YFE Mumbai - How you can be a part of the campaign !

Youth For Equality – Mumbai (Plan Of Action) http://yfemumbai.blogspot.com.

(We encourage you to make copies of this document and freely distribute it)

An organized effort is the best way to send our point across. Here, we have mentioned some ways to pro-actively support the movement. These are just pointers, and will guide you to organize campaigns. Be creative and think differently. And when you come up with ‘the idea’ don’t forget to write to us about it at yfemumbai@gmail.com.

Volunteer Time

The best thing to do is be personally involved with the YFE campaign. We are a small group of people coordinating activities across India. Volunteers will help us make this effort more organized and be more efficient. We need different skill-sets such as Public relations, Research, Legal, Organizational Efforts, Creative etc.

Signature Campaigns

One of the oldest forms of protest is also the most effective. Sooner or later, a Public Interest Litigations (PIL) will have to be filed against the 93^rd Amendment Act. Public opinion strengthens the cause of a PIL. Download the format of a PIL from our website or e-mail us for a copy and print it out; request everyone signing it for their Full Name, Mobile No (Tel No), E-mail Address, Mailing Address (preferable). Once completed contact us and we will give you the address where you can send it. Online Signature campaigns can be forwarded to us at yfemumbai@gmail.com

Online Campaigns

1) E-mail people about updates in the campaign from our website http://yfemumbai.blogspot.com.
2) Post the link as your signature after all your personal and official e-mails
3) Change your Messenger nicknames to the URL or add a tag line.
4) Message your friends in networking sites such as Orkut, Myspace, Ryze, Rediff, Hi5, Friendster etc. and start communities.
5) Blog about it, link our blog from your website.

Mobile Campaigns

Take some time out and SMS all your friends and contact list about the website – http://yfemumbai.blogspot.com

Feedback

Keep sending us feedback on ways to make our campaign better. Send us your opinion on the whole issue and keep us informed about the buzz around you. Tell us about your experiences with Reservations. Be socially aware. Send us press-clips, links which might be of importance to us.

If you feel strongly about our cause, here’s how you can help;

If you are a School Student:

· Initiate Signature Campaigns in your class/school;

· Ask you parents to initiate campaigns in their workplaces and clubs they are members in;

· Get your local Parents Teachers Association (PTA) to actively garner support through campaigns;

· Circulate signature petitions among your tuition classes/coaching centres/sports clubs/staff-rooms in your schools;

· Paint, write against it and send it to us. Be creative, be heard!

If you are a College student:

· Initiate Signature Campaigns in your college;

· Ask you parents to initiate campaigns in their workplaces and clubs they are members in;

· Get your local students union body, college clubs to contact us and take up the cause in your college;

· Circulate signature petitions among your tuition classes/ coaching centres/sports clubs/staff-rooms in your schools.

· On-line campaigns

· Mobilize people you know who wont be afraid to come out on the street and protest if need be.

If you are an Alumni Association/working citizen

· Online campaigns;

· Individually start signature campaigns in your offices with your colleagues;

· Volunteer your expertise if you think it can add to the campaign;

· Contact your industry lobby and voice your thoughts;

· Mobilize people you know who wont be afraid to come out on the street and protest if need be.

If you are concerned parents

· Contact your PTA bodies and initiate signature campaigns;

· Connect with relatives in India and abroad and make them aware of the implications. Encourage them to participate and initiate campaigns in their social circles;

· Form discussion groups which can debate this and suggest alternate solution which can be forwarded to govt. authorities

If you are a Senior Citizen

· Nothing can be more valuable than your time and guidance. Help us secure our future and have a fair educational system for the coming generations;

· Initiate campaigns among your social circle/citizens clubs;

· Write to editors of magazines, newspapers and news channels and voice your concerns;

· Write to us about your experiences with reservation policies which might be helpful and will give us an insight into it;

· Help us and volunteer your time to research information available on govt. reservation policies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. I belong to SC/ST/OBC, can I still be part of the campaign and oppose the 93^rd Amendment Act?

A. YES ! Religion, Caste, Creed, Age, Sex is immaterial to us and we encourage all sections of the society to be a part of this campaign.

Q. How can I, as an individual, make a difference in this campaign?

A. This campaign was started in Delhi with one college. Now we are thousands strong. Every individual, every e-mail, every SMS counts.

Q. When can we expect action from the government/courts?

A. This can be a long drawn campaign, we have to fight it consistently and not give up. The govt. implements commission reports after 26 years, efficiency is not their forte. Let’s hope they surprise us.

Q. Is youth for equality backed by a political organization? Who are the leaders?

A. We are not backed by any political entity, and we don’t wish to be. There are no leaders in this campaign. We are college students, citizens, school children, senior citizen who do not wish to take things lying back.

Q. I am not a college student, how does it affect me? Why should I be concerned?
A. If implemented, sooner or later it will affect each one of us. Your friends, kids, relatives, employees applying to institutes of higher education or private colleges won’t be able to secure a seat even if they make it on the basis of merit.

Besides, we all want our hospitals to be equipped with the best doctors and nation to be built by the best engineers and our country to excel in every other industry. If students are trained on the basis of merit irrespective of their caste, this can be achieved.

Things you should know:

· Non-violence is the essence of this campaign.

· Educate yourself with all aspects of this issue.

· Do not believe facts thrown at you unless you have verified it for yourself.

· Keep visiting our website regularly for updates or e-mail us.