Lucknow schools pitch in to wipe out plastic pollution
Post state govt announcing ban on polythene from July 15, schools are taking steps to make students shun all forms of plastic
LUCKNOW: School students will now do their bit to eradicate plastic pollution in the city. A number of schools have come forward to ensure their students shun all forms of plastic, after chief minister Yogi Adityanath announced complete ban on polythene in the state from July 15. The educational institutions are taking a number of steps to make students discard plastic or polythene in their daily life.
City Montessori School family of over 60,000 students and staff has welcomed the chief minister’s announcement of a complete ban on plastic bags and polythene. Geeta Gandhi Kingdon, president of CMS, said “Since 2012, CMS campuses have had an environment programme and eco-clubs whereby students do water and energy use audits within the school.”
“The students have won numerous awards in recognition of their environmental work – such as the Wipro Earthian award from Azim Premji and award from the Centre for Environmental Education (CEE),” said Anupama Johari, environment coordinator of CMS Jopling Road.
Jagdish Gandhi, founder manager, CMS said, “By raising awareness of students and staff and banning the use of plastic bags we pledge to make CMS campuses plastic-free”.
La Martiniere Girls’ College has also always been aware of its duty towards environment. “Way back in 2013, it became the first polythene-free school and is so till date. It is the only school to make handmade paper bags and give them to the Lucknow Zoo, making the zoo a polythene-free zone,” said principal Aashrita Dass.
Dass said the school could proudly boast of being one of the only 8 schools in India to be awarded the prestigious Eco School Green Flag award last year. “No plastic disposable cups are used on the campus. No thermocol is used for project work. Cloth bags are distributed free of cost at the gate, should any visitor bring a polythene bag. Nearby tea stall are supplied paper cups by the Alumni Association so that the use of plastic cups is reduced,” she said.
Peter Fanthone (Junior), principal of St Teresa’s Day School and College said, “Our school will encourage students and staff to not use plastic bags. Awareness programmes will be held to educate students on the harmful effects of plastics. Inside the school, complete ban on plastic bags will be implemented and fines will be imposed on those violating the ban.”
Fanthome said, “The security guard makes sure that no one enters the campus with polythene bags. Finally, each one of us should take the initiative to shun plastic. We will educate our students on the ill-effects of plastic.”
GD Goenka Public School also welcomed the decision of the Uttar Pradesh government to ban plastic. “As a school, we have always sensitized our students to the need to protect the environment. We have functional ecology and environment clubs at all levels in the school; members of the club work proactively to educate their peers and friends on environmental issues, especially the irreversible damage caused by dependence on polythene and disposable plastic,” said Sarvesh Goel, chairman of the school.
Seth Anandram Jaipuria School, Lucknow will also soon be ‘No Plastic Zone’. The students have already been made aware of the negative impact of plastic on environment. “They are our brand ambassadors who will educate the society and encourage use of cloth or jute bags,” said Shishir Jaipuria, chairman, Seth Anandram Jaipuria School.
Shewta Singh, regional vice president, Awadh BJP said, “I will conduct workshops along with interactive sessions for students to make them aware of the damage our environment suffers through plastic.”