As the national capital reels under 'very poor' pollution levels after Diwali celebrations, the Delhi government has issued a circular advising school to ensure that no outdoor activities are organised till severe pollution condition persists.
It further asked the schools to sensitise parents of the students about the worrisome air quality situation prevailing in and across Delhi and appeal them to restrain their children from undertaking outdoor activities.
"The present air quality condition in Delhi is a cause of concern for all. To ensure that students studying in schools of Delhi are not adversely affected due to the current air quality, all the heads of government, government-aided and unaided recognised schools under Directorate of Education are hereby directed to sensitise the parents of the students about the worrisome air quality situation prevailing in and across Delhi and further appeal them to restrain their children from undertaking outdoor activities till severe pollution condition persists," read the circular by the Directorate of Education.
"Outdoor activities and exposure in the polluted atmosphere could have 'long term detrimental effects on the health of children'. Therefore, parents may be requested to adopt a preventive approach to safeguard their child's health including using the masks," it added.
"All the heads of the government, government-aided and unaided recognised schools under Directorate of Education shall also ensure that no outdoor activities are organised in schools till severe pollution condition persists," it concluded.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday had announced that the government will distribute at least 50 lakh N95 anti-pollution masks free to students from November 1.
Addressing a press conference in the national capital, Kejriwal said, "the Delhi government will distribute at least 50 lakh masks free of cost to the students of both government-run and private schools in Delhi from November 1. The government will distribute 50 lakh free N95 anti-pollution masks to nearly 16 lakh students and each student will be given two masks".
Delhi and its nearby areas such as Noida, Gurugram, Ghaziabad and Faridabad have witnessed a spike in air pollution post-Diwali.
At 11 AM on Thursday, the Air Quality Index for most places in Delhi stood at 'hazardous'. It is expected that the high wind speed will help in flushing out and disperse pollutants.
