Kheri-Chameri kids sing Swachhta on streets

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, September 19

Children of Kheri-Chameri village have learnt their lesson in cleanliness well. To make others aware of the Swacchta mission of the government, they sing songs on streets spreading the message of cleanliness and using toilets. These students of Government High School, Kheri Chameri, have also prepared short videos to participate in a contest announced by the state government.

The results of the contest, “Swach Punjab, Swasth Punjab”, are likely to be announced by October 2. A video prepared by the schoolchildren has already been declared a winner in the contest, “Maine Bharat Ko Swach Banane Ke Liye Kya Kiya”, which was held by Nehru Yuva Kender. Its the idea of the Central Government.

The children made the video with the help of their Punjabi teacher, Karamjit Singh Grewal, who has written the content for this short video. Students from Class VI to XI feature in the video.

“A message is conveyed more clearly and loudly if it is imparted through the audio-visual mode. Although we verbally make students aware of the importance of cleanliness, this video has had a great impact on them. All students were enthusiastic and thrilled about the fact that they will be seen in a video. Everybody did their part with perfection and now they are taking lessons back home,” said Grewal.

Entries were invited for short three or five-minute videos and one or two-minute mobile videos. The school has sent four entries.

Bhagh Singh, a student of Class VIII, said he was thrilled to face the camera and it was an all together different experience for him. “It was a very different experience and we loved the entire shooting schedule,” he said.

Kiranpreet Kaur, a Class X student, said the lesson they learnt during the shooting of the short films were invaluable. “It teaches us not only to use toilets but also to adopt other habits which help in maintaining hygiene, such as making use of dustbins, keeping food covered and planting more and more trees. The best part is that we are spreading all these messages in our neighbourhood also,” she said.

Another student, Noorpreet Singh, from Class VIII, said it was only after the shooting of the video that they came to know how important it was to use toilets. “Flies spread so many diseases and it was the main reason for kids falling ill easily in villages and having low stamina,” he said.