BENGALURU: The Bala Janaagraha Civic Fest, an initiative aimed at creating awareness among school students about civic problems, is being held in city schools.
The programme involves 40,000 students from 536 schools across 25 cities in the country. Students have to identify civic problems in their localities and find solutions to sewage, garbage, traffic, etc.
A BBMP high school in Herohalli has been selected for the next round of the competition. “We will continue to do such work in the future and bring about a change in our locality,” said a school official.
Rekha, a Class 8 student, is the head of the group. She said, “My house is right next to the road we have been working on.” The group has managed to clear the garbage and fix the drinking water problem.
A group of students from Oasis International School in Bengaluru filled the potholes on the road. The students also cleared vehicles parked illegally and assessed traffic-related problems. Taliya Haskin, one of the students, says it has been a very satisfying job. The group also submitted a proposal to redesign a slaughterhouse with focus on sustainability.
Students also met Mayor Padmavathi and the local corporator. Ashwini K S, a teacher at a BBMP-run school, said the exercise has helped students develop confidence. The final round of the competition will be held in February 2017.