The Hindu : New Delhi News : Delhi schools take a step towards being toxic-free

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 18, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

Delhi schools take a step towards being toxic-free

Bindu Shajan Perappadan

To bring in more environment-friendly alternatives

NEW DELHI: In an effort that could well set the benchmark for safety in schools across the country, educational institutions in the Capital have taken their first step forward towards making their establishments "toxic-free".

After Delhi hospitals, now educational institutions understanding the danger that students, teachers and other employees are exposed to through indiscriminate use of mercury and other toxic products in schools, have signed up to slowly phase out mercury and bring in more environment- friendly alternatives.

Ensuring that students and teachers understand the consequence of handling toxic wastes and are sensitised to participating in its effective management, several private schools in the Capital -- including Green Fields, Dilshad Garden; St. Columba's, Gole Market; Sister Nivedita Sarvodaya Vidyalaya, Defence Colony; Salwan Public School, Rajender Nagar; and Sanskriti School, Chanakyapuri -- have come forward to ensure that students and teachers remain protected and aware about the hazards of mercury.

"Through this unique awareness programme we will create a network of school communities as a resource hub where students will be encouraged to apply knowledge responsibly and contribute constructively to their own community and the wider society. Under the programme, mercury use in our schools and usage patterns will be studied and users will be taught about what to do in case of accidental `toxic' spillage," said the Programme Officer of Toxics Free Health Care, Yamini Sharma, who is co-ordinating the programme with various schools in the Capital.

The initiative is expected to bring more schools and colleges under its programme in an effort to help educate students, teachers and administrators about the health hazards and environmental fate of wastes.

It will also promote proper disposal and reduction of wastes including products containing mercury at schools and make their campus a "zero waste campus" by promoting use of alternative products that do not contain mercury.

"The activities planned under the programme include waste management education, waste and mercury audit, devising out an implementation plan and extending it to communities. Students in Delhi are ignorant of the risks that they expose themselves to and we understand that awareness and proper implementation of programme like this one would go a long way in making Delhi school and colleges safe," added Ms. Sharma.

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