Khurda: The anti-plastic campaign by Orissa POST and Dharitri is gaining momentum each passing day with support pouring in from ever quarter, especially from schools, as was evident at Sigma Public School here Monday.
Sources said students and teachers of Sigma Public School held a meeting and took a pledge to avoid use of polythene and plastic. Teachers dwelt upon the hazards of using plastic citing examples. They also explained to the students how the widespread use of plastic was wreaking havoc to the environment as well as living being.
The teachers advised the students to shun use of plastic during Ganesh puja and Saraswati puja. Instead of using polythene to carry bhog the students were advised to use brass plates and baskets made of bamboo flakes.
The students vowed not to use polythene and plastic and said that they would educate others about the hazards of plastic.
Headmistress Mamatanjali Pattnaik said, “Large-scale use of plastic and polythene has polluted the water, soil and environment. We will create awareness among the students at the school in this regard.”
Jyotirmay Baliarsingh and Barnali Majhi, both teachers at the school, felt the campaign would be successful only when teachers themselves stopped using plastic. “If we go on preaching without avoiding plastic the campaign will not achieve the desired results,” Majhi said.
Divya Chirantani Panda, a Class VII girl, said, “Efforts to save the environment by banning plastic will not produce immediate results as the extent of plastic use is enormous. Sustained and continuous efforts will pay off later.”