New Delhi: As Delhi-NCR reels under a thick layer of smog, schools have stepped up measures to protect children, including suspension of outdoor activities and introduction of breathing exercises in classes. Many schools have also ruled out shutdown, saying it will disturb the pace of academic learning. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) had Wednesday asked the Delhi government to shut schools till air quality in the capital improves. Delhi’s air quality continued to be in the ‘severe’ category on Thursday (November 3), according to Central Pollution Control Board data.
Also Read: Delhi’s Air Quality Improves Marginally; Curbs Under GRAP’s Stage 4 Not Likely For Now
Sangeeta Hajela, Principal, DPS Indirapuram, said air pollution has become very rampant especially during this season. She said,
However, shutting down schools would disturb the pace of students’ academic learning. At a time when boards are just five months away and students are preparing for pre-board exams, it could cause a severe dent to their performance as one-to-one interactions, remedial classes, and doubt-clearing classes are being held these days.
However, the concerns for children’s health are also legitimate, said Ms Hajela.
We have administered many steps to safeguard students. Teachers encourage students to have a balanced diet with nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables to increase the stability and viability of the lungs and liver. Anti-pollution masks are being distributed to students. Air purifiers have been placed at strategic locations to purify the environment. These steps will surely ensure a good attendance and safeguard the health of our students, she said.
Anshu Mital, Principal, MRG School, Rohini said they they are planning to distribute a manual or written guide to teach students what types of foods, drinks and behaviour they should do adopt to ameliorate the situation we are living in.
It serves both purposes. First, it ensures a proper continuity in their education without any interruption, and it also channelises a conducive environment in which there are no possibilities of health hazards.
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“We have a proper medical treatment facility to take care of children if they face any discomfort or pain”, she said.
According to Alka Kapur, Principal, Modern Public school, Shalimar Bagh, the school has restricted outdoor activities. She said,
Given the severity of the surge in hazardous pollution, we have temporarily restricted outdoor activities such as sporting events, cultural events, and assemblies. Likewise, we will place a greater emphasis on indoor activities such as indoor assemblies, cultural events, and extracurricular activities.
She said the school has a health and wellness group that has been persistent in encouraging students about precautions against pollution, breathing exercises, yoga, and other key variables to combat the difficulty. She added,
Additionally, wearing masks has been made mandatory for all students and faculty.
Also Read: Delhi’s Air Quality Improves Marginally; Curbs Under GRAP’s Stage 4 Not Likely For Now
The national capital’s air quality has deteriorated to ‘severe’ in the last few days, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.
Air pollution in the ‘severe’ category affects healthy people and seriously impacts children and those with existing diseases, according to the CPCB.
The NCPCR said it had taken a serious view of the matter and expressed concern over the ‘severe’ air quality impacting the health of children.
Naman Jain, Director (Development), Silverline Prestige School, Ghaziabad said,
The pollution level in Delhi-NCR is certainly at an alarming stage. But so far, we have not received any such order from the government on the closure of schools. We are ready with the alternate arrangements to avoid the academic loss. Whenever there will be a government order on the same, we will take appropriate measures and close the school.
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(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diarrhoea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
