India: 'Cockroach' movement takes aim at government schools

The student-led protest movement in India, known as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), has achieved a significant victory after Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned amid weeks of demonstrations in Delhi. Now, the movement is targeting India's government schools, launching a nationwide campaign to demand accountability and improve basic facilities.

Dubbed "Fix the Schools," the initiative encourages citizens to inspect government schools, document missing components, and pressure local authorities to address flaws. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, speaking from his village in Maharashtra, emphasized the need for local citizens to hold schools accountable, as no one consistently works for government schools across the nation.

The campaign aims to identify and publicize problems such as broken windows, lack of clean drinking water, missing classroom benches, and unusable bathrooms. CJP has prepared assessment forms for parents, students, and residents to document issues, capture video evidence, and submit the information. The organization intends to compile these reports into a public record to pressure authorities for action.

The campaign targets five basic requirements: functioning toilets, electricity, clean drinking water, classroom benches, and mid-day meal quality. CJP founder Dipke aims to audit at least 100 rural government schools within two months, with the goal of holding authorities accountable for improvements. Social activist Aruna Roy sees potential in the CJP's approach, highlighting the movement's ability to mobilize young people and bring attention to systemic failures in India's education system.

However, the success of this campaign will depend on the CJP's ability to broaden its appeal and maintain momentum beyond its recent high-profile victory.