3 weeks ago
CJP's Dipke announces nationwide campaign to improve village government schools
There is a group in India called the Cockroach Janta Party, or CJP, which began as a fun online page.
Now it wants to make village schools better.
Its leader, Abhijeet Dipke, says many village children walk very long distances to school.
When they get there, they often find no drinking water or toilets.
On August 15, India's Independence Day, the group will start a big campaign called the 'Sarpanch Challenge.'
A sarpanch is the head of a village, and those who improve their schools will get praise and before-and-after photos shared online.
Parents are also asked to visit their children's schools and check for electricity, water, washrooms, and mid-day meals.
If something is missing, parents can record a video and send it to the group.
The CJP wants children of farmers and labourers to have schools as good as those in cities.
This new campaign comes after the group's protest in Delhi over exam problems, which ended when the education minister resigned.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke on Monday announced a nationwide campaign to improve government schools in villages.
The campaign launches on August 15, India's 80th Independence Day, addressing what the CJP calls 'neglect of rural educational infrastructure'.
Dipke will personally start the 'Sarpanch Challenge' in his home village of Hingoli, Maharashtra, by approaching the village head.
Parents are urged to conduct citizen-led social audits checking electricity, drinking water, washrooms and mid-day meals, with evidence emailed to [email protected].
The campaign follows the CJP's 36-day Jantar Mantar agitation in Delhi, called off on July 25 after the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
- Who
- Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), calling on citizens, parents and village leaders (sarpanches) to take part.
- What
- A nationwide 'Sarpanch Challenge' campaign to improve government schools in villages through school upgrades and citizen-led social audits.
- Where
- Across India, starting from Hingoli in Maharashtra; the CJP previously protested in New Delhi and held strategy talks in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
- When
- Announced on Monday; the campaign is launched on August 15, India's 80th Independence Day.
- Why
- To address what the CJP terms the 'neglect of rural educational infrastructure,' including missing drinking water, toilet and electricity facilities in village schools.
Key facts
- Organisation
- Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)
- Campaign name
- Sarpanch Challenge
- Launch date
- August 15 (80th Independence Day)
- Launch location
- Hingoli, Maharashtra
- Evidence email
- [email protected]
- Previous agitation
- 36-day Jantar Mantar protest in Delhi, called off July 25
- Prior outcome
- Resignation of then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan
- Movement decision
- Continue as a youth movement, not entering electoral politics
Quotes
Abhijeet Dipke
Founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)
“"The coming 15th August is our 80th Independence Day. But, if anything has been neglected or ignored the most in the last 80 years, it is the government schools in our villages."”
rediff.com
deccanchronicle.com
theprint.in
“Even today, village children have to walk a long distance to go to school. After going there, they don't find water or toilet facilities.”
rediff.com
theprint.in











