In a significant move to safeguard students from toxic air, the Delhi government has launched a major initiative to install air purifiers inside classrooms of state-run schools. Education Minister Ashish Sood announced on Friday that the first phase will see 10,000 classrooms equipped with air purification systems.
A "Smart Air" Initiative for Students
Addressing a press conference, Minister Sood stated that the plan reflects the administration's commitment to tackling air pollution through sustained administrative reforms, not temporary fixes. "We want our children to study smart and also breathe smart air," Sood said. He confirmed that tenders for the project have already been floated.
The minister provided concrete figures, noting that Delhi has approximately 38,000 classrooms across 1,047 government and government-aided schools. The installation of purifiers in 10,000 rooms is just the beginning, with plans to cover all classrooms in a phased manner.
Contrasting Approaches to Pollution Control
In his announcement, Sood took a clear dig at the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, accusing it of prioritizing publicity over lasting solutions. "We are not those who flaunt IIT degrees and run campaigns like Odd-Even or ‘Gaadi On, Gaadi Off'. We are addressing pollution through long-term administrative measures," he remarked.
The Odd-Even scheme, first implemented in 2016 under then Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, aimed to reduce vehicular pollution by restricting private cars based on their license plate numbers. Sood, who also holds the urban development portfolio, positioned the new purifier project as a more substantive and direct intervention.
Broader Anti-Pollution Measures Announced
The education minister outlined additional steps being taken at the city level to combat pollution. He revealed that the Public Works Department will utilize funds from the environment cess to procure mechanical road sweepers for each assembly constituency.
Furthermore, funds are being allocated to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for purchasing similar cleaning equipment. Sood criticized the AAP's previous handling of civic issues, alleging, "AAP did nothing for the MCD. Salaries of sanitation workers were not released even when they were in charge of the civic body for two years."
Concluding his address, Sood acknowledged that Delhi's air quality is affected by factors beyond the city's borders, including conditions in neighboring states and weather patterns. He assured residents, "We are fully committed to getting rid of pollution. I want to assure the people of Delhi that all possible steps are being taken, and their impact will be visible on the ground very soon."
