Sikshasandhan believes advocacy transforms the lives of marginalized and vulnerable communities facilitating the required systemic changes. In all our programmes and projects, we aim to complement the ongoing efforts of the State and bring attention to issues on the ground. Advocacy forms a vital part of our work across all themes.
Sikshasandhan is the founder of many networks and alliances at the State level. Our most notable success has been the implementation of the Multilingual Education Policy in Odisha. In addition, we have been at the forefront of the Right to Education campaign in the state and are the founding member of Odisha RTE Forum. The Odisha Right to Education Forum is a collective group of educational networks, civil society organisations, teachers’ organisations, activists and educationists trying to bring systemic reform in education in Odisha. The primary objective is to create a platform to ensure equitable and quality education for all children, with the realization and timely implementation of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, of 2009.
Mr Anil Pradhan is the state convener of the Odisha RTE Forum and is responsible for organizing stock-taking programmes on RTE implementation in Odisha. Though there are certain limitations in the RTE Act, Odisha RTE Forum considers it a progressive step towards quality and inclusive education in the state. The major thrust of the forum is to strengthen, expand and sustain a state-level campaign involving all the education networks, and civil societies and building sustainable pressure on the government for an effective road map to implementation of the RTE act.
Sikshasandhan networks with local and national civil society organisations, intellectuals, writers, media and Teachers’ unions to pursue its advocacy agenda for bringing about required policy changes in education. It is a part of the international campaign on child work and child labour (Time to Talk).