It was just a small step, but a step that would go a long way in developing good practices among future citizens. Every year the students of St. Anthony Public School see their school management permitting a hotelier to set up a makeshift canteen for a few days during the annual gathering. And after the event, they have seen discarded plastic cups scattered all over the premises.
Against plastics
This year, a few high school students of St. Anthony Public School, who are also members of the Challengers Civic Club promoted by the Children's Movement for Civic Awareness (CMCA) decided to put an end to it. A week before the celebrations, these students wrote a letter addressed to their Principal K.A. Prasad, appealing him not to allow use of plastic cups during the annual gathering. Impressed by the students' concern towards the environment, Principal Prasad immediately took steps to ensure that the hotelier used only biodegradable paper cups during the meet.
“Sports Day” of the school to sensitise others. As a result the usual march past on the Sports Day turned colourful this year with the civic club volunteers holding placards with messages on civic sense and environment protection. The volunteers took out a march past with placards having slogans like “Say no to plastic carry bags”, “Do not use cell phone while driving” and “Do not dig or dump on roads”. “The response for the student's initiative was very good. By responding to the students' appeal the school has set an example for others to follow”, said CMCA coordinator Geeta Salimath.
