The year Delhi kids came out to protest for their future

In the last year, NCR has witnessed several protests – against tree felling, rising pollution, firecrackers on Diwali, and the killing of tigress Avni. And in all these protests, marching alongside activists with placards and banners, and shouting slogans have been the city’s children. One might wonder why the kids are out on the roads, missing school and coaching classes.While the parents are clear that they want their kids to participate in collective action, children feel their voices have as much power as that of adults. On Children’s Day, as many kids across the NCR plan to spend the day marching to save trees, we ask some of them what motivates them to step out on the road and raise their voices.
Important for kids to take part in such initiatives–Avira Bhatt, 9, Class IV, Heritage School, Gurgaon
I have been part of initiatives like Aravalli Biodiversity Park, campaign for solid waste management, and against the burning of firecrackers. My reason for joining different protests related to environmental issues has been to save the environment. When we go for door to door campaigns, the idea is to sensitise people. Many of my friends have also been part of such initiatives. It is important for kids to take part because adults can get busy with their work sometimes, but we cannot ignore the harm that is being done to our environment.
If we don’t take part in Protests, who will?– Sanaa Verma, 12, Class VII, DPS Gurgaon Sector 45
I’ve been a part of many protests in Gurgaon for the last few years. I have attended protests for saving the Aravalli Biodiversity Park, anti-pollution drives, e-waste management and also volunteered for Swachh Bharat.We kids are the future of this planet, if we do not take part in such initiatives, then who will? Recently, I joined the protest to save the Aravalli Biodiversity Park and got to know so much about the park. I enjoy being part of these protests. It is important for us to do our bit.
NOT JUST FOR ADULTS: Harnoor Singh, Asees Kandhari, Asheer, Nitin and Sidhant Rohtagi make a point this Children’s Day
Saving the earth is fun – Ira Bhruguwar, 11, Class VII, Pathways School, Gurgaon
I have been part of many initiatives in the Millennium City in the past one year. All I want to do is save the earth. To be honest, it is quite fun to save the planet. The earth needs to be saved for the future generation and that is why, kids should take an active part in such protests. When kids protest, they are taken more seriously and the authorities tend to be more lenient towards them. Not just kids, but anyone who joins a protest, or signs a petition- that one signature also makes a lot of difference.
I practise basketball whole year and then the tournaments get cancelled because of bad air quality– Asees Kandhari, 14, Class IX, SBS Noida
I represent my school at basketball tournaments. But for the last three years, we practise the whole year and the tournaments which are scheduled in October-November get cancelled. Even if it’s not cancelled, our school doesn’t send us to play because the air quality is severe. Similarly, several basketball final matches have been cancelled across NCR this year because the air quality is hazardous. But what is my fault in this? Isn’t air a basic right? I am hoping to bring a change, so that next year again the tournaments are not cancelled and we can play the matches. Until we do something to bring this change, I will be turning up at every protest.

When kids are around, protests are peaceful– Sonali Bhowmik, 17, Class XII, Hope Valley School, Delhi
I have been part of seven-eight protests in the last six months. Usually, when there is a protest, police is deployed and they oversee whether a protest is peaceful or not. However, at all the protests I took part in, either the police was not present or even if they were, they stood at a distance. When kids are standing in front with other protestors, there are no disruptions either from the administration or the protestors, they all behave well.
At protests, no one treats you as a kid– Harnoor Singh, 15, Class XI, Vasant Valley School, Delhi
When you protest, it doesn’t matter if you are a child or an adult. All that matters is you are standing together for a cause. And your participation is enough. Environmental causes are closest to my heart. After Diwali, trips to the doctor increase. My friends have all gone out of Delhi for a week and they will come back after 7-10 days after the air quality gets better. Imagine leaving one’s hometown in search of fresh air, what could be worse? If by participating in protests, I can bring change, then why not?
Kids as young as seven years old joined the protest to save 16,500 tress in Sarojini Nagar in June
Protesting is not enough, should take concrete action– Nitin, 11, Class IV, RPVV Government School, Delhi
I was a part of every protest to save trees in Delhi. Jahan bhi hota hai, main chala jata hoon. But I don’t think only taking part in protests is enough. After I came back from the first protest against felling of trees, I planted saplings at different locations. Maine 200 se zyada plants lagaye hain six months mein. For the past week, I didn’t even get to play in the evening because of the severe air quality. We need more trees.
Protests bring about visible changes– Asheer, 14, Class IX, SBS Noida
When we went back to school after Diwali, everyone was asking the same question – did you burst crackers? None of us did. Most of us protested against the use of crackers this year. I think it was all those protests and campaigns because of which there has been some visible change. In school, every classroom has an air purifier but we can’t stay indoors forever. That’s why we have to bring change now.
Young protestors came together to save Gurgaon’s Aravalli Biodiversity Park last month
Made friends at protests – Siddhant Rohtagi, 8, Class III, Modern School, Vasant Vihar, Delhi
I have made new friends at protests. Whenever I go for a protest, I get to see them, we all shout slogans and do whatever we have to do. When I go back to school the next day, I tell my school friends about what we did at the protests.

Kids turned up with dolls at the #NotInMyName protest against the Kathua rape in April