Students from renowned schools in Kolkata wrote and displayed letters and paintings at an art exhibition titled Cycling and Clean Air. The main aim of this exhibition was to request Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to promote “Cycling and Clean Air” in the city. The exhibition was organized on the occasion of World Nature Conservation Day and inaugurated by the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany Kolkata (Calcutta), Mr. Manfred Auster in the presence of principals, teachers, and children from the schools.

The event saw the participation of 10 eminent schools of Kolkata like Calcutta International School, Gokhale Memorial Girls School, Sri Sri Academy, Heritage School, Ballygunge Siksha Sadan, Sushila Birla Girls’ School to mention a few.

The current state of air quality is bad in the city and the students were alarmed by it.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Manfred Auster, Consul-General, Kolkata, said that cycling is a pocket-friendly mode of transport. This has become more important during this pandemic. Moreover, by cycling, a huge amount of air pollution can also be prevented.

The exhibition was organized by SwitchON Foundation at the Press Club Kolkata, and the theme of the exhibition was promoting Cycles in Kolkata and other sustainable practices that promote Clean Air. The exhibition displayed handmade postcards, pictures, letters made by children from renowned schools of Kolkata.

The SwitchON foundation on behalf of the students from various schools has sent a request to the Chief Minister of West Bengal, highlighting the state of the safe cycling corridors and creating cycle and NMT lanes in the city.

We hope that the Chief Minister take some steps so that air pollution can be controlled in Kolkata.

Priyanka Dutta