The India campaign is gathering strength and support in the twelve states that it operates -- Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Uttaranchal. Awareness-raising initiatives are underway and the campaign is in various stages in the different states. As the country is so diverse, the campaign is still in its nascent stage in some parts and in others it is entering its second stage where knowledge dissemination is translating into acceptance of the issues and its practice in everyday life by the community.

In North India, the campaign is active in 60 districts (the reach in districts vary) of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttaranchal. Many allies have come forward to support the campaign and have agreed to weave the campaign issues into their outreach programmes. In fact, several organisations who have never worked on this issue have evinced interest in working for the campaign. The media has been extremely supportive in highlighting the issue and stories of Change Makers. Today, there are close to 30,000 Change Makers in North India.

Campaign activities include rallies, marches, poster campaigns, workshops, cycle rallies and competitions in schools and colleges. In Satna, advocacy of the campaign has resulted in a food processing unit using the campaign logo in their jam and pickle bottles.

A theatre group here has taken the lead to organise street painting competitions which have lent high visibility to the campaign. In Jabalpur, Muzzaffarnagar and Panna, students are drawing attention to the campaign by carrying bags with the campaign logo and messages. The youth have come forward in a huge way in Allahabad and in Lucknow too the students have organised signature campaigns. Newspaper inserts in publications with huge circulations on the campaign has brought the campaign a lot of attention. As the inserts had email and mobile numbers of contact persons, people have been calling and requesting for counselling.

The campaign has taken root in Delhi as well and the young people are volunteering to be Change Makers. Campaign allies are trying to establish a network of support organisations across Delhi.

In West India, the campaign is active in 10 districts of Gujarat, 34 districts of Maharashtra and 12 districts of Rajasthan. The campaign is gathering steam as the network of allies is being stepped up. In Rajasthan, the major allies are Nehru Yuva Kendra and Sophia College in Ajmer and Vikalp in Barmer in West Rajasthan.

As each of these allies have a major outreach, they have managed to reach young people in the rural and urban areas. Campaign meetings were held in August 2006 in Karkeri village in Ajmer district, Sophia college and Rajasamand. In Sofia college, the enthusiasm towards the campaign is palpable. Students have been participating in campaign meetings and activities in large numbers, especially as Sister Serena, the principal has been very supportive of the campaign. Students are debating on issues like child marriage, job opportunities for women, denial of mobility; the need for education and sexual harassment. In a special Rakshabandhan celebration, girls of the college designed rakhis with campaign messages for their brothers. Ten of the best rakhis were on display. A group of spirited girls have also designed a manual on sexual harassment that details how girls can handle unwarranted attention. They have also put together a booklet on the different forms of violence. The newspapers in Rajasthan were captivated by the girl’s enthusiasm and gave the campaign good coverage. Earlier in February, around 1,027 youth from 16 districts of Rajasthan gathered at Kankroli, at a Youth Convention. In Gujarat, the Saurashtra Kutch Network, Madhyam and the Saurashtra Voluntary Action Group are actively lending their support and YUVA in Maharashtra has been extremely supportive. The ‘We Can’ team is focussing on schools and colleges in a big way in a bid to influence and consolidate support of the youth.

In South India the Andhra Pradesh Women’s Network (APWN), a group of 26 NGOs from 19 districts of the state, is extremely active in taking the campaign forward and it has mobilized 30,000 Change Makers so far. Campaign events to mobilise Change Makers include public meetings, rallies, cultural events, workshops, lectures, poster exhibitions and padyatras. The network also disseminates information through slides on domestic violence in films, booklets, essay writing competitions, hoardings and wall writings.

Andhra Pradesh Women’s Network is also displaying campaign messages through hoardings that catch the eye. Thousands of people have been taking notice and NGOs have received many calls seeking help and counselling. The hoardings that came into being in 2005 are now increasing in number as they are highly visible and effective. You can see these hoardings at Chittoor (Madanapalli bus station), Medak (Siddipet bus station); Vijayanagaram (Parvathipuram and Vijayanagarm bus stations); East Godavari (Rajamundry bus station) ; Khammam (opposite to Khammam bus station); Visakhapatnam (at Vizag bus station); Kurnool (at Adoni bus station) and Warangal (Warangal bus station).

Hoardings with ‘We Can’ messages in and around major bus stops in Andhra Pradesh

In East India, the campaign has been introduced in West Bengal. It is currently active in three districts around West Bengal and will spread soon to 20 districts of the state. Campaign allies include three major organisations whose profiles vary. Nishta is an NGO that has been working over the years on women’s issues; the West Bengal Self Help Group Promotional Forum is a federation of 20 organisations across the state who work with self help groups to promote women’s empowerment and Thoughtshop Foundation. In Orissa, the campaign is active in 30 districts and there are around 60 campaign allies who are throwing in their strength behind the campaign. Campaign allies have held Change Maker events, interactions with college students; trainings for trainers and talks with religious groups. Signature campaigns in support of ‘We Can’ have been collected from 30 districts in Orissa to give people a sense of wide support the campaign.

‘We Can’ is gaining popularity in West Bengal

The India campaign is gathering strength and support in the twelve states that it operates -- Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Uttaranchal. Awareness-raising initiatives are underway and the campaign is in various stages in the different states. As the country is so diverse, the campaign is still in its nascent stage in some parts and in others it is entering its second stage where knowledge dissemination is translating into acceptance of the issues and its practice in everyday life by the community.

In North India, the campaign is active in 60 districts (the reach in districts vary) of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttaranchal. Many allies have come forward to support the campaign and have agreed to weave the campaign issues into their outreach programmes. In fact, several organisations who have never worked on this issue have evinced interest in working for the campaign. The media has been extremely supportive in highlighting the issue and stories of Change Makers. Today, there are close to 30,000 Change Makers in North India.

Campaign activities include rallies, marches, poster campaigns, workshops, cycle rallies and competitions in schools and colleges. In Satna, advocacy of the campaign has resulted in a food processing unit using the campaign logo in their jam and pickle bottles. A theatre group here has taken the lead to organise street painting competitions which have lent high visibility to the campaign. In Jabalpur, Muzzaffarnagar and Panna, students are drawing attention to the campaign by carrying bags with the campaign logo and messages. The youth have come forward in a huge way in Allahabad and in Lucknow too the students have organised signature campaigns. Newspaper inserts in publications with huge circulations on the campaign has brought the campaign a lot of attention. As the inserts had email and mobile numbers of contact persons, people have been calling and requesting for counselling.

In West India, the campaign is active in 10 districts of Gujarat, 34 districts of Maharashtra and 12 districts of Rajasthan. The campaign is gathering steam as the network of allies is being stepped up. In Rajasthan, the major allies are NYK and Sophiya College in Ajmer and Vikalp in Barmer in West Rajasthan. In Gujarat, the Saurashtra Kutch Network, Madhyam, Sofiya and the Saurashtra Voluntary Action Group are actively lending their support and YUVA in Maharashtra has been extremely supportive. The We Can team is focussing on schools and colleges in a big way in a bid to influence and consolidate support of the youth.

Tool Kits on Sexual harassment created by students of Sophia College in Ajmer

In Andhra Pradesh, the Andhra Pradesh Women’s Network (APWN), a group of 26 NGOs from 19 districts of the state, is extremely active in taking the campaign forward and it has mobilized 30,000 Change Makers so far. Campaign events to mobilise Change Makers include public meetings, rallies, cultural events, workshops, lectures, poster exhibitions and padyatras. The network also disseminates information through slides on domestic violence in films, booklets, essay writing competitions, hoardings and wall writings.

APWN says the impact of the campaign has been tremendous. The network has recorded many instances of behavioural changes among ordinary men and women and the induction of many Change Makers. Women are now much more aware of their rights and many associations have come forward to tackle domestic violence as an issue. Counselling centers have been set up and government officials, departments and legislators are also being extremely supportive of the campaign. Police departments have also been urged to help and media intervention has also been sought. The network is also encouraging data collection on violence against women and is documenting the process of change within the campaign. The network aims to mobilise 50,000 Change Makers by the end of 2006.

In East India, the campaign is active in 58 districts of West Bengal, Orissa and Jharkhand and it is in various stages in the different states and districts. The alliance network is growing at a fast pace as more and more organisations and individuals are beginning to associate with it.

The network has gathered together youth associations, mahila sanghas, NGOs, advocates and judges, police and other government officials, trade unions and teachers associations to strengthen the campaign.