India's Cockroach Party to launch nationwide movement again from Aug 15

The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has announced a special campaign across India to address the long-standing neglect and deterioration of the rural education system. The programme, named 'Sarpanch Challenge', will begin on August 15, marking India's 80th Independence Day. Indian media outlet Times of India confirmed the news.

In a statement on Monday, the online party's founder Abhijit Deepke called on citizens, parents and village heads (sarpanches) to work together to improve the environment of government primary schools in their respective areas.

Deepke said he would start the campaign by visiting the sarpanch of his own village in Hingoli district of Maharashtra and urging him to organise the government school. Expressing anger, he said, "August 15 is our 80th Independence Day. But over the past 80 years, the most neglected have been our village government schools. We built a new parliament building, a new residence for the Prime Minister; but why couldn't we build new schools in villages?"

He added that village children still have to walk miles to reach school. Even after reaching school, they do not have access to drinking water or toilet facilities, which causes severe problems, especially for female students.

Under this campaign, the CJP has called on every village head in India to improve schools in their areas. Village heads who take the initiative to bring about change in their school environment will be honoured by the CJP through social media posts, under the name 'Sarpanch Challenge'.

Additionally, the party has called for social audits of government schools through parents. Parents and ordinary citizens have been urged to visit their village schools and check whether electricity, safe drinking water, functional toilets and mid-day meal facilities are available. If facilities are lacking, they are advised to record video evidence, fill out a specific 'audit form' published by the CJP and send it via email. Deepke stressed that the children of farmers and labourers in villages should have equal opportunities, just like those in cities, as access to quality education is their fundamental right.