Small Denizens: Big Concern

Sep 10, 2003


Talk about little people with big concerns and it came true Wednesday morning near Statue Circle as 120 children from a play school dressed up as lion, tiger, deer and trees and bushes crying out just one message – save environment, save wildlife.

“Hi! Save our earth, plant more trees, save wildlife,” 4-year-old Pulkit shouted out to the traffic.

Around 30 children each stood at four different intersections of Statue Circle in their bright costumes and carrying banners and placards in their hand that read “Save Environment” and “Save Wildlife”. While some motorists stopped to read what the kids had, others paused for a while and smiled.

“This is a very cute way of telling people like us who are engrossed in our lives that we should conserve the greenery around,” said a motorist Ambika Pandit who also picked up a “neem” sapling promising the children that she would plant it at home.

Young Neha, who dressed up like a tree told Hindustan Times: “ I am feeling very good here. I am having fun with my friends. I am also giving a badge to everyone in which it is written that we will all protect our Earth.”

These children, from Bright Horizon play school, were campaigners for a voluntary organisation called Wing Of Research in Local Development (WORLD). ”The idea to involve children is because children directly effect the thinking and mentality of people around them including their parents,” said WORLD Director Manish Saxena.

Saxena added that in collaboration with the Rajasthan Government, a help line (3091919) to conserve wildlife has been commissioned. “After receiving information on this help line, our team backed by government’s wild life officials would visit the particular place and try to solve the problem,” said Saxena.

BOX STORY - - Wild Life Helpline number - 3091919

If you see any animal in dire circumstances or trees being chopped of in any area of Rajasthan, a Wild Life Help Line no. 3091919 has been commissioned. A team comprising of government officials as well as other voluntary organisations will reach on the spot.