Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke has announced a grassroots campaign to push for better infrastructure in government schools across rural India, with the initiative set to begin on August 15, India’s 80th Independence Day.
Dipke said the campaign will focus on basic facilities that he believes are still lacking in several village schools, particularly those serving children of farmers and daily-wage workers. He plans to launch the initiative from his native village in Hingoli, Maharashtra, where he will approach the village sarpanch and seek immediate improvements.
Dipke’s appeal
At the heart of the campaign is a call for village communities to take greater responsibility for monitoring school infrastructure.
Also read: CJP will keep trying, but can’t solve all problems: Abhijeet Dipke | Interview
Dipke has appealed to parents and residents to visit government schools in their villages, check the facilities available and document gaps through photographs and videos.
What does Dipke want improved?
The campaign identifies several basic requirements that every government school should provide:
Reliable electricity: Classrooms should have uninterrupted power supply.
Clean drinking water: Students should have access to safe drinking water.
Functional toilets: Schools should have hygienic and usable sanitation facilities, including separate toilets for girls.
Also read: CJP to launch countrywide ‘Kya Bolti Public’ campaign, focus on youth, education and unemployment
Better midday meals: Parents and villagers are encouraged to monitor the quality and hygiene of food served to students.
Sarpanch challenge
Dipke has also proposed a “Sarpanch Challenge”, under which village heads would be encouraged to take responsibility for improving their local schools. The CJP plans to highlight successful transformations and publicly recognise sarpanches who take the initiative, while drawing attention to villages where basic facilities remain inadequate.
How will citizens participate?
The campaign will introduce a printable social-audit form through which parents can record the condition of school infrastructure. Citizens will be encouraged to document missing or inadequate facilities and submit the information to the CJP through its designated email channel.
‘Why no new schools?’
Dipke said the campaign should begin with improving schools serving rural children. “We have made a new parliament, a new PM house. So why couldn’t we make new schools in our villages? Do we not consider the children of farmers and labourers in our villages as the future of our country? What have we done for those children and why have we not been able to provide them with the facilities that a child gets in a big city?” Dipke questioned.
“This August 15, if we should pay attention to anything, it should be to making a new start, and we must begin by correcting our government schools,” he added.
Also read: ‘CJP protests may have ended, but youth movement is far from over’ | Interview
Dipke’s announcement follows a two-day core team strategy meeting held on August 5 and 6 in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra. During the meeting, the CJP decided to focus on its youth-led movement rather than enter electoral politics.
As part of this approach, the party plans to undertake a “Kya Bolti Public” tour in September to strengthen its grassroots presence and gather feedback from communities on issues including education, employment and local infrastructure.