Twenty years after the International Day for Eradication of Poverty had been initiated, thousands of people will assemble at various places in the country on October 17 to “stand up and speak out” against poverty, according to the UN Millennium Campaign India Office here.

“Around 50,000 people are expected to congregate in Bangalore while 20,000 Dalits will march to denounce their exploitation in Bhopal. Besides, 25,000 people will march from Gwalior to Delhi to meet Government officials and pledge for their right to have a land,” Minar Pimple, deputy director for Asia Millennium Campaign, said. The landless people are expected to reach the Capital on October 26. Launched in 2006, the “Stand up and Speak out” (SUSO) against poverty aims at gathering the maximum number of people to give a worldwide visibility to the global commitment against poverty.

This year, the campaign will take place on October 17, 20 years after the International Day against poverty had been initiated by the French NGO ATD Fourth World, and then recognised by the UN Assembly. “We expect to gather 40 million people across the world this time, and half of them will be in South Asia,” Pimple adds.

In Delhi, the Art of Living Foundation is expecting 10,000 people in Parliament Street under the leitmotif that “promises must be kept”. The NGO founded by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is fighting for a peaceful and poverty-free world. Also, 200 people from across the country assembling at Rajghat will represent the nomadic tribes. Women Tribunal, that demands Government to take into account women’s issues, will gather 300 women at Indian Social Institute.

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