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Pledge for “Right to Basic Services” in Mumbai Marathon 2007!

Change the condition of millions living in sub-human conditions.
Collaborate to make Basic Services a RIGHT!

Dear Friends,

We are writing this mail to seek your contribution and collaboration for a National Campaign we propose to launch for Right To Basic Services (RTBS) and the participation of COVA in the Mumbai Marathon on 21st January 2007 to raise resources for the cause.

The Mumbai Marathon is scheduled on 21st January 2007. The Last date for giving your pledges is 23th January 2007.

Conditions Today

Data available for India shows that there is no adequate sanitation facility for 70% of the population (82% in Rural areas); 14% people lack access to proper drinking water source; and the gross enrollment for education is only 60% (UNICEF and UNDP). In a country with a population of over one billion of which about 300 million are living in extreme poverty (35% of the population living on less than $1 per day) the total combined expenditure on education and health during 1992 to 2004 was less than 4% of the GDP (UNICEF).

Right to Basic Services
COVA and PUCAAR plan to facilitate the initiation of a National Campaign for Right to Basic Services (RTBS) in collaboration with other Civil Society organisations and peoples movements throughout the country from February 2007. This Right could enable the poor and the marginalised to obtain from the state an assured access to the very basic services like water, sanitation, education, health, housing, civic amenities etc that are essential for a dignified human existence. In the absence of such a Constitutional obligation on the part of the Indian State, the poor remain entirely vulnerable to unaffordable market-driven systems.

COVA and PUCAAR expect that such a campaign would also help in reducing communal and caste conflicts by bringing together different communities on a common platform in a spirit of partnership and foster social integration and harmony.

For more information on COVA and PUCAAR please visit the websites: www.covanetwork.org and www.kashmirquakerelief.org

Contribution for the Cause

As a fundraising effort for this cause, Dr Mazher Hussain, Director, COVA, is running in the forthcoming Mumbai Marathon on 21st January 2007. We seek pledges for him in the form of donations from all concerned persons in support of the cause.

How Much to Contribute
You may contribute any amount of your choice from rupees five hundred onwards. All donations in India, US and UK have tax exemption benefits. Funds collected through the pledges will be spent for the National Campaign for Right To Basic Services (RTBS).

How the Funds will be used
All donations received will be used to launch and carry out the RTBS Campaign by organizing mass awareness campaigns throughout the country and lobbying with elected representatives and the government to make provision of basic services like safe drinking water, sanitation, health, education and housing to all the people of India a constitutional responsibility of the government.

Reporting
All donors will receive a brief update every 6 months on the status of the progress of the Campaign along with a statement of accounts.

Web Page
For more information and easy procedure for giving your pledges / donations online for the cause please visit the Web Page:
http://www.giveindia.org/give/common/marathon/scmm07/dt/mazherhussain.jsp

How you can Support the Cause
To support the cause, Team COVA appeals to you to pledge for the runner.
Please Note
· Tax benefits are available in India, the US and UK.
· Your pledges (donations) made in favour of ‘GiveIndia’ will be sent to COVA.
· We will send you the receipts & 80G Certificates soon after the run.
· Donors’ names will be displayed on Give India website.
· Your donation will be exempted under 80 G of IT Act. (For Indian Donors, any donation you make will enable you 50% tax exemption- If you pledge a donation of Rs. 1,000 you will get a tax exemption of Rs. 5,00. So you will be actually paying only 500 while making an effective contribution of Rs. 1,000!). Different exemption rates may apply for donors from US and UK.
The Mumbai Marathon is scheduled on 21st January 2007. The Last date for giving your pledges is 20th January 2007.

You may use either of the following methods to pledge
1. You can pledge for Mazher Hussain by giving us a Cheque / DD for an amount of your choice drawn in favour of GiveIndia. Cheques / D.D. can be sent to COVA, 20-4-10, Charminar, Hyderabad, A.P. India- 500002.
2. You can pledge online for Mazher Hussain. US taxpayers should pledge online at www.giveworld.org/pledge.htm. All others including Indian and UK taxpayers can pledge online at www.giveindia.org/give/pledge.jsp, entering the name of Mazher Hussain, his email ID and the amount you wish to pledge.
3. US cheques should favor "GIVE Foundation Inc." and should be sent with all donor details to:
GIVE Foundation, Inc.
85 Rio Robles East, # 3202
San Jose, CA 95134
USA

4. UK cheques should favour "Giving Impetus to Voluntary Effort" and should be sent with all donor details to:

55c Cavendish Road,
London, SW12 0BL
U.K

5. Cheques written by foreigners from other parts of the world and even within India should favour "GIVE Foundation" and should be sent to Mazher Hussain. Domestic cheques should favour "GiveIndia" and also be sent to him.

Do note that beginning April 1, 2006, the Income Tax Department requires us to maintain full postal addresses of all donors failing which donations become taxable at a flat 30% rate. (Therefore do ensure that your full postal address is recorded along with the pledge.)

Change the condition of millions living in sub-human conditions.
Collaborate to make Basic Services a RIGHT!

Required Information
· Name of person you are pledging for: Mazher Hussain
· His Email ID is: mazherhussain11@gmail.com
· His mobile no: 09849178111
· For any queries, please contact: Mr Srinivasulu Reddy, Coordinator, Resource Mobilisation, COVA (Mobile No: 09849216966). Address: 20-4-10, Charminar, Hyderabad-A.P. 500002. India. Email: cova@sancharnet.in

We Look forward to your personal contribution and collaboration in the RTBS Campaign and would be grateful if you could forward this appeal with your recommendations for support to your relatives and friends.

Team COVA and PUCAAR thank you for your generous support and collaboration!