MN : It’s a bomb-free Diwali for these children : Nov 6,2007

Diwali will be a different experience for some Thane children this year. Convinced by the Maharashtra Andhshraddha Nirmulan Samiti (MANS) about the ills of noise pollution, its effects on health and the environment, these children are determined to forego noisy crackers and instead spend on books.

Vandana Shinde, chairperson, MANS, Thane, told Mumbai Mirror, “Children love to burst bombs and other crackers, which have over 200 decibel (dB) noise levels. But at the same time, they also cause noise and air pollution, besides inviting respiratory ailments like tuberculosis, asthma, bronchial cough and other illnesses.”

Taking this into account, MANS distributed around 20,000 pamphlets in English and Marathi each in Palghar, Dahanu, Vasai and other parts of Thane district to school children and asked for their feedback. Surprisingly, majority of the students assured MANS they will not burst noisy bombs, which have a nuisance value, Shinde said. Normally people stand afar and plug their ears when such bombs are burst, so where is the fun, besides wastage of money, Shinde asked.

In the pamphlet, the students were asked some simple questions such as whether crackers contributed to noise and air pollution. Lastly, they had to take a pledge to control bursting of crackers, and pass on information to people on the ills of such crackers. The pamphlet instead encouraged the children to purchase books, sweets and seek the blessings of elders in their family. Already children of the Patel family in Dutta Nagar Society, Palghar, have pledged not to burst bombs. Bhavik Patel, 14, a Standard IX student of Holy Spirit High School said he was under the impression that firecrackers were made by machines and was shocked to learn that children were employed to make them. His sister, Kajal, 12, a Standard VI in the same school, has decided to burst only light crackers and that too between 7 to 8 pm, as the noise could disturb her locality, she said. Similar were the reactions of her cousins, Veena, 14, Neha, 9, Kushal, 12, Mayur, 13, and others.

Sneha Gupta, 15, of Anand Ashram High School, Palghar, has decided not to burst ‘rassi’ or ‘sutli’ bombs, which have high noise levels. She will instead light sparklers, ‘anars’ and ‘chakris’ along with her friends. She will purchase informative books with the money saved, Sneha said.

A pleased Bhagwatiben Patel, mother of Bhavik and Kajal, heaved a sigh of relief on hearing her children will abstain from bursting noisy crackers this year.

These Thane children have pledged not to burst noisy firecrackers and pass on information to people on the ills of such crackers

Publication:Mumbai Mirror ; Date:Nov 6, 2007; Section:City; Page Number:13

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