The emancipation of poverty through education and child rights for children of marginalized communities. Also reaching out to every child of Meerut district and other areas through a 24 hour free telephone helpline, a project by the Government of India.
Sustainable use of natural resources, to ensure that our environment does not pose a risk to human health, and can sustain an appropriate and diverse wildlife.
Empowerment of marginalized communities to improve their own environment and safeguarding their human rights.
Water quality protection and provision of safe drinking water, water Resource Conservation and provision of safe, sufficient and sustainable water resources for all
Restored and protected agricultural land, providing nutritious and healthy food sustainably, for current and future generations.
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Jai Bheem Nagar StudyA large slum near L.L.R.M. Medical College, Meerut District, Jaibheem Nagar was suffering from severe water resource shortages and toxic contamination of surface and groundwater. Slum residents comprise of the most economically and socially marginalized groups. Contamination has rendered local handpumps undrinkable,forcing the community to walk several kms. daily to reach safer supplies. Worst affected are women and children who bear traditional responsibility for provision of domestic water supplies. This creates wastage of time which adversely affects the quality of life and reduces time that may otherwise have been spent on the children's education The source of groundwater contamination at Jaibheem Nagar was clearly identified as the liquid bio-medical wastewater lagoon of the LLRM Medical College and the highly polluted Kali River (East) on the banks of which this slum is located. The Kali River is the primary recipient of untreated industrial waste effluents. Owing to continuous leaching of the water of the lagoon to groundwater table its adverse effects have reached the handpumps. Analysis of the groundwater also identified highly elevated levels of heavy metals, which are highly toxic to human health. This has made the groundwater unfit for consumption. ACTION TAKENPublic Interest LitigationJanhit Foundation has taken a leading proactive role in fighting for an improved quality of life for the residents of Jaibheem Nagar. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in April 2006 with the High Court of Uttar Pradesh at Allahabad on behalf of the slum residents. Janhit Foundation considers that the slum population's fundamental right of life and livelihood includes the right to safe and pure drinking water. Residents are being deprived of these fundamental rights due to the lack of sharing the responsibility by the Nagar Nigam. The PIL was therefore filed under Article 226 of the Indian Constitution. Janhit Foundation has also raised these Constitutional violations to the attention of the District Magistrate and lead officials within Nagar Nigam, Meerut. Widespread publicityA documentary film has also been produced by Janhit Foundation. The film, entitled "Hume Paani Do ya Maut Do" (Give us Water or Grant us death) has been produced by Janhit Foundation to raise awareness within a wider audience of the grievous condition of the residents of the Jaibheem Nagar regarding groundwater pollution and their access to the safe drinking water. The documentary also highlights the high medical expenses made by residents to cure diseases caused by the consumption of this contaminated groundwater A study document in the form of a book has been published by the organisaition entitled ‘Jaibheem Nagar: An Environmental and Human health Crisis’. Janhit Foundation also successfully worked in partnership with FIAN, a German based organization working internationally for the implementation of economic, cultural and social Human Rights including the right to water. Since India is a party to the International Covenant on Economic, Cultural and Social Rights so it is bound by that convention to provide safe and pure drinking water to its citizens. As a breach of this convention and other human rights has been demonstrated, FIAN intervened and called for immediate action by writing to the Prime Minister of India and the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. National Conference on Water Pollution and HealthJanhit Foundation organized a National Conference in July, 2006 with the Environment Minister of UP as the Chief Guest. The subject of this conference was 'Water Pollution and Health: A Deadly Burden'. The conference brought the violation of the Indian Constitution and of international Human Rights legislation of the right to safe drinking water of the residents of the Jaibheem Nagar, to the attention of a wide range of experts to facilitate feasible solutions to solve the problem |
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