LET US CELEBRATE NOISELESS AND POLLUTION FREE DIWALI
Source:  Aayush Jain ( Student reader of CG PLUS ) Edited by Sudhakar Anchan, Photo Courtesy M.M.Shirodkar

On Friday, October 21, post exams and before the beginning of Diwali vacations, schools students in Chembur suburbs were busy creating civic awareness by displaying banners and play cards against bursting fire crackers. The message is loud and clear. “If we can pledge to celebrate noiseless and poulltion free Diwali, so do other children in the neighbourhood” say the children unanimously.

Students & Effie Acharya, the co-ordinator of OLPS

The eight standard boys of OLPS and St. Anthony’s girls were the one who participated in the event very enthusiastically. OLPS students have taken the route of areas like Ambedkar Garden, Diomond Garden and around the main road reaching to Atur Park area creating awareness about environment friendly Diwali by Displaying banners and play cards. St. Anthony’s girls covered Subhash Nagar and Ghatla.
Speaking about the awareness campaign to CG Plus team, Effie Acharya, the co-ordinator of OLPS says, “This is CMCA (Children movement for civic awareness). It is for pollution free, noiseless and soundless Diwali and also to oppose child labour as children is involved in making fire crackers.”
We have units of civic awareness group in St. Anthony’s, OLPS and in Seva Daan special school. This is one of their programme. “Action speaks louder than voice. If they show it by their action then their work is done. The children are creating continuous awareness. They are very enthusiastic. It is very fruitful” reveals Acharya.
The awareness campaign organized by students with the support of their teachers and PTA volunteers. These students even go inside the class rooms of their juniors to spread civic awareness. School authorities show movies to the children about ill effects of fire crackers and child labour involved in it.
Slogans like Don’t let your celebration kill some ones desire to celebrate. Say no to crackers. Phatake hatao pradushan bachao. Crackers pollute the environment. Kill the cracker before it kills you. This Diwali let us spread joy. Crackers spread pollution not love and harmony. Avoid them. Green Diwali, Clean Diwali. I want pollution free Diwali. Do you? Deepawali ki chamak dhuan se alag. Deep jalao phatake nahi were displayed in banners and play-cards.
Jaspal Banga, the teacher of OLPS says that the children are from 8th standard. They are very enthusiastic and energetic. This is the right age to tap their energy and make aware of their surroundings. All the children eagerly participated in this awareness campaign and also promised to celebrate Diwali without noisy and polluting fire crackers.
“We as parents help children in this CMCA campaign” informs Brinda Ganesh and Manisha Jain, the PTA volunteers.

Quotes from students:

• Mandar Mulye of 8th B says, “We can have community celebration during diwali to have a eco-friendly diwali.”
• Harshad Keer opines, “CMCA is the only opportunity to make aware people about eco-friendly Diwali. Anyone can take part in this awareness campaign.”
• “Patients get affected because of sound of fire crackers”, says Joel Gregory of 8th D.
• “I want to tell that if children do not stop bursting crackers our earth will become dry because of pollution. We will only be responsible for the irresponsible behavior” argues Vedant Gopal of 8th C.
• Neel Shah and Jaider Makhija maintains, “Since children are involved in making fire crackers we should not burst crackers so that we can stop child labour”.
• The views of Aayush Jain a standard eight student of OLPS and son of PTA volunteer Manisha:
• Diwali is one festival in India which is celebrated by all irrespective of caste, creed and religion. Diwali is celebrated to acknowledge the victory of good over evil. Earlier Diwali celebration meant house cleaning, decoration, performing traditional Lakshmi Pooja, lightening diyas and family get together.
• But now Diwali celebration means electric illumination and bursting noisy fire crackers. This change in celebration style has imposed many negative effects on the environment like excessive air pollution, noise pollution and power consumption, besides it has also lead to various health hazards like hearing loss, high blood pressure, sleeping disturbance, asthma, headaches and irritability.

So now I will put forth some ideas how I would be celebrating Eco Friendly Diwali and request all of you to follow.

Tips:

• Instead of electric illumination go for traditional lightening of earthen lamps or diyas. This will not only enhance the beauty of our house but will also cut down the enormous electric consumption.
• Cut down shopping list and avoid purchasing unwanted and unnecessary things this Diwali. Excess consumerism is directly related to the consumption of raw material used to manufacture those things, which are again directly use natural resources.
• Instead of buying “One time use” items go for recyclable things. Secondly while cleaning our home for Diwali instead of disposing things it is better to give it to under-privileged people.
• This year I will Celebrate Diwali with a different meaning. I will celebrate Diwali with poor and under-privileged children. I will share Diwali sweets and happiness with them” concludes Aayush.
• I as an active parent and volunteer have always tried to bring civic awareness in my child, building and neighborhood. I hope to see many changes like a ripple effect i.e. firstly awareness should come from me, my family, my neighbor, my school and my country” states Manisha Jain.

A Congress worker associated with a party corporator was found dead on Sunday evening at an isolated place in Subhash Nagar, Chembur.

The partly-decomposed body of Anil Rana, 27, the supporter of a Congress corporator from Chembur, was found with several injury marks on the head.  A missing case was registered with the Chembur police station three days ago.