Thousands to 'stand up, speak out' against poverty

from Yahoo News

By IANS

Jaipur, Oct 15 (IANS) As many as 500,000 people across 18 Rajasthan districts are likely to 'stand up and speak out' against poverty and inequality as part of events organised by an NGO here Wednesday in collaboration with the UN Millennium Campaign.

The Centre for Community Economics and Development Consultants Society has joined hands with the UN Millennium Campaign, which has given a global call to mobilise people Oct 16-17 to support citizens' efforts to hold their government accountable for the achievement of the millennium development goals (MDGs).

Wednesday is also being observed as International Day for Eradication of Poverty.

Thousands of people across 50 places in Rajasthan are expected to participate in the event.

'The number of participants is expected to be around 500,000 or more in Rajasthan,' said Sharad Joshi, secretary of the Centre.

'Stand Up and Speak Out' is a worldwide call to take action against poverty and inequality and support the Millenium Development Goals. Millions of people around the globe are to literally stand up and speak out Oct 16-17 to show that they refuse to stay silent or seated in the face of poverty.

Last year, the Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) and UN Millennium Campaign set a Guinness world record for the largest single mobilisation in history when 23.5 million people, including over nine million in India, in over 100 countries stood up against poverty Oct 17.

The Guinness Book of World Records registered and honoured the 'stand up' challenge as a record for the greatest number of people to stand up for a given cause.

The campaign is being organised by NGO partners and civil society groups at the village, block and city levels. Schools, colleges, trade unions, social action groups and youth groups are to take part and urge the government to keep its commitment.

Thousands of activists will speak out about the lack livelihood resources during the stand-up event the Kisan Mahasangh is organising in Madhorajpura in Jaipur district.