Students to report to school on Oct 2 for clean campaign

According to a circular sent out to all schools by the Directorate of Education (DoE), students and school staff for single shift and first shift schools will report to school at 9 am. Students “and teachers in second shift schools have to be in school by 1 pm”, the circular states. Students from both shifts will first take a “cleanliness pledge” and then engage in “cleanliness campaign activities” for about 40 minutes. This will be followed by a “special midday meal”, the circular stated. Single shift and second shift schools will get over at 11 am and 3 pm, respectively.

The DoE has also released “suggested action points” for students, teachers, principals and officers to ensure schools remain clean and free of clutter.

“Delivering talks on hygiene during morning assembly, taking the cleanliness pledge everyday during morning assembly and planting saplings on your birthdays and after it” are some of the measures recommended by the department.

Senior officials will visit the schools to ensure strict compliance.

“All government schools will be visited during the campaign, not only by senior officials of the DoE, but others as well. We expect everybody to participate enthusiastically in this national endeavour to make our beloved country ‘Swachh Bharat’,” the circular issued states.

Besides undertaking the campaign in schools, around 2,500 government school students have also been asked to report to India Gate at 8.45 am to participate in a cleanliness ‘Walkathon’.

“On October 2, 2014, the Ministry of Urban Development… is organising a Walkathon to sensitise the citizens of the capital about making cleanliness a habit… This is a moment of pride for all of us as Delhi school students have been invited to participate in the Walkathon and be a part of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. It would be a lifetime opportunity for students to listen to the Prime Minister live during the programme,” the circular states.

“Around 2,500 students of Delhi government schools will participate in the Walkathon… The students will walk nearly 3 km in this Walkathon with posters/banners on cleanliness theme. The students should be a mix of both boys and girls,” the circular states.

The DoE’s sports branch has been entrusted with the responsibility of making “necessary arrangements for transportation of students and teachers, refreshments, drinking water and banner for buses”.