A large number of students of Government Higher Secondary School, Majalta today took out an awareness rally against polythene use to mark culmination of Swachhta Week being organized by Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj.Holding placards and banners in their hands, the students passed through the streets and created awareness regarding the serious threats that polythene could pose both to Health and Environment.The rally was led by District Development Commissioner, Niraj Kumar.Earlier, an awareness programme was organized at the school in which students were sensitized about the harmful effects of polythene use.Speaking on the occasion, the DDC asked the students to create awareness about various health hazards caused by the use of polythene. He emphasized upon use of jute bags or paper bags as an alternative to polythene bags.The DDC further said that the drive against polythene use would continue till the town becomes polythene free and sought cooperation from the students and the officers in this regard.
Students of the school also expressed their views on the topic and were later felicitated by the DDC.The awareness rally was followed by an anti-polythene drive at Garhi in which various shopkeepers were sensitized about the ill effects of polythene use and jute bags were distributed among them by the Rural Development Department. A large number of polythene bags were seized during the drive.Besides, another rally was also taken out on the occasion in which large number of men and women participated and similar drives were carried out at Latti, Ramnagar, Majalta and adjoining areas in the district.SSP Udhampur, ACD, District Panchayat Officer, Officers from Pollution Control Board and Health department and other block level officers accompanied the students during the rally. The DDC distributed T-shirts and sachets among the students.Meanwhile, a polythene collection drive was also conducted on the occasion.