Students give lessons in social studies
Social activism gets a younger look as students in the city champion
socially relevant causes
ANJALI CHANDRA AND AKASH WADHWA Times News Network
They'll inherit the world and all that's wrong with it. Reason
enough for some students in the city to take matters in their own
hands. So, Lucknow girl Yugratna Srivastava, who addressed the UN
summit on climate change, plans to put to good use her summer break,
by planting trees. "It's not just about planting trees," articulates
Yugratna, "I'm hoping that through this particular effort, my voice
will be carried to the powers that be, that saving trees is vital for
the next generation." This tenth standard student sure does feel
strongly about environmental damage, especially as "children are a
part of the future, they will face the worst effects. So naturally it
is for us to initiate changes."
Not just Yugratna, plenty more Lucknow students are putting their
minds to a social cause. The case of eight-year-old Aishwarya using
RTI to get the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) to remove a garbage
dump from opposite her school garnered great media attention in March
this year. Added to that, one of Lucknow's premier girl's school,
Loreto Convent, has recently come out with its survey regarding
tobacco usage in the city, which it plans to submit to the
authorities. The study examined issues such as – "Are tobacco control
laws as envisaged in the COTPA (Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products
Act 2003), like the ban on smoking in public places being enforced in
the city of Lucknow? Are Lucknow citizens any wiser about the hazards
of smoking and tobacco consumption?" Seeking the answers to these
questions, students of Class XII did a random survey of the city, as
part of their Environmental Education Project. They surveyed 200
persons (150 males and 50 females) of various age groups, and from
different stratas of society – from rickshaw pullers to executives.
Shobha Shukla, teacher (Physics) at Loreto Convent, says, "Schools
are socially aware these days, more so to make children conscious
about what is happening around them. I guess, taking up social
responsibility is the key role of schools now." Explaining this
further, Shukla adds, "We did this survey because we wanted our girls
to be aware about the hazards of smoking. We also wanted to break the
myth that smoking helps one lose weight and we were successful in
doing that to quite an extent." The school plans to submit the report
to the State Tobacco Control Cell at Balrampur Hospital, and
eventually to the National Tobacco Control Board, New Delhi. "We want
these results and our efforts to have a meaning beyond the school
campus,"
reiterates Shobha.
Likewise, students from the New Way School too have been doing
their bit to make Lucknowites socially aware. Talking about the
school's safe driving campaign initiated a while ago, founder of the
school, Prem Wadhawan explains, "Times have changed and so have the
students. They want to make a difference to society. And it was their
idea to carry out a drive making people aware about traffic rules and
regulations."
Eco-friendly initiative
Yugratna Srivastava is out to spread the message of a greener Lucknow
by planting saplings in the city
No smoking
A group of students from Loreto Convent have come out with a survey on
tobacco usage in the city which they intend to submit at the National
Tobacco Control Board
Safety drive
Students from New Way School have launched a safe driving campaign in the city
--
Urvashi Sharma
RTI Helpmail( Web Based )
aishwaryaj2010@gmail.com
Mobile Rti Helpline
8081898081 ( 8 A.M. to 10 P.M. )
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