The Hindu : New Delhi News : India `stands up against poverty'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Oct 20, 2006
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New Delhi

New Delhi

India `stands up against poverty'

Over 23.5 million people across the world chose not to sit this week. Setting a new Guinness World Record, the largest number of people decided to "Stand Up Against Poverty" in a 24-hour period. It was an offshoot of "Stand Up'' events organised by the United Nations Millennium Campaign. And leading the list of people taking to their feet for a cause was India. With 9.7 million people participating, India has also entered the Guinness Book for the country with the maximum participation. "The Stand Up event has helped generate enormous public interest and support for the Millennium Development Goals. We had planned two days of direct action to remind leaders of the goals that they signed. People stood up not only in high visibility events but also at the grassroots level,'' said Salil Shetty, director of the United Nations Millennium Campaign.

While India made its mark felt on the world stage, the State that stood up the most was Madhya Pradesh. "A total of 3.2 million people participated in the Stand Up event there. I am very proud to say that Asia led the tally with 18 million people participating in the event,'' said Mr. Shetty.

The other top rankers were Nepal with 3.1 million, the Philippines with 2.4 million and Pakistan with 2.2 million people. The United Nations Millennium Campaign in partnership with the Global Call to Action Against Poverty initiated the Stand Up events held across the world from Zimbabwe to the United States of America. These events were a marker for the United Nations International Day for Poverty Eradication on October 17. -- Mandira Nayar

-- Mandira Nayar

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