In a significant move aimed at safeguarding students' health, the Delhi government has announced a major initiative to install air purifiers across thousands of classrooms in the capital. Education Minister Ashish Sood made the announcement on Friday, outlining a phased plan to ensure cleaner air for schoolchildren.
Major Push for Clean Air in Schools
Addressing a press conference, Minister Ashish Sood stated that the government is committed to tackling Delhi's persistent pollution problem through long-term administrative reforms and concrete policy measures. The first major step under this commitment is the installation of air purifiers in 10,000 classrooms as part of an initial phase.
"We want our children to study smart and also breathe smart air," Sood emphasized. He revealed that the tendering process for this large-scale project has already been initiated, with tenders floated on the same day as the announcement. The broader plan encompasses a total of 38,000 classrooms across Delhi's government and government-aided schools, which number 1,047 institutions according to official data.
Political Dig at Previous AAP Government
In his remarks, Minister Sood took a clear political jab at the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) administration. He contrasted his government's approach with what he described as superficial campaigns by the opposition.
"We are not those who flaunt IIT degrees and do campaigns like Odd-Even or 'Gaadi On, Gaadi Off' campaign. We are tackling the issue of pollution through long-term administrative measures," Sood said. The Odd-Even scheme, a traffic rationing measure first introduced by the AAP government under then Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in 2016, aimed to reduce vehicular pollution by restricting private cars based on registration numbers on alternate days.
Broader Anti-Pollution Measures Announced
Beyond the classroom initiative, Sood, who also holds the urban development portfolio, announced further steps to improve Delhi's air quality. He stated that the Public Works Department (PWD) would utilize the environment cess to procure mechanical road sweepers for each assembly constituency in the city.
Furthermore, funds are being allocated to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for the same purpose. The minister criticized the AAP's handling of the MCD, alleging negligence during their tenure. "The Aam Aadmi Party government did nothing for MCD. Salaries were not released for sanitation workers. They were at the helm in MCD for two years. But what did they do?" he questioned.
Concluding his address, Sood acknowledged the regional nature of the pollution challenge, noting that Delhi's weather is influenced by surrounding states. He assured residents of the capital that the government is taking all possible steps, the results of which would be visible on the ground very soon.
