Indian citizens light candles for MDGs
As part of the Stand Up Take Action Campaign, citizens gathered in the Indian capital on Friday to mobilise public action in support of the Millennium Development Goals. The candle light vigil organised by National Confederation of Dalit Organisations demanded livelihood opportunities for people living in slums.
New Delhi: The UN Millennium Campaign in association with National Confederation of Dalit Organisations (NACDOR) organised a candle light vigil at India Gate on Friday as part of the global Stand Up Take Action campaign 2009.
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Along with numerous dalit students, Salil Shetty, Director, UN Millennium Campaign, Ashok Bharti, Convener, NACDOR and D Raja from CPI (M) lit candles to symbolise dispersal of the darkness of poverty and illiteracy.
- (From Left to Right) Salil Shetty, D Raja and Ashok Bharti take a pledge at the event/ Photo credit: Kushal Saini/ OWSA
The event saw civil society representatives and youth groups demanding extension of the Employment Guarantee Act to urban areas to provide livelihood opportunities to millions of people living in slums across the country.
Speaking on the occasion Salil Shetty said: “This year’s mobilisation will place particular emphasis on telling world leaders that their track record on women’s rights, maternal mortality and hunger is unacceptable. Citizens
- Citizens demand their rights/ Photo credit: Kushal Saini/ OWSA
refuse to accept the fact that world over 70% of the people living in poverty are women and children. Approximately 500,000 women continue to die annually in the process of giving life, and they are demanding urgent action from their leaders.”
