Kolkata, 14th November, 2022: As the Nation celebrates Children’s Day, 300 children from West Bengal from various schools appealed for their ‘Right to Breathe’ through an open letter addressing it to our Hon’ble State Chief Minister.
School Students from various age groups from the eastern states of West Bengal took part in an open letter drive organized by NGOs working on Child Right along with SwitchON Foundation. The drive is a part of an effort to bring attention to the apocalyptic future our childrens would have to inherit where there is no fresh air to breathe, due to rising air pollution.
SwitchON Foundation along with School Students will be seeking an appointment with respective hon’ble chief ministers of the states of WB – requesting her immediate intervention amid the rising air pollution in eastern India and across the Indo-gangetic plain. A student writing the letter said “I have seen my friends suffer from breahtlness, i have constant cough and cold and cant enjoy sports and playing outside. I dont like the pollution we are creating and request our leaders to reduce polluting cars and factories
Many children who wrote the letters to her had breathing difficulties and have been suffering from acute respiratory disorders, caused due to air pollution. Children also complained about people in their locality being careless about using and burning plastic packets and other forms of garbage. Children through their letters also raised alarm on the increasing number of vehicles across cities. A teacher from Chetla Boys said “Our Children are the future of our existence and we adults have the responsibility to listen to their appeal to act against air pollution. The open letter drive along with SwitchON Foundation enabled my students to raise their apathy of their sufferings”.
Over the years experts have been saying that children are more vulnerable to pollution because their lungs are underdeveloped and their immune systems are weaker. Experts say children are more vulnerable to pollution because their lungs are underdeveloped and their immune systems are weaker. And yet, nine out of 10 children around the world are breathing in toxins that exceed safe levels. Over the years, the situation has become critical, even global bodies like UNICEF have predicted that air pollution will become the leading cause of child mortality by 2050. However, all children should have the right to breathe clean air.
Organizations like Caritas India, Uddami India Foundation & Bal Kalyan Sangha were part of this drive on the Rights of Children to breathe Clean Air. Palla Road Pallimongal Samity, Sandipan Sarkar“ The future of our children is at risk and it is our primary responsibility to secure their future by providing them clean air and a healthy environment”
Supporting the initiative on children’s right to clean air experts like. Dr. Kaustav Chowdhury (Pediatric Consultant, Apollo Gleneagles Hospital) cited the neurological and cognitive development of children in the state and also raised the demand for children’s right to breathe clean air. Campaigners and subject experts from different organizations working on the issue of Child Rights and Air Pollution also attended the event.
Vinay Jaju MD, SwitchON Foundation said “An entire generation of children are in jeopardy today, it is time to come together for our future generation and secure their right to healthy clean air. Every micro action can collectively create a macro impact.”
Media Dossier
Contact: Vinay Jaju | M: +91 9331178105 | Email: VJ@SwitchON.org.in
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