You are Meera of Class XII. Write a report to be published in the school
magazine on a rally taken out by the students of Class XI and XII. The
purpose of the rally was to promote awareness of the harmful effects of
bursting crackers. Do not exceed 100 words.
Answers

1. Aggravates Air Pollution Disaster
Delhi, considered amongst the world’s most polluted cities, suffers from a worsened air quality during Diwali owing to the bursting of crackers. The pollution level increase drastically due to brazen bursting of crackers. Clean the Air for Children – a Report released by United Nations Children’s Fund – states that children residing in India are at a much higher risk of developing life-threatening chronic ailments due to aggravating air pollution levels. All sections of the society are badly affected by air pollution during and post-Diwali. Being the most vulnerable, older people and children face the worst consequences of the deteriorated air quality during Diwali. Diwali is followed by the winter season, in which there is a formation of a thick blanket of smog, with 2016 being the worst for Delhi so far.
2. Noise Pollution Causes Alarming Health Impacts
It is not just a pollution-free Diwali that should be promoted, but it is equally important to promote a decibels-free Diwali. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) analyses noise pollution at several locations every year during Diwali and recorded excessive levels of noise pollution due to modern crackers with louder noise in recent years. According to Experts, noise level beyond 120 decibels can cause a nervous breakdown and mental health disorders. Pregnant women suffer from stress and lack of rest due to loud noises. Moreover, innocent animals that are incapable of expressing discomfort, suffer the wrath of this noise pollution as they cannot bear excessive noise and lightening and hide in corners. How can a festival bring such discomfort to people and animals, and we should rethink about this heartless practice of bursting crackers.
3. Generates Waste Beyond Our Handling Capacity
All the three landfills in Delhi, viz. at Ghazipur, Bhalswa and Okhla lack authorization from Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC). They have a collective capacity of 4,600 MTD. However, Delhi produces a whopping 8,500 MTD of waste, which is nearly twice the capacity of Delhi’s landfill sites. These sites are hence being operated beyond their saturation point. This ignorant attitude of the authorities recently led to a disastrous landslide at the Ghazipur site, claiming two lives. The waste generated due to outer casing of the firecrackers adds to the already grim situation of waste disposal in Delhi. Moreover, the toxic chemicals present in them seep into the soil and lead to land degradation. Diwali celebrations thus call for a thoughtful approach this year.
4. Corrupts Our Religious Values and Traditional Practices
Diwali, the festival of lights, is celebrated to mark the return of Lord Rama to his hometown Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. The people of Ayodhya celebrated the occasion by lighting diyas (oil lamps) and distributing sweets. There is no mention of bursting crackers in Ramayana or any other scripture as a mark of Diwali celebration. Furthermore, the gun powder used in crackers is a Chinese invention. While ancient Indians might have had the knowledge about gun powder, its use in celebrations and festivals was never encouraged due to our culture’s firm belief in peace and discouragement of practices harmful for the environment. So bursting crackers has never been a part of our tradition and culture and should not be carried out in the name of religion. In fact, bursting crackers is actually against the practice of Indian culture.
5. Promotes Chinese Products that Need to be Banned
The crackers and other products you buy during Diwali are mostly made in China. There are large number of crackers and other items that are flooded in the Indian markets by Chinese companies around Diwali. In addition, according to many media reports, firecrackers worth Rs. 1,500 crore are imported illegally from China every year, using false documents. These consignments are falsely imported by declaring them as medical equipment for physically disabled, bicycle parts etc. These firecrackers are also often reported in the media to be of toxic nature since they are anyways illegal. The toxic chemicals in these firecrackers reach our lungs and stay there and cause various lung disorders.
We must therefore stop destroying our health due to these Chinese crackers (sometimes sold as fake Make in India stickers) and also STOP supporting and boosting the Chinese Economy. The recent India-China standoff, where Chinese soldiers tried to enter our borders and were stopped by our soldiers is a stark reminder that we should stop purchasing all Chinese goods, especially these harmful crackers. Let us thus use this opportunity to standby our brave soldiers.
Reduces Our Resilience Towards Crop Residue Burning
Buying Crackers Promotes Child Labour
Causes Fire Accidents and Injuries
Answer:
Report on Anti-Cracker Rally by Class XI and XII
The students of Class XI and XII took out an anti-cracker rally on 5th November to promote awareness about the harmful effects of bursting crackers during Diwali. The rally started from the school premises and ended at the nearby market.
The students carried placards and banners with messages like "Say no to crackers" and "Celebrate Diwali with love, not noise." They also distributed pamphlets and spoke to shopkeepers and pedestrians about the ill-effects of crackers on the environment and public health.
The rally was a huge success in spreading awareness about the need for eco-friendly and safe ways to celebrate Diwali. It was a great initiative by the students to create a positive impact on society and the environment.
Meera,
Class XII
