The Directorate of Education (DoE) has written to the heads of all schools in the Capital asking them to encourage and motivate school children to reduce, if not eliminate, bursting of firecrackers as part of any festivities.

The DoE advised all schools to run an “Anti-Firecrackers Campaign” and organise various competitions on the theme “Say No to Firecrackers” with the help of schools staff, school management committee members, parents and NGOs.

Health hazards

A circular issued says that all schoolchildren must be educated on the health hazards and ill-effects of breathing polluted air, including air that is polluted due to fireworks.

Last year, smog enveloped the city after Diwali for several days due to which schools had to be shut down as the air was poisonous.

The circular said that children need to learn that bursting firecrackers leads to littering, smog, air and noise pollution, and that pollution has a profound and long-lasting negative impact on the environment which cumulatively leads to acute health problems.

It added that the firecracker industry also promotes child labour and wastage of money.

“Students, being young, need to be made aware of the above consequences and also in their own turn need to discourage bursting crackers in their family and community,” read the circular.

Organise events

The schools have been asked to organise essay writing, debate, slogan writing and poetry competitions in Hindi and English on topics like ‘Clean Diwali Green Diwali’, ‘Diwali for humanity and environment’ and ‘Novel ways to celebrate Diwali’ over the upcoming fortnight.

Promoting drive

The Directorate of Education has come up with a complete schedule of activities during the seventh and eighth period of the day to promote the campaign apart from organising special assemblies on the topic.