Jalpaiguri, July 05 (Siliguri Chronicle) – The Jalpaiguri district administration has started a special campaign led by students to fight plastic pollution and prevent diseases spread by mosquitoes. The campaign includes all schools in the district, both government and private.
Thousands of students have already taken part with great enthusiasm, combining efforts to protect the environment and improve public health in their communities.
In just two days—July 2 and 3—students from 2,155 schools across Jalpaiguri collected over 25 tonnes of plastic waste, totaling 25,100 kg. Armed with the slogan “Plastic dao, paribesh bachao aar purashkar nao” (Hand over plastic, save the environment, and win rewards), students searched homes, neighborhoods, and public spaces to gather discarded plastic.
The campaign reached every type of educational institution in the district, including government and private schools, madrasas, Madhyamik Shiksha Kendras, and early childhood centres. Each school was instructed to weigh, sort, and safely store the collected plastic, which was later sent for proper processing.
This campaign was more than just a symbolic gesture—it came with real incentives. To encourage active participation and a spirit of healthy competition, the district administration announced cash prizes for both schools and individual students.
The top three schools in the district were awarded ₹20,000, ₹10,000, and ₹5,000 based on the amount of plastic collected. At the block level, individual students who collected the most plastic waste received ₹3,000 for first place, ₹2,000 for second, and ₹1,000 for third.
Maynaguri Road High School (H.S.) from Maynaguri block secured the top position by collecting 559.62 kg of plastic waste. St. Capitanio Girls’ High School from Nagrakata block came second with 448 kg, while Nilkanta Paul High School, also from Maynaguri, took third place with 280.5 kg.
The excitement spread to even the smallest schools. In Malbazar’s Damdim Jogendra Primary School, a fifth-grade student stood out by collecting 450 grams of plastic—the highest in the block—earning praise for setting an example for others.
“This is not just about prizes. It is about creating environmentally responsible citizens,” said Raunak Agarwal, Additional District Magistrate of Jalpaiguri. “By involving students, we are planting the seeds of sustainability early. The energy and commitment we have seen in both urban and rural schools is truly heartening.”
The campaign’s momentum continues. Starting Friday, the district administration launched the second phase of the initiative—a school-based anti-dengue sanitation drive to further promote cleanliness and public health.
The second phase of the campaign is a two-part project scheduled from July 4 to 6 and July 11 to 13. This phase focuses on cleaning school campuses, removing stagnant water, and spreading awareness about preventing dengue.
Students will take part in campus cleanliness drives, receive basic hygiene training, and promote eco-friendly alternatives to plastic, such as paper and cloth bags. To ensure safety during these activities, schools have been advised to follow proper guidelines, including the use of gloves and regular handwashing.
“We are not merely collecting plastic waste, but we are shaping habits and instilling values,” said Sajal Tamang, secretary of Jalpaiguri zilla parishad.
