The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) will launch a campaign titled “School Thik Karo” on Independence Day to improve the condition of government schools in villages, founder Abhijeet Dipke said on Wednesday.
Dipke had announced the nationwide campaign on Monday, while its name was revealed on Wednesday.
In a post shared on social media platform X, Dipke said, “Kids in villages shouldn’t be pleading for basic facilities at school after 80 years of Independence.”
“As a country, we have failed rural kids in the worst possible way. This Independence Day, CJP will launch the ‘School Thik Karo’ campaign to improve Govt schools in villages,” he added.
Campaign to improve government schools in villages
Dipke on Monday announced a campaign to improve government schools in villages. The 30-year-old, now leading a ‘pressure group’ against the government, asked sarpanches and parents to take up the “social and moral responsibility” of ensuring better basic facilities for children.
{{/usCountry}}Dipke on Monday announced a campaign to improve government schools in villages. The 30-year-old, now leading a ‘pressure group’ against the government, asked sarpanches and parents to take up the “social and moral responsibility” of ensuring better basic facilities for children.
{{/usCountry}}Dipke called on people to pledge to the cause on August 15, India’s 80th Independence Day. He said he would begin the campaign from his own village, Hingoli, in Maharashtra’s Marathwada region, by approaching the sarpanch and requesting improvements to the government schools there.
In a video message posted on social media, Dipke said government schools in villages had been “neglected and ignored” over the past 80 years and questioned why children in rural areas continue to lack facilities that are available to students in bigger cities.
“How difficult it must be for small girls. So, I feel that this August 15, if we should pay attention to anything, it should be to making a new start, and we must begin by correcting our government schools,” he said.
Protest in UP
A day after Dipke announced a campaign to improve government schools in villages, the kids protested in Uttar Pradesh’s Hamirpur over the poor condition of a roughly 1.5-km road serving several settlements along the Yamuna belt. The stretch has turned into mud and slush following the rains, making it difficult for residents to travel.
Nearly 3,000 residents affected
The road is the main access route for nearly 3,000 residents living in Chandupur and surrounding deras, including Brahma ka Dera, Banvasi ka Dera, Athbhaiyan ka Dera, Bachchi ka Dera, Bhikhua ka Dera, Gusai Baba ka Dera and Gangwa ka Dera.
Residents said the condition of the road made it difficult for children to get to school and has also created problems in taking sick people to hospitals.
Children block main gate
As the protesters marched towards the Collectorate on Tuesday morning, SDM Sadar Abhishek Kumar and CO Yashpal Singh, accompanied by police personnel, reached the route and attempted to stop them.
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The children still reached the Collectorate and blocked its main gate. Officials tried to persuade them to withdraw the protest, but the children refused to move. Officials and employees inside were left unable to exit.
CJP expands focus beyond student protests
The campaign is another step in the CJP’s expanding youth-focused activities. What began as an online satirical platform launched by Dipke from the US later moved to street protests, including agitation over the NEET paper leak and issues affecting students.
The movement’s protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar drew students and parents from different parts of the country. Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk also joined the agitation.
The protests forced the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as Union education minister. After the demonstrations ended on July 25, the CJP held a two-day strategy meeting in Maharashtra and announced that it would continue as a youth movement, with Wangchuk as its mentor.
Last week, Dipke also announced the nationwide “Kya Bolti Public” campaign to understand people’s concerns. He said education would be the first focus of the outreach initiative.