Divya Delhi : A special awareness campaign is being conducted by Yogendra Kumar, Assistant Superintendent at Tihar Jail, to educate students about the harmful effects of pollution and firecrackers. The campaign, being organised from November 1 to November 30, 2026, has so far reached approximately 8,000 students across four schools in Delhi. As part of the initiative, essay-writing and poster-making competitions were organised on the theme “The Harmful Effects of Pollution and Firecrackers on Humans, Animals and Birds” at Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya No. 2, Tagore Garden; Municipal Corporation School, Pratap Nagar; Government Boys Senior Secondary School, Rajouri Garden; and Swami Shivanand Memorial School, East Punjabi Bagh. Students who performed exceptionally well in the competitions were honoured with certificates of appreciation. Addressing the students, Yogendra Kumar explained in detail the harmful effects of firecrackers, particularly air and noise pollution, and their serious consequences for human health, animals and birds. He also informed students about the directions issued by the Hon’ble Supreme Court, under which only certified green firecrackers are permitted during designated hours on November 7 and 8, while firecrackers remain prohibited on other days. School Principal Jyoti urged students to follow the court’s directions and spread awareness about pollution among people in their neighbourhoods. Environmental conservationists Rekha Beri, Sonu Kapoor, Ram Niwas Yadav and Jatin Bhalla were also present on the occasion. They encouraged students to protect the environment and show compassion towards animals and birds. The primary objective of the campaign is to inspire children and young people to celebrate an eco-friendly and pollution-free Diwali while promoting greater social awareness about protecting human health, animals and birds.
