sit-in before Superintendent of Police residence in Police district-Balrampur demanding retreat of armed security forces from Surguja district on 24th August, 2004.
· One day long sit-in before collector ate Surguja demanding constitution of “Land commission in Chhattisgarh” on 26th August, 2005.
· One day long sit-in at Moti bag, Raipur on 1st August 2006 demanding action upon promoters of rice mafia and the then Addl. Collector, Surguja who embezzled government money by floating fake and flimsy N.G.Os.
· One day long sit – in at the Budha Talaab, Raipur on 19thMarch 2008, demanding blanket ban on coal – smuggling in Bahtgawan coalfield area of Surguja district and systematizing the Public Distribution System in order to ensure accessibility of proper and improved quality of food grains through fair price shops to the poor.
Although, these sit-ins could not involve five-star activists yet the short term demands were met.

Bare-foot voyage of bare-foot pilgrims: In fact this social action is no less than a pilgrimage, a pilgrimage for the rights of the marginalized. Poor but daring youths came forward and showed their solidarity by remaining bare-foot:
· Sri Dinanath Kashi (former district level convener of the Satyagraha of Balrampur Police district) on 20th February 2002 handed over a memorandum to Collector, Surguja in underwear only.
· Sri Shiva Prasad Singh (Block development counselor of Lundra block of Surguja district) on 20th July 2004 resolved to remain bare-foot who remained in that position for two months.
· Sri Anna Naidu (a young social activist) on 20th April 2005 resolved to remain barefoot, who has completed more than two years in the same position. Ida logically he is with the Bahujan Samaj Party led by Ms.Mayawati.
· Sri Ashok Sahu (a merchant of Surajpur in Surguja district) is bare-foot since two years.
· Sri Baijnath Rathore (a social activist of Pendra in neighboring Bilaspur district who is bare-foot since many years) joined us during our training program during October, 2006.
· Sri Ramdhan Jeevan Ekka (a tribal youth from Kothari village of Pratappur block in Surguja district) resolved to remain bare-foot on 9th August 2007.
Apart from these fellows, some more activists remained bare-foot while our interventions whether it was a meeting or “sit-in”.

Failures: We failed mostly due to paucity of resources. Secondly, what ever social actions or social change interventions are initiated they intend development. Development should be seen as continuous process which reflects the aspirations of the people. Before involving them we need to know the factors affecting their work, health, education and culture. We failed to understand the socio-economic perspective somewhere, hence we could not plan:
· Socio-economic activities.
· Secondly the activists hailing from the lower rungs of society were untrained that’s why we could not professionalize our work.
· As Satyagraha in its true sense is passive resistance, we could not transform this in to active resistance by involving more and more people.
· We could not take form of a movement but played the role of a very good “advocacy campaign” and “lobbyist” at different levels.
· Strategies too had to be multi-dimensional looking to the complexity of inequality problem.
· Improper documentation.

What do the people say about us………………………………………..?
Had this voyage not found some encouraging words in its favor, it was quite difficult to set on. We can not forget those words which kept; us always full of courage and recharging our vigor. Following are the words we received from our well-wishers:
1. Ms. Amrita Sharma of the Gandhi Peace Foundation (New Delhi) stated this move as an endeavor of brightening the future of million of voiceless and helpless children and also told that these children are citizens of tomorrow. There could be no greater campaign or ritual greater than strengthening the foundations of their childhood and protecting the modesty of women.
2. Mr. Mukhtar Alam erstwhile functionary in Terre des Homes (Germany) appreciating this move pointed out that N.G.Os should determine their values & goals first prior to knocking the doors of donors.
3. Mr. Anil Dwedi of Regional Institute of Development extending warm appreciation for strong willpower marked this effort against the social injustice & exploitation of children.
4. Mrs. Jaya Patel of Dr. Ambedkar Seva Samiti, Rewa (M.P.) stated this pledge as catching a tarter. Scorching heat of desert, perennial rainfall of Cherapunji and snowy cold of the Himalayas can not deviate this pledge an inch. This may give a new direction to voluntary sector of strong will power, deep thinking and a new idea logy.
5. Social activists Mr. Surendra Ram from Garhwa (Jharkhand) & Ms. Shushma Guru, Bravery prize winner from Sagar (M.P) said that social values of this movement can not be described in words but this will lead towards vital changes in the prevailing social framework.
6. Mr. Ravi Net ram Director PATH said that there is no parallel of this step. To him it is a social movement which soon shall assume the shape of people’s movement.
7. Dr. Mukul Mukherji a social worker from Bilaspur (C.G.) while attending our state level workshop on child rights felt her guilty conscious, for putting on foot wears in a country where millions of children were barefoot.
8. Sri Nilesh Choubey district level functionary of National Child Labor Project- Durg found this pledge an exception and found himself too motivated by it.
9. Dr. Rakesh Dubey of B.G.V.S. Chhattisgarh quoting this step like “Quit India Movement” of Mahatma Gandhi is hopeful about success of Nange Paon Satyagraha.
10. Mr. Kranti Sahu a social worker from Bilaspur finds this step as an attempt of setting on right path the social disorder which prevails in form of inequality.
11. Mr. Sharad Vastrakar a social worker from Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh finds this effort a single of its kind.
12. Mr. Lakshami Jaiswal trainer in N.Y.K. Bilaspur appreciating this move expressed his desire to get involved with the Satyagraha.
13. Mr. Santosh Tiwari of Chhattisgarh Baal Sharmik Sang than too expressed solidarity with the Satyagraha and assured every possible assistance.
14. Mr. Sanjeev Tiwari an N.G.O. consultant in Chhattisgarh found our slogan “Education to All- Common to All” interesting and more heartening to him was this move for common education.
15. Mr. J.P.Devangan from Mukti Sanasthan said that only firm determination and steady action like this could eliminate the scourge of inequality. This move is strong means for an exploitation-free and equitable society.
16. To Sri M.K.Tandi of Virendra Seva Samiti pointed this as ideal social action. For an ideal society such action is a dire necessity.
17. Mr. Bihari Tirkey district level president of the Bahujan Samaj Party, Surguja quoting Sisodia as man of era appreciated his motivational skill as he set alone with a determination of staying barefoot but in due course of time created some more to follow this thorny and difficult path.
18. Dr. S.C.Rai Professor of Sociology in Government College Tikamgarh (M.P) was amazed at this kind of unique social commitment; to him this step was inspirational.
19. Mr. S.D.Meshram, Director Progressive Education for Development Bhopal (M.P) through this action got an opportunity of visualizing sociology of the humanity.
20. Mr. Mehandi of Margdarshak Seva Sansthan Surguja branded Sisodia for bringing a good name to Surguja through his daring pledge of staying barefoot.
21. Mr. Sudheer Verma an activist engaged in raid & rescue of child labors from the carpet looms of Bhadohi in Uttar Pradesh said that Sisodia has magnified the child exploitation problem in the socio-political arena by through his sacrifice & unique commitment.
22. Professor Shiv Swarath Singh Reader & H.O.D of Psychology in Gandhi an Institute of Studies Varanasi (U.P) found congruence between deeds & name of the Nange Paon Satyagraha.
23. Mr. Ajay Kumar Singh and Mr. Mokhtarul Haque of National Development & Social Welfare Council Bihar, during one year infancy of this pledge greeted us on behalf of millions of lesser fortunate children of Bihar.
In addition to these strong words of appreciation, some friends applauded through poems. Those poems reflect the sacrificing nature of initiator, who at the cost of his appearance, at the cost of his own daily comforts has a pioneering willingness to continue with his pledge despite thorns and physical pains as bearings. One poem finds Sisodia as a candle of hope amid darkness created by social injustices.

Our future plans:
· Jeep march of Chhattisgarh comprising 8 core marchers.
· Printing and publishing our documents penned so far.
· Advocating cases of land embezzlement by mafias.
· Railway campaign for collection of signatures favoring our demand & sticking stickers.
· Institutionalizing our self.
· Restarting our quarterly bulletin, which we used to bring out earlier in the name of “Pairvi Bach pan Kee”. Now it will come out in the name of “Pairvi Nange Paon Logon Kee”. The newsletter brought by us was down to earth, which used to be full of the readers views. In fact that was a platform of the & for the readers. The views of our esteemed readers used to give us new directions.
· Fighting out corruption.
To net work with:
· IPAC for capacity building.
· NAFRE for common education.
· Ekta Parishad for land issues.
· PWTN for Human Rights.
· The police department for redress of such grievances which reach us.
· All the government agencies responsible for betterment of the poor.

Sources of in come:

· Voluntary donations from the well wishers
· Agriculture is the main profession of its initiator Sri Rajesh Singh Sisodia, who has got ancestral agricultural land at Babauli village in Lundra Tehsil.
· We are not funded by any of the governments; whether central or the state.

Registration:

Since it is a social movement & not any institution, it is imperative to mention that movements are not registered. We are proceeding towards institutionalizing ourselves, after having completed 10 years of this commitment; we shall decide whether to emerge as training institute or research institute or N.G.O.

Nange Paon Ka dard

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Nange Paon Satyagraha: Nine years old crusade agaist in equality.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Nange Paon kaa Sankalp

Nange Paon Sabse Aage