Mumbai Schools step in to raise awareness among students on single-use plastic ban

Mumbai: Schools have begun raising awareness campaigns in response to the July 1 ban on single-use plastics in an effort to educate children through various concepts and activities.

Schools in Mumbai have started several initiatives to educate students about the ban on single-use plastics. Organising contests like poster making and speech contests to emphasize the significance of the ban, and encourage students to utilise alternatives to plastic bottles and disposable glasses to protect the environment.

Ms. Kavita Sahay Kerawalla, Vice Chairperson, VIBGYOR Group of Schools said, "The youth need to understand the hazardous effects that single-use plastic has on our environment. Hence, to educate and spread awareness among the students, we have organised a programme for the students of Grades 3, 4, and 5 to 7. We have also collaborated with Dr. Jane Goodall's “Roots and Shoots Programme" to ensure that students are engaged in environmental activities. Through these programmes, the students will be educated on the ill effects of single-use plastics and later campaign about the same during class assemblies to ensure that their peers are equal partners in the process of saving Mother Earth."


To assure that pupils participate in eco-friendly activities, schools have already begun the process and started conducting activities. "Several activities were undertaken by the students to increase awareness within and outside their schools. These included competitions, street plays, and interviews with various people. The themes covered ranged from reuse/recycle and waste segregation to saying no to single-use plastic and planting more trees," said Nutan Iyer, principal of Diamond Jubilee High School, Mumbai.

"The school has also collected 21,000 multi-layered plastic packets, the highest collection in the vicinity and among neighbouring schools. It has all been sent for recycling, " she added.

Similar to this, Shishuvan School in Matunga, Mumbai, has already started implementing plans to raise awareness among students, according to Ms. Prachi Ranadive, Shishuvan's principal "We had planned several events where students would bring plastic products from home, which the school makes sure that it is disposed of in an environment-friendly way. To collect the plastic bottles from our school, we collaborated with Bisleri."

For the middle school children, "we have assigned projects that will be done in place of exams and require them to engage in social interaction, community service, and awareness-raising activities. We have also kept track of how much each student is contributing, " she added.

Ms. Saroj Dhingra, Centre Head, EuroKids Pre-School, Sion (East), Mumbai said, “We welcome the new rule of the single-use plastic ban. With this new government mandate, we are in process of creating guidelines and advisory for our partners to help curb single-use plastics in all of our schools. Furthermore, we plan to educate our little ones on environmental conservation through fun learning activities delivered through the EUNOIA curriculum.”

Read Also

Mira Bhayander: Teachers in action mode to boost new admissions in MBMC schools